The Essex Way

Places of Interest

Spanning the Colne valley is the massive Chappel Railway Viaduct.  Made with over seven million bricks, it is probably the largest feat of engineering in Essex.  At 1066 feet long, its 32 arches carry the Gainsborough line to Sudbury 80 feet above the Colne Valley floor.  The viaduct was built in 1847-49 at the cost of £32,0000.  You may be lucky enough to see a steam train crossing the viaduct.  Wakes Colne station, on the far side of the valley, is the home of the East Anglian Railway Museum.

Great Tey Church is a massive Norman central tower of St Barnabus' Church, dressed with red Roman brick, has the appearance more of a castle keep.  The church would once have been even more imposing, but in 1829 the parish decided to demolish the west nave and north and south trancepts.  Opposite the church is the Parish Pump, restored by the Parish Council in 1994 to celebrate is centenary.

(information taken from The Essex Way booklet published by Essex County Council)

Tips from Len Banister, Secretary of the Essex Ramblers

Ten years ago, if you had been walking in Essex, you wouldn't have seen anyone with a walking pole.  Now these poles which look like small adjustable ski-sticks have almost replaced conventional walking sticks. 

The poles are useful for providing balance, testing boggy ground, pushing back brambles and tens of other uses. 

The pole’s length is adjustable so that you can quickly shorten them if you are going up hill and lengthen them when going down.

Len Banister

When used properly in pairs the poles can greatly reduce the wear and tare on your knees – using them in this way (called Nordic Walking) massively increases your aerobic/vascular activity.

Most walkers in mountainous areas of the Continent now use pairs of walking poles.