A Wander from Ongar

Ongar to Pepper's Green 8 miles

Taking advantage of the fantastic October weather, I travelled a further eight miles along the Essex way from Ongar to the hamlet of Pepper's Green via Willingale, split into two circular walks. The route was again very green with only a few roads to cross. For two miles north of Ongar, the Essex Way followed the River Roding, which flows into the Thames at Barking Creek. There was also a long section on byways and green lanes which was rather remote; I met one careful motor cyclist, two riders and three other people in just over ninety minutes walking.

Most people remember Ongar as former end of the Central Line and it does have a museum at the old station. Something I found out through my handy Essex Way guide was the connection with the Titanic. The local Catholic priest was on his way to the United States to conduct his brother's wedding and sadly was lost after volunteering to stay on board. There is a memorial window in the tiny church just of the High Street. There are one or two interesting old buildings , a pretty church and remains of a motte and bailey castle.

The five miles to Willingale were very pleasant walking along the riverbank or across open fields. It should have been peaceful but for the noise of clay pigeon shooting in a nearby wood. The most memorable building for me was this wonderful thatched caravan. Willingale is unusual as two parish churches share the same churchyard. St Christopher's Willingale Doe, to the north, is the larger, St Andrew's Willingale Spain is the elder. St Andrews was used as a chapel for US air crew during World War 2, when there was a large airfield nearby.

I returned to Ongar via a long straight bridleway which ran across the old airfield. Apparently it was built using rubble from bombed out buildings of the East End and there are still piles of hard core lying around. The perimeter roads were also still intact and I spotted several cyclists using them. Unbelievably, this was a proposed site for London's third airport.

After Willingale is the hamlet of Shellow Bowells, my favorite Essex place name. It sound positively Dickensian. Then for three miles, it was a pleasant plod to the hamlet of Pepper's Green.

Some Essex Way Facts.
Progress along the route 15¾ miles. Total distance walked 25¼ miles.

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