The Capital Ring

Back in the autumn of 2009 when I was a woman of independent means I spent ten days walking around London via the Capital Ring.

The Capital Ring is one seven strategic walking routes promoted by the Mayor of London and the local authorities. The routes are well signed, with leaflets freely available from Walk London and accessible via public transport. Ideal for unemployed Londoners! The Ring is 78 miles long and encircles London within a 4-10 mile radius from Charing Cross.

So if you want to take a trip around London's highways and byways, green lanes, bridleways, footpaths, towpaths, rivers banks, docklands, parks, country parks, recreation grounds, golf courses, cemetaries and sewers, commons, estates ducal and regal, click here.

The Saffron Trail - Part 2

Hockley to Battlesbridge

The next section of the Saffron Trail meanders through Hockley Woods, up over a small hill with excellent views of the Crouch estuary and turns north on farm tracks towards the riverside. The route then heads west along the sea wall towards Battlesbridge. Sadly the last half mile is along a busy pavement-less road. I have walked most of the route on a previous trip to the area on my way around the Essex coast. The weather was much more wintry than of late, but with the occasional burst of sunshine accompanied by a chilly wind. In 1838 a medicinal spring was discovered in Hockley and the pump room was built in 1842. It might not be impressive as pump rooms goes but this building must have made quite an impression when new. Sadly Hockley did not become the Bath of the East.

Navigating your way through woods is not easy when the paths are covered with leaves so you need to pay close attention to the instructions in Hockley Woods, which were spot on. There are some fine views across the Crouch estuary from the top of a little hill and I enjoyed picking out landmarks from previous walks. You reach the sea wall at the recreation ground in Hullbridge. I watched a curiously mismatched game of football where a team of very small boys took on a team of very large boys. The next couple of miles along the sea wall were rather chilly. The river was rather quiet with only a few yachts to rival the swans (Hullbridge has a lot of swans).
The end point is Battlesbridge, the antiques mecca of Essex. I climbed to the top of the old mill (not for the faint-hearted) to enjoy some splendid views in the cafe, despite the howling wind. After enjoying a tuna sandwich I strolled off to the nearby station in good time for the train home.

8.5 miles 4 hours
Route details

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