More images

More (2)

Little Baddow

Recommended by

Our view

"A historic walk that has links with America and religion"

Walk directions

Exit the car park and turn right along Holybread Lane and walk gently uphill past Holybred Farm. Pass Colam Lane and a house on the left called Cuckoos Farm and turn left by Little Baddow’s United Reform Church (URC) and the adjoining History Centre, along Chapel Lane.

Turn right at the public footpath sign, cross a plank footbridge and keep ahead initially through trees and then between paddocks. At the hedge turn right along a grassy path and join a track which meanders past an old brick farm building and runs beside Little Baddow Hall to a road.

View all directions

Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Country lanes, arable fields, tow path and water meadows which can get very boggy after heavy rain

Landscape - Open countryside, woodland, riverside

Dog friendliness - On a lead near paddocks, many of the 9 stiles not suitable for larger dogs

Parking - Holybred Wood car park, Holybread Lane

Toilets en route - In the History Centre, Chapel Lane

Walks in Essex

About the walk

This walk may be short but it certainly packs a punch with its varied terrain and things to see along the route. It includes a short stretch along a tow path and a couple of delightful woodlands as well as a church, a chapel and a local history centre. The Two Puritans On the corner of Colam Lane... and Church Lane is a house called Cuckoos Farm where two men, Thomas Hooker and John Eliot, lived from 1626-1631. Hooker studied at both Queens and Emmanuel Colleges in Cambridge and became a gifted preacher with Puritan views, some of which unfortunately clashed with those of the head of the Church of England at that time, Archbishop Laud who made sure that Hooker’s popular lectures in Chelmsford came to an abrupt end. After that, with the help of John Eliot, Hooker ran a non-conformist school in the village for children. Alas, the Archbishop once again managed to put a stop to this and Hooker set sail for Massachusetts in 1633. There, he founded the state of Connecticut and became known as the Father of American Democracy.John Eliot on the other hand had left our shores for America in 1631 and spent many years teaching Christianity to the North American Indians. He studied Algonquian so he could preach in their language and he also later translated the Bible which became the first Bible printed in America. After his death at the age of 85 he became known as the Apostle to the Indians. In July each year an open air service is held at Cuckoos Farm to commemorate these two men. A Meandering Waterway The word Baddow derives from ‘bad water’ or perhaps ‘lack of water’ which nowadays might seem surprising considering the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation runs through this area. The waterway was constructed between 1793 and 1797 to carry freight to Chelmsford and until 1843, when the railway was built from London to Colchester, the waterway was the most popular way of transporting goods such as coal. The first inland gas works was built in this way. Coal was transported by water until the First World War and it was not until 1972 that the practice ceased and the small fleet of lighters were disposed of. Today, pleasure boats and canoes for recreational use have taken the place of horsedrawn boats and their cargos. A short stretch of the walking route is along the canal tow path which can get very boggy after heavy rain.

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Essex is full of pleasant surprises. It has the largest coastline of any county in England, with its fair share of castles, royal connections and scenic valleys.

Route details

Difficulty:

Medium

Gradient:

Gentle

Distance:

4.25 miles (6.8kms)

Ascent:

98ft (30m)

If you like this walk, you can try more routes in the area.

Find more walks in Essex

Little Baddow

Recommended by

Our view

"A historic walk that has links with America and religion"

Walk details

Difficulty:

Medium

Gradient:

Gentle

Distance:

4.25 miles (6.8kms)

Ascent:

98ft (30m)

Walk directions

1 of 7

2 of 7

Cross the road and turn left and at a public footpath sign go up a set of steps beside St Mary’s Church. Walk to the left of the hedge by the churchyard and at an opening by a waymarker, keep ahead across the field.

3 of 7

Turn right along the tow path and after 0.25 mile (400m) turn right to cross a plank footbridge. Bear half left at a fingerpost to cross the water meadow and at the field beyond, turn left onto a track and then right at a white marker post across a field. Keep ahead at a waymarked path crossing and bear left to another waymarker in the middle of the field.

4 of 7

Turn left here and go over a plank footbridge. Follow the field edge path beside paddocks towards Holybreds Wood. Keep ahead through the woodland, cross a plank footbridge, then a field and join a path between houses. Cross the road and keep ahead to a road junction.

5 of 7

Turn right past houses and turn left into Tofts Chase. After 100yds (92m) turn right at a public footpath sign on to an enclosed path. Cross a track, and then a meadow, separated by a number of stiles (4) before crossing the driveway to Tofts. Maintain direction here and the path becomes paved and passes The Coach House. Follow the field edge track as it curves right towards Scrub Wood.

6 of 7

Enter the wood along a narrow, enclosed path that descends through a belt of trees. Cross a plank footbridge and then go over a stile and join a path between paddocks. Go over another stile and the track to Warren Farm and then a footbridge. Continue through paddocks and negotiate a further three stiles before descending steps to a road opposite The Rodney pub. Turn right along the road and then left into Holybread Lane to return to the start.

7 of 7

Location

Starting point

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Country lanes, arable fields, tow path and water meadows which can get very boggy after heavy rain

Landscape - Open countryside, woodland, riverside

Dog friendliness - On a lead near paddocks, many of the 9 stiles not suitable for larger dogs

Parking - Holybred Wood car park, Holybread Lane

Toilets en route - In the History Centre, Chapel Lane

Walks in Essex

About the walk

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Essex

Essex is full of pleasant surprises. It has the largest coastline of any county in England, with its fair share of castles, royal connections and scenic valleys.

Little Baddow

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

Get an AA guide

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

Get an AA guide

Sign up to our travel newsletter

Get the latest insider tips and recommendations to make the most of your next trip

Little Baddow

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

Get an AA guide

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

Get an AA guide

Sign up to our newsletter

Join over 4,000+ travelers who are getting the most out of their trips