Pleshey - Great Waltham Circular

9th October 2021

Start Point: Holy Trinity Church, Pleshey

Typical Pleshey thatched cottage

.

.

Moat Cottage

The Leather Bottle pub

.

Mount House

On leaving the village there is a footpath sign posted to the right; however there is another signpost on the left which goes along the boundary fence of a small sewage plant..... this is The Essex Way path

.

.

Out into open fields. Walthambury Brook is on your left

.

By this tree you cross to the other side of Walthambury Brook

Hot and dry!

.

.

The path goes to the left and along the grassy bank by the trees

Turn left at this concrete bridge. The path to the right goes to High Houses

Up to the trees and keep right

At this point, keep right along the foot of the grassy bund

Path comes out onto a road; here you go straight across the road to the
fields on the opposite side of the road (3.22 km into the walk)

The path goes across the road and along the hedge line

Path towards Great Waltham

This path comes out on to the Great Waltham road, opposite Deer Park; turn right here towards that church
(3.98 km into the walk)

SS Mary & Lawrence, Great Waltham
(4.15 km into the walk)

Table tomb with crocketed gables

The Beehive pub, on the corner of Barrack Road. Continuing along the road past the church on the left you arrive at The Stores, a great coffee shop on the corner of South Street. We stopped for Tea and Toasted Tea Cakes before continuing down South Street.

After passing the school on the right hand side, South Street turns right through a 90 degree turn; at the is point the path goes straight on along the side of the houses.

The path passes over a small brook; at this point you turn right

Continue along the wood to your right

You soon reach Hoe Road; cross the road and carry straight on, again following the line of the woods to your right

You come to a point where you feel that the path should go straight in, but this is private land. Take the path to the right which dog-legs through the wood to, eventually, reaching Mashbury Road

Through the woods

At the T-junction right next to Mashbury Road, turn left and follow the path parallel to the road

The path comes out on to Mashbury Road at Fanner's Green, right opposite Fanner's Green Cottages

Take the small road alongside Fanners Green Cottages

Down the small road alongside Fanners Green Cottages

Elaborate garage roof ornamentation

Gates to a house called "Fanners". It looks as though the public footpath goes up their drive and through their garden, but there is a deviation to the right to avoid this and respect their privacy

Deviation around "Fanners"

Beautiful thatched cottage called "Ash Cottage". here you turn left alongside this cottage.

Turn left alongside Ash Cottage

Looking back at Ash Cottage

.

.

Paths are all very similar.... follow the map carefully!

Turn right by the marker post, joining another farm track

You soon come to a concrete farm track where you turn right for Pleshey

.

.

Pleshey church soon comes into view

Leading to the castle

The castle mound

The moat

The path down to The Street, Pleshey

The path comes out down Pump Lane opposite Vale House (right) and St Michaels Cottage (left)

St Michaels Cottage

Looking back up Pump Lane