Maldon Walk

Maldon at the south of the Blackwater Estuary was once the most important town in Essex as all the produce went into and out of the county by boat from the Hythe and the don in Maldon means hill. This walk starts in Acacia Drive which is off Spital Road which is the main route out of town to London there was just the two of us and the dogs on this walk, no Michael this time.

Details of Walk

• Date of Walk: 16/07/2017

• Distance: 3.89 Miles

• Starting Point Postcode: CM9 6AW

• Car Park: Acacia Drive Roadside

• Refreshments: Tesco Store & Pubs in Town

• Photos Taken on Walk

We started the walk from here and turned left into Spital Road heading out of town passing the remains of St Giles Leper Hospital which was built around 1164. We then came to the site of West Station. This line was linked to South Woodham Ferrers and the main line to Shenfield and London. Here we crossed the busy road that goes around Maldon to enter Maldon Hall Farm by a footpath sign. We walked on the grass with the fence on our left and then went through a gap in the fence to walk down the drive. We continued down the track to reach the farm buildings which are now converted into rather grand domestic residences. and we followed the drive round to the right passing a magnificent barn conversion and the hall was over to the left.

Then we went through a five-barred gate and the we heading north along a pebbly track with trees both sides and then it opened up to some lovely views over Chelmer valley. about 10 minutes later we were crossing a road and walking down Abbey Turning towards Beeleigh Abbey which you could see through the hedgerow. This was owned by the Foyle family and till recently an antiquarian book business was run from Beeleigh and the next important feature was the Beeleigh steam-driven mill. we carried walking until we came to Beeleigh Falls where the river Chelmer splits between canal and river. We carried on across the falls and round to the lock where we sat for awhile. After our little break we carried on, there was a group of photographers by the bank, I reckon they were on one of those one day courses you can do. After passing them we turned right here and followed the river Chelmer on our right and a golf course on our left.

We came out of the causeway by the side of the Sunny Sailor and turned right over Fullbridge and up Market Hill to the top and turned right into the High Street, we not go up Cromwell Hill like the directions had said. We walked past All Saints church on the right. At the end of the High Street we carried start on into Spital Street passing the Ware pond once the centre of village life for washing. After passing Saint Peters Hospital, formerly the Union House it was not long before we were at The Queen Victoria pub opposite Acacia Drive and we were back to the car.