Whilst we wait for the rain and look at our parched gardens and countryside there are lots of social walks this month to keep you occupied. If you’re not away why not join us on one of them. The walk on 22nd August is a joint one with the Norfolk and Suffolk and London groups:

Sun 2nd Aug 2026 To the Prom
Group Walk - 18/19ml. 9am Start parking at Danbury sports & social Mayes Lane CM3 4NJ. (GR TL782049). Lunch stop at the prom 11 miles, there are cafes selling hot & cold & food if needed & ice creams & there are loos. Walking in the woods with narrow tracks & with drops, along the canal & field edges. Will pass Beeligh Abbey. C: Ginny Powell Tel: 07736 946955

Sat 8th Aug 2026 Up the Creek with the Chance of a Paddle
Group Walk - 17ml. 9.30am Barling Magna Wildlife Reserve, Mucking Hall Road, SS3 ONN Car park ///motor.placed.zeal 17 miles (10 mile loop, Lunch and a 1 mile loop in the Reserve, then a 6 mile loop to finish). (GR TQ921898). Via Mucking Hall to Barling where the first loop picks up the Coastal Path and follows Little Wakering Creek to Fleet Head, then cuts across country to rejoin the Coastal Path at Mill Head. After following the Path through Great Wakering Common we head back via Great Wakering Hall for lunch and a visit to the Reserve. Final loop returns to Little Wakering Creek, now going north on the coastal Path, along Potton Creek, then turning back along the River Roach. Free car park. There are no public toilets, cafes, or drinking water at the reserve. It is suggested you bring your own supplies and picnic in a cool bag to leave in the car. No dogs. C: Peter Tremain Tel: 07427857003 E: peter.tremain@live.co.uk

Sat 15th Aug 2026 Linda’s summer walk
Group Walk - 15ml. 9am Belfairs carpark Eastwood Road North Leigh on sea SS9 4LR. (GR TQ834877). Going through 7 woods onto Hadleigh park and Castle then onto Leigh Marina for morning stop. Walk along the seafront to Chalkwell Park for lunch, Prittlewell brook back to Belfairs. Walk can be made longer depending on the weather. C: Linda Fordham Tel: 07773 122276

Sat 22nd Aug 2026 “Suffolk Delights” Sudbury circular
Group Walk - 20ml. 9.20am 9.20 at Sudbury station. Car parking at station. Train users take the 8.02 from Liverpool Street (8.09 at Stratford, 8.25 at Shenfield) and change at Marks Tey. (GR TL876410). Long Melford and Lavenham to admire the 2 famous wool town churches with a plentiful supply of ice cream and and an opportunity to explore Gainsborough’s town. Bring picnic, plenty of water and food. Moderate pace. Please let Leader know, ideally via WhatsApp or text, if you wish to come; ideally the day before so he can update you if there are any necessary changes to travel details or the route. This will be a joint walk for Norfolk and Suffolk (as it is all in Suffolk), Essex and Herts (as it is just over the Essex border) and London (as there is a train station here 1 hour from the end of the Elizabeth line). C: Jerome Ripp Tel: 07470196890 E: rippjerome@gmail.com

Sun 30th Aug 2026 Come and Walk 10, 20 or 30 miles with me
Group Walk - 10, 20 or 30ml. 8am East Lane Car Park, Wheathampstead, AL4 8SB. What3words fork.passes.held. (GR TL178141). An opportunity to walk 10, 20 or 30 miles over 3 different 10 mile loops from the centre of Wheathampstead. The first loop will take us out to the Ayots - Ayot St Peter and Ayot St Lawrence, taking in part of the Ayot Greenway and skirting Ayot Bury with a chance to spot George Bernard Shaw's house. The second loop will take us through woods and fields up to the village of Kimpton and back through Blackmore End and Gustard Wood. The third loop will take us out through the Devil's Dyke to Coleman Green passing the John Bunyan pub and John Bunyan's Chimney, out to Symonshyde and coming back via Nomansland and Amwell. A chance to do all the loops or just join me for one or two of them if your time is limited or you don't fancy the longer distance. No dogs please. The car park is free and there are toilets at the entrance. Please bring a packed lunch and plenty of water. There is a great bakery in Wheathampstead which should be open and a Tesco Express so a chance to buy drinks and snacks and a pub too and the Crinkle Crankle Garden provides a great place for a short break between the loops. C: Sue Gooch Tel: 07850712967 E: suegooch5@aol.com

If you’ve ever thought about leading a walk and haven’t taken the first step Lizzie, our Walks Secretary would love to hear from you to help fill our calendar. There’s guidance on leading a walk and getting it onto our website on the Available Walks Date page of our website.

Strider
Hopefully you’ve all had your August copy of Strider where our Chair’s Dahl merited a full page spread (page 44). There’s also photos of Essex and Herts members on the Marshal’s walk (page 42) and the main event (page 29) of the Hunnypot Hundred and some good reports of past events, not just the Hunny “Hot” Hundred!

Help Needed
Entries are coming in for our Essex Walker challenge event on 25th October. Thanks to those of you who have come forward to volunteer to help on the day. We’re now looking for help to marshal the Marshal’s walk which is planned for 13th September, where support is needed at the Highwood or Fryerning checkpoints and at Blackmore Village Hall. Please let Tracy/I know at essexandherts@ldwa.org.uk if you are able to help.

Enjoy the month and maybe see some of you on the 30th in Wheathampstead.

Sue