October 2026
Hello everyone.
Gosh its been a long time since I wrote the newsletter! I’m now back from my weeks in the Baltic and Sue is now posting fabulous pictures of her holiday on the WA group – looks amazing although not sure how I would feel about the glass skywalk!
So what’s been occurring?
FUTURE WALKS
- Sun 25th Oct 2026
Essex Walker Challenge Event
Challenge Event - 26 or 18ml. all to finish by 6pm. From Blackmore Village Hall, 9 Ashes Road CM4 0QT (GR TL599021). This is now full, enter via SI entries to be on the waiting list.
- Sun 8th November
Marshalls walk on the Stansted Stagger 25mile route. Details tbc.
- Sunday 6th December Secret Santa
Details tbc – please check the website for the latest.
- Sunday 13th December Welwyn Wander and Wassail
Group Walk, 9am start.
Circular route from Ayot Green, AL6 9AA (TL221140). Map Explorer 182. Elevenses stop at Crusader's cricket pavilion at about 5.5 to 6 miles. Tables and chairs outside each year so far. If damp a small overhanging cover. Lunch at Tewinbury Farm complex. Toilets and cafe. Usually sufficient tables outside. About 9 to ten miles. No Tea stop as about 4 miles back to start from Tewinbury
Warm mince pies for all at start. Plus gf if notified. Let Leader know re mince pies for pre purchase
Contact
Nigel Schofield Tel: 07796 518032 (text please or email, before 9pm)
Email nicelegs.schofield@btinternet.com
- Sun 3rd January 2027
25th Stanstead Stagger Challenge Event
Starting and finishing at St John’s Church Hall, Memorial Gardens, Chapel Hill, Stansted Mountfichet. Entry limit 200 and this event does sell out so get your entries in soon on SI entries.
DIARY DATES
- Christmas lunch Thursday 10th December
Following last year’s lovely day, we have once again booked the White Hart Inn Margaretting for the Essex & Herts Christmas meal. We will sit down to eat at 1pm. Peter T has offered to arrange an optional walk first from the pub, timings will be confirmed closer to the day.
To reserve your place please message the E&H Sec email address essexandherts@ldwa.org.uk and we will send you the menu and deposit details. The deposit will be £10 per person, your balance to be paid on the day direct to the pub.
- Essex Way Weekend Adventure – 10th & 11th July 2027
Fancy joining us for an Essex & Herts walking adventure with a difference?
We are planning an exciting weekend walking the Essex Way, starting on the morning of Saturday 10th July 2027 and finishing on Sunday 11th July 2027.
And where will we rest our weary legs after the first day's walking?
Coggeshall Village Hall… because E&H are having a sleepover!
Yes, you read that correctly — we will be spending Saturday night in the village hall, with an evening of food and good company.
The plan
We will meet on the morning of Saturday 10th July at Epping station and set off along the Essex Way.
There will be no checkpoints along the route, so all walkers will need to be completely self-sufficient during the walking day and carry their own food and drink.
The walk is 41.4 miles from Epping to Coggeshall and 40 miles from Coggeshall to Harwich.
At the end of the day's walking, we will arrive at Coggeshall Village Hall, where we will all pitch in and cook a meal together. Essex & Herts LDWA will cover the cost of the hall and the food for Saturday evening.
Then it's lights out… although we make no promises about the snoring!
On Sunday morning, our overnight bags will be collected and transported to the finish of the Essex Way, allowing us to continue walking without carrying all our kit.
Once we reach the finish at Harwich, walkers have a couple of options. You can either stay overnight at the Premier Inn in Harwich or make your own way home by train.
The majority of the group are planning to travel back to Epping by train on Monday 12th July.
Overnight bags
We will organise the collection of overnight bags from Epping train station on the morning of Saturday 10th July and arrange for them to be transported to Coggeshall Village Hall.
Your walking kit therefore stays on your back — your overnight bag doesn't!
A few important points
- There is a maximum of 25 walkers for this weekend.
- Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
- There will be no checkpoints or food supplied during the walking days, so everyone is responsible for their own food and drink.
- Essex & Herts LDWA will pay for the village hall and Saturday evening meal.
- Walkers are responsible for their own accommodation and travel arrangements after reaching Harwich.
Want to join us?
If you'd like to take part in this rather unique Essex & Herts walking weekend adventure, or if you have any questions, please contact Kirsteen at:
essexandherts.chair@ldwa.org.uk
I read these musings from a long distance walker this week
“If I ever die while hiking, don’t make it inspirational or say something like, “At least she died doing something she enjoyed.” No. Let's keep it real and tell the truth: I probably tripped over a rock, got betrayed by my own balance, and gravity gave me a free one-way ticket downhill. My final words were probably “oh ****.”So instead, just say: “She went out the same way she lived… confidently making questionable decisions.””.
And finally congratulations to our Elaine Oddie who is now a Board Member at HF. So with that I will end, Sue and I look forward to seeing you out on a walk soon.
Tracy x
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