Walk Report

The Gainsborough Line Part 2, Friday 24th August 2018
10 walkers, 15 miles - leader Ron Williamson
Today's adventure began at the large commuter village of Marks Tey some seven miles west of Colchester and the starting point for the single-track branch line to Sudbury. Our route meandered northwards to the water meadows of the Colne valley before crossing the watershed and exploring the rolling countryside bordering the western flank of the Stour valley, a landscape much favoured by Gainsborough and Constable.
Our wanderings led us to, Great Tey with its 16th century pub and Norman church with a unique central tower, Chappel, a riverside village famous for its 1066ft long brick built rail viaduct, Fordham Hall estate 500 acres which thanks to an anonymous donation is now managed by the Woodland Trust as public access land and our destination of Bures a village on the river Stour half in Essex and half in Suffolk.
An area not usually visited by London LDWA but a great example of how diverse the county of Essex is and to quote from a knowledgeable member well worth the train fare even if the beer is expensive.
Photographs by Roderick Smith and Joelle Paul

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