Walk Report

An Alternative Essex Way Precursor 2, Tuesday 11th May 2021
11 walkers, 14 miles - leader Ron Williamson
The famous five from last week's walk were joined by six others at a damp deserted Roding Valley station determined to continue the christening of a walk from city centre to the Essex/Suffolk border.
Disaster nearly struck at the first hurdle where the bridge over the River Roding was under repair but fortunately a temporary structure had been constructed so no need for a diversion this time. With the last of the rain now behind us we continued across Chigwell golf course to gain access to a surprisingly open stretch of countryside leading to Chigwell Row and onward into Hainault Forest.
Lunch at the cafe near the main carparks and soon we were navigating through the heart of the forest on some of its myriad of pathways, compass, GPS and a bit of luck kept us on course to meet up with the London Loop as it entered Havering Country Park. Onward now following the Loop through Havering then a tricky bit to Harold Hill and our destination within touching distance of the Essex border.
Once again a varied walk with a surprising amount of wildlife including a herd of deer in the centre of a housing estate.
Photographs by Godfrey O'Callaghan

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