Earls Colne
Explore the delights of the Colne Valley. Enjoy a gentle stroll around Earls Colne, through riverside meadows, ancient woodland and visit the old railway nature reserve.
1 Start: From the car park turn right back into the village and then turn right along the High Street. Turn left into Foundry Lane, the home of Hunts Atlas Works. These works were developed by the Hunt family and made a major contribution to the mechanisation of Essex agriculture in the 19th century. The company was the village’s major employer and cornerstone of the community for over 100 years before closing 1988. A lot of the buildings have made way for a new estate, although the old water tower remains, being the home of the Earls Colne Heritage Museum. Follow Foundry Lane to the t-junction, then turn left into Park Lane. Take the next footpath on the right by the half-timbered house. Follow the yellow arrow to the left at Brickfield and Long Meadow Local Nature Reserve. Keep ahead at the next junction and at the end of the field go through a metal kissing gate and head for the stag-headed trees in front of you. At the elderly tree held up by scaffolding turn right. Ignore the stile by the bench, head towards the telegraph poles. At the hedge, turn left through a kissing gate. This brings you out on the B1024.
2 Turn right and then take the next footpath on the left by Tilekiln Farmhouse but take care crossing the road. Keep on the farm track, there are pleasant views across the Colne Valley on the left. At the waymark post, take the well-worn track downhill towards the pylon on Tey Road. Turn left at the road. At the sign for Chalkney Wood, turn right onto the track. Up until 1605, Chalkney Wood was owned by the De Vere family, who were Earls of Oxford, hence Earls Colne. The prominent bank was constructed by them to enclose the wood as a Swine Park. Pigs forages for acorns amongst the coppice and oaks were left as ‘standards’ not only for their timber value but also to provide the pig fodder. Turn left towards the top of the hill, following the edge of the woodland. At a crossroads, turn left across a plank bridge and over a stile to leave the woods and walk beside a field.
3 At the bottom of the field turn right over a stile. Stay to the right of the trees and head towards the farm gate. Just to the left of it is a small kissing gate, go through another one and at the drive, turn left towards the river, past the old mill buildings. Now a private house, the 18th century water mill last ground corn in the 1930’s. Follow the drive and immediately underneath a pylon, turn left over a stile, then right along the field edge furthest from the river. Cross a small wooden bridge and head for a metal gate. Follow the well-worn path through the meadow, which is a part of the Colne Valley Path. The path then follows alongside the river. After going through the wooden gate, the path becomes enclosed and eventually joins the road.
4 Take care crossing the road. Turn left towards the fingerposts and metal kissing gate. Follow the track as it eventually turns into a path and meets the dismantled railway track. The Colne Valley Railway opened in 1860, bringing prosperity to the valley. The Hunts (of Hunts Atlas Works, on Foundry Lane) built Earls Colne station in 1889 to import raw materials and despatch products. The old porter was ‘Cuckoo’ Gibbs, whose cuckoo calls early in the season attracted letters to the local press. Turn left and follow the old railway line. Follow this for some time, crossing a bridge halfway along. Further down the track from the bridge, look out for a crossroads. Turn left over a stile following the yellow arrow and heading for the bridge. Be careful crossing the golf course; keep to the waymarked path between the trees and the green. At the top of the hill head for a gap in the hedge at the furthest end of the row of houses. At the road, keep straight ahead into Burrow Road, passing the cemetery on the left. Look out for a hedge-lined alley on the left. At the end of the alley, turn right and this will take you back to the car park.
Distance: 4 ½ miles / 7km or 2 hours
Terrain: Good walking, few gentle climbs, boggy in places
Start: Car park, Queens Street, grid reference 857 289
Map: OS Explorer 195 Braintree and Saffron Walden
Parking: Queens Street, Earls Colne (just off the High Street)
Refreshments: Many pubs and shops in the village