Malbur one

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Malbur here.

This is a pretty good and fairly direct route. I've marked it down due to 1) the poor alignment of the Slow Ways map with the intended route on the ground, and 2) a section of walking on a green verge beside a busy road that goes on a bit too long and will be less passable when the vegetation is up.

A quick passage on pavements down Maldon's high street and continuing roads leads to footpaths across fields to Mundon. The footpath section should follow the same way as Malsou one - the map alignment of which is much better. After passing St Mary's Mundon and the petrified oaks the route proceeds south along a field edge. Malsou soon breaks off east across the field, but this route continues south a while longer before taking a couple of turns around some bits of remnant creek and then south again to Steeple Road.

This is where the verge walking comes in, with the north side of the road better. You'll need to cross the road at Tideway Farm to pick up a footpath going south. (You could halve the stretch of verge walking by sticking on the Malsou one route to Lawling Creek and shortly before reaching Maylandsea taking a southerly footpath past Lawling Hall that joins Steeple Road close to Tideway Farm).

The footpath at Tideway Farm starts on the driveway to houses then runs along the east side of the fence line past a golf driving range and into the camping and caravanning field behind the Huntsman and Hounds pub. This is a good place to stop for refreshment.

Across the road from the pub, another footpath continues south across fields to Althorne. I walked in early April and the wet winter of 23/24 had left some of this section sodden with an ankle-deep puddle surrounding one of the turnstiles.

On reaching Althorne it's more pavement walking to the B1010, you'll need to cross the road twice to keep on the pavement. There's a nearby parallel off-road footpath for some of this section, which is pleasant enough but not worth it in my opinion. More pavement going east beside the B1010 takes you to where you need to cross the road (look out for the sign for 'Hermanns'). A little further east is the Three Horseshoes pub - your last chance for refreshment before Burnham. The Three Horseshoes does food, but check its hours before depending on it (closed Mondays and Tuesdays).

The footpath south now is one of my favourite sections, it's away from roads and has a wonderful view into the Crouch Valley. Look out for the new vineyard in the field to the east. The route crosses a railway line, passes an adolescent woodland and delivers you onto the coastal path. (If you've had enough at this point, a short walk west to Bridgemarsh Marina then a turn north will deliver you to Althorne railway station).

The coastal path east to Burnham follows the same route as the Soubur ones as far as Creeksea (the alignment of their maps is superior here). If you are not rushing to get to the train station I suggest sticking on the coastal route to Burnham-on-Crouch's quayside for a drink at The White Harte.

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