Malwes one

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I walked West Mersea to Maldon over 2 days of fair weather in mid-July. There was too much road walking for my liking but no clear alternative to doing it (when the approved section of the England Coast Path opens it’s likely to be a preferable route between The Strood and Salcott-cum-Virley). As mentioned below, there are also a few sections where the mapped route suggests using private land. At particular high tides, The Strood causeway is flooded and impassable, so it's worth checking tid tables before travelling.

After pavemented street through West Mersea, the route takes a footpath over fields to reach Dawes Lane. It’s then road walking up Dawes Lane and onto East Mersea Road until reaching The Strood. En route, you cross Colchester Road and you might as well take this to The Strood instead, it’s also road walking with some verge but it’s more direct than the mapped route.

Once over The Strood it is pleasant off-road walking around the creeks of Pyefleet Channel and across the fields to Peldon. As mentioned in the previous review the mapped route suggests a way around Copthall Grove but this is not a right of way. The only alternative is walking along the Wigborough Road until reaching the field path north. The on-the-ground way marking is patchy on this stretch until you are on Church Lane.

The path across the field to Salcott-cum-Virley has recently been rerouted at the southerly end and now follows Scott Creek around to Mill Lane rather than going through the farm. More field paths and quiet roads to Tolleshunt D’Arcy which is a good place to stop for refreshment at the Queen’s Head (no food on Mondays).

Opposite St Nicholas church a footpath heads west, first through a housing estate. Look out for the alleyway that takes you onto the fields beyond. After Frame Farm the route takes a southerly turn on The Chase to Tolleshunt D’Arcy Road, this is not listed as a public right of way. It is a short section and I found no obstacle in using it. Then more road walking on Tolleshunt D’Arcy Road where the hedges are tight to the road and there was more traffic than I would have preferred. I was grateful to join Church Road at Beckingham Hall, a much quieter road. There was no fingerpost or other way marking for the footpath going west, and patchy way marking on the ensuing route around Rockleys Farm.

The route suggests a diagonal traverse across the grounds of Folly Fauns House which is all private. Instead, follow the road around towards Goldhangar. It’s largely pavemented until crossing over to follow the quiet Blind Lane. A path across fields leads to the quiet Wash Lane. Wash Lane exits onto a blind curve of the busy B1026. The next footpath reaches the same curve at a right angle but doesn’t meet Wash Lane and is obscured by foliage. Extra care needs to be taken here to ensure safe passage between the two.

When the footpath reaches Barrow Marsh caravan park there’s an awkward but signposted meander through the static homes to exit again on the B1026. Before walking I was concerned about recent reports that the holiday park and lodges on the other side of the road were blocking access to the coastal path. There is no listed right of way to the sea wall at this point. However, on reaching the road I saw that there was a footway on the south side which led to a narrow track to the coast path between the fence of the Blackwater Lodge Retreat and the hedge of the Millbeach Marine Club.

It’s a pleasant waterside route from here along the coastal path to Heybridge basin then onto the towpath of the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation, and a short stretch of the River Chelmer to reach Fullbridge and the pavements of Maldon. If speed takes precedence over comfort, you can shave a few minutes off leaving the navigation where it passes under the B1022 and take to pavements there.

This is a temporary review. We've heard that the section through Copt Hall Grove in Little Wigborough is private property and there is no access. The wood is fenced off. The next door farm land also doesn't have footpaths going through it.

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