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South Ockendon — West Horndon

Souwes two
Verified route

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

By Daisy C on 15 Jan 2024

Distance

9km/5mi

Ascent

17m

Descent

30m

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Description

This avoids the issues with SouWes 1 (see reviews) but is broadly similar. It's a route of huge skies, drained fenlands, and many ditches and footbridges. For a while it follows the Mardyke Way, and there are also many very prominent fingerposts. In some places I've had to draw the route line by eye. I did my best to ensure important positions like turning and crossing points, or paths being on correct side of hedges, ditches etc.

The surfaces are split between tracks, fieldside paths (clear from crops but might be muddy) and just a little road walking (in West Horndon on pavements and Fen Lane has a wide verge and clear views, about 1km total). Towards South Ockendon the "Bulphan Fen Solar Farm" is being installed (Jan 2024) and there were "Heavy Plant Crossing" signs on some tracks.

You could break the journey halfway by heading east on Fen Lane to Bulphan where there is a very small shop, bus stop and pub, one review of WesBas 1 says this is fair road walking (verge). Both ends have takeaways, convenience stores, a pub (no food?), Essex bound buses plus train stations. Only South Ockendon is within the TfL Oyster zone for contactless/pay-as-you-go and TfL bus routes.

https://www.thurrock-history.org.uk/MardykeWay.htm

This avoids the issues with SouWes 1 (see reviews) but is broadly similar. It's a route of huge skies, drained fenlands, and many ditches and footbridges. For a while it follows the Mardyke Way, and there are also many very prominent fingerposts. In some places I've had to draw the route line by eye. I did my best to ensure important positions like turning and crossing points, or paths being on correct side of hedges, ditches etc.

The surfaces are split between tracks, fieldside paths (clear from crops but might be muddy) and just a little road walking (in West Horndon on pavements and Fen Lane has a wide verge and clear views, about 1km total). Towards South Ockendon the "Bulphan Fen Solar Farm" is being installed (Jan 2024) and there were "Heavy Plant Crossing" signs on some tracks.

You could break the journey halfway by heading east on Fen Lane to Bulphan where there is a very small shop, bus stop and pub, one review of WesBas 1 says this is fair road walking (verge). Both ends have takeaways, convenience stores, a pub (no food?), Essex bound buses plus train stations. Only South Ockendon is within the TfL Oyster zone for contactless/pay-as-you-go and TfL bus routes.

https://www.thurrock-history.org.uk/MardykeWay.htm

Status

This route has been reviewed by 3 people.

There are no issues flagged.

Photos for Souwes two

Photos of this route will appear when they are added to a review. You can review this route here.

Information

Verified route

Route status - Live

Reviews - 3

Average rating -

Is this route good enough? -  Yes (3)

There are currently no problems reported with this route.

Downloads - 1

Surveys

What is this route like?

Surveys are submitted by fellow users of this website and show what you might expect from this Slow Ways route. Scroll down the page to read more detailed surveys.

Grade 3X based on 1 surveys Sign up or log in to survey this route.
Description Note
Grade 3: Route includes rough surfaces that may include small boulders, potholes, shallow ruts, loose gravel, short muddy sections.
Access grade X: At least one stile, flight of steps or other obstacle that is highly likely to block access for wheelchair and scooter users.		 Grading is based on average scores by surveyors. This slow way has 1 surveys.
Full grading description

Only people who have completed our training can become Slow Ways surveyors and submit a survey. We do not vet contributors, so we cannot guarantee the quality or completeness of the surveys they complete. If you are dependent on the information being correct we recommend reading and comparing surveys before setting off.

Survey Photos

Facilities

Facilities in the middle third of this route.

Not present at time of survey Public toilet (1)
Not present at time of survey Wheelchair accessible toilet (1)
Not present at time of survey Supermarket (1)
Not present at time of survey Restaurant (1)
Not present at time of survey Vegan restaurant (1)
Not present at time of survey Accommodation (1)
Not present at time of survey Accommodation < £50 (1)
Not present at time of survey Campsite (1)
Not present at time of survey Bothy (1)
Not present at time of survey Free wifi (1)
Not present at time of survey Public phone (1)
Present at time of survey Mobile phone coverage (1)
Not present at time of survey Train station (1)
Not present at time of survey Bench (1)
Not present at time of survey Picnic table (1)
Not present at time of survey Bus stop (1)
Not present at time of survey Ferry (1)

Challenges

Potential challenges reported on this route. Some challenges are seasonal.

Not present at time of survey Scrambling (1)
Not present at time of survey Wading (1)
Not present at time of survey Swimming (1)
Not present at time of survey Climbing (1)
Not present at time of survey Stepping stones (1)
Not present at time of survey Very slippery (1)
Maybe present Very muddy (1)
Not present at time of survey Very icy (1)
Not present at time of survey Likely to flood (1)
Present at time of survey Long grass sections (1)
Maybe present Crops encroaching on path (1)
Not present at time of survey Diverted path (1)

Obstacles

Obstacles on this route.

Present at time of survey Stiles (1)
Present at time of survey Step and kerbs (1)
Not present at time of survey Possible to avoid steps, if applicable (1)
Not present at time of survey Flights of steps (1)
Present at time of survey Gates (1)
Not present at time of survey Kissing gates (1)
Not present at time of survey Locked gates (1)
Not present at time of survey Disables access gates (1)
Present at time of survey Cycle barriers (1)
Not present at time of survey Ladders (1)
Not present at time of survey Cattle grids (1)
Not present at time of survey Fords (1)
Present at time of survey Narrow bridges (1)
Not present at time of survey Ferry required (1)
Not present at time of survey Acceptable road walking (1)
Not present at time of survey Unacceptable road walking (1)
Not present at time of survey Dangerous road crossings (1)
Present at time of survey Walking on paths beside roads (1)
Present at time of survey Walking on verges beside roads (1)
Not present at time of survey Railway crossings (1)
Not present at time of survey River crossings (1)
Not present at time of survey Cattle possible (1)
Not present at time of survey Horses possible (1)
Not present at time of survey Tidal area (1)
Present at time of survey Potential falls (1)
Present at time of survey Exposed to elements (1)
Not present at time of survey Remote area (1)
Not present at time of survey Mountainous area (1)
Not present at time of survey Military training area (1)
Not present at time of survey No visible path (1)
Not present at time of survey Seasonal nesting birds (1)
Not present at time of survey Other hazards (1)

Accessibility

Is this route step and stile free?

Not present at time of survey Free of stiles (1)
Not present at time of survey Free of single steps/kerbs (1)
Present at time of survey Free of flights of steps (1)
Not present at time of survey Free of other obstacles (1)

Measurements

Surveyors were asked to measure the narrowest and steepest parts of paths.

The narrowest part of the path is 40.0cm (1)

The steepest uphill gradient walking East 4.0% (1)

The steepest uphill gradient walking West 3.0% (1)

The steepest camber gradient across the path 4.0% (1)

How clear is the waymarking on the route: Unsigned (1)

Successfully completed

We asked route surveyors "Have you successfully completed this route with any of the following? If so, would you recommend it to someone with the same requirements?". Here is how they replied.

Small Pug-sized dog (0)
Small Labrador-sized dog (0)
Large St. Bernard-sized dog (0)
Standard pram (0)
Off-road rugged pram (0)
Standard wheelchair (0)
Off-road rugged wheelchair (0)
Standard mobility scooter (0)
Off-road rugged mobility scooter (0)

Recommended by an expert

We asked route surveyors "Are you a trained access professional, officer or expert? If so, is this route suitable for someone travelling with any of the following?" Here is how they replied.

Small Pug-sized dog (0)
Small Labrador-sized dog (0)
Large St. Bernard-sized dog (0)
Standard pram (0)
Off-road rugged pram (0)
Standard wheelchair (0)
Off-road rugged wheelchair (0)
Standard mobility scooter (0)
Off-road rugged mobility scooter (0)

Terrain

We asked route surveyors to estimate how much of the route goes through different kinds of terrain.

12.0% of the route is on roads (1)

10.0% of the route is lit at night (1)

20.0% of the route is paved (1)

20.0% of the route is muddy (1)

5.0% of the route is over rough ground (1)

15.0% of the route is through long grass (1)

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1 surveys

Information from verified surveys.

3X December 2024 by Strider
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Geography information system (GIS) data

Total length

Maximum elevation

Minimum elevation

Start and end points

South Ockendon
Grid Ref TQ5946182975
Lat / Lon 51.52318° / 0.29716°
Easting / Northing 559,461E / 182,975N
What3Words native.nasal.sobs
West Horndon
Grid Ref TQ6229188113
Lat / Lon 51.56854° / 0.34028°
Easting / Northing 562,291E / 188,113N
What3Words golf.being.bride

Sorry Land Cover data is not currently available for this route. Please check back later.

reviews

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Overall ratings

3 reviews

0 reviews

3 reviews

0 reviews

0 reviews

0 reviews

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Other Routes for South Ockendon—West Horndon See all Slow Ways

South Ockendon—West Horndon

Souwes one

U U

Distance

8km/5mi

Ascent

12 m

Descent

25 m

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