About 3/4 off road (a mix of fieldside paths, farm tracks) and the road remainder was quiet (pavement or decent sightlines and verges). As I was testing this in combination with SouWes 1 and did miss some Fen Lane road walking....

Daisy C

At the north end of all that the route was incorrectly drawn, which would make the path neglect seem even worse and could not be resolved by better maintenance or drier weather - so route will be flagged for accuracy. Luckily easy fixes exist, except for the metal gate and possibility of meeting heavy machinery on the tracks, which should resolve when the land fill is full, or the solar farm is complete....

Daisy C

I found this new approach going up Sunnings Lane from online research but when I tried it a couple of weeks ago I hit a long bit of path overgrown with brambles to the point it was impassable. It's quite possible there is a way around, Strava heat maps, some possible interpretations of OS and OSM maps and Google maps aerial view all hint at it....

Daisy C

I was actually looking for a new RomSou route, or just a small adjustment to RomSou 1 needed because of the problem going through Little Belhus Country Park in Ockendon....

Daisy C

This "dangerous" and inaccessible section lasted for approx 1 mile, and i would suggest that the landowners have "actively" neglected this route so as to make it nearly unpassable....

scott Leonard

That was annoying but if you know it's coming and/or have a good map or gps it's not a problem to navigate....

Daisy C

I tested this over a couple of visits, in a variety of directions while I've been looking for a route that actually works. There are some really lovely parts of this walk, it has a wonderful chain of green spaces along the two rivers, but also a lot of route planning limitations further east. There's an accessibility gap to the E and N of the greenspaces around Belhus Country Park. I see how someone would have hoped this was a good possibility. It has several serious problems though, two are serious enough that the route just doesn't work as a Slow Way. Hopefully RomSou 2 fixes those big problems and several minor niggles, but it hasn't been fully tested.. 1) The section just east of the M25 leading to the footbridge is impassable. Little Belhus Country Park is still being converted from landfill and this bit has no public access.....

Daisy C

Lots to like on this route but sadly you are sadly not yet allowed to walk right through Little Belhus Country Park. Once it's all finished the line of this route will probably be a bit off in the SE corner, DagSou 2 gets it just right....

Daisy C

Walked this route in the summer.Apart from overgrown vegetation it is relatively easy with only one incline.It is generally well signposted and I would recommend it...

Rodway

Initially the route is pavement.Once you walk down the footpath in Stifford it can be muddy as you are walking in the valley of the river Mardyke.Some lovely views can be seen.Avoid going on the Travellers Site...

Rodway