I found it very easy to follow - the GPX was accurate and the paths well signposted. There is some road walking, but the roads seemed very quiet....

urizen25

Stansted Mountfitchet to Saffron Walden 2 (Stasaf 2) review. The route crosses the M11 via a footbridge and then through woods; welcome shade on a hot day (Photo 2). Prior Wood offered more welcome shade, although I was surprised how muddy it still was (Photo 7). The Slow Way continues towards Saffron Walden along a wide byway. An urban walk into Saffron Walden is partially avoided via a corner of the Audley End estate gardens....

Martin Ellis

Bishop’s Stortford to Stansted Mountfitchet 4 (Bissta 4) review. The walk into Stansted Mountfitchet has good views, including a glimpse of the town’s restored windmill (Photo 3)....

Martin Ellis

Crossing points with roads presented the predicatable hazards, but the route contains no significant sections of pavement-less road walking, other than a brief section after Elsenham Station, where the traffic is fairly controlled and at crossing points. There is a Co-op supermarket near the station at Stansted Mountfichet and an off-license / sweetshop at Audley End Station, which was still open at 7.30 pm. So, one last thing: I didn't walk the final stretch into Saffron Walden itself. This was down to my travel plan, which was to come out of London Liverpool Street by train to Stansted Mountfichet and return from Audley End station, which are on the same line, which enables one to travel on a return ticket from Liverpool Street to Audley End. So, Instead of turning right at the Wendon Road to go into Saffron Walden, I turned off-route to the left and walked along pavement-less roads to Audley End, which wasn't as bad as I feared, since there are traffic-calming measures installed. By the time I reached Audley End Station, I realised that the whole area is exceptionally well serviced by local buses, so would have been perfectly possible to finish the walk into Saffron Walden and then take one of the frequent buses to Audley End, even as late as 7.00 or 8.00 pm. This excellent bus system, run by Stephensons, connects not only Saffron Walden and Audley End, but also Elsenham Station, Haverhill, Henham, Stansted Mountfichet, Newport and Bishops Stortford. For example, it would make a good day walk to start at Elsenham Station and do the walk up to Saffron Walden, or one could join or leave the route at Henham....

annawalker

I flagged the route for access because of this, but the comment on my review indicates that the barriers are no longer there, so I've updated this review to recommend the route....

urizen25

It is a 60mph link between villages and the airport, in places it narrows down dangerously. The edges and verge are rutted and fragmented but the enormous trucks that race along here....

David

You come off to cross the A1250 and in theory go straight into a park, however the entrance is currently closed (I think they may be working on the river bridge) but if you walk east a few yards and recross the river you can turn into the park there and rejoin the route. The walking is firm underfoot and suitable for pushchairs and bikes until you get to Johnson’s Bridge where it starts to get a bit softer and by the time you cross the River Stort again it is getting a bit muddy in places. Traffic travelling westbound on the A120 is slightly obscured by trees but you can see far enough to cross safely – this wouldn’t be a problem if you were travelling the route in the opposite direction....

porcovolente

I suggest taking a short detour at the start of the first footpath in Stansted to avoid steep steps and a very overgrown section of footpath for the first approximately 50 metres....

Helen Glashier

I enjoyed walking this route apart from the section around Molehill Green which involved walking on a busy road with no pavement and limited verges. For this reason I would not recommend it goes on the network and have suggested an alternative route....

Helen Glashier

This majority of this route follows a section of the Harcamlo Way a recognised long distance path....

vic

To be honest if one must walk to Stansted from the station I would take the main road and once beyond the A120 roundabout towards Stansted take extra care as oncoming traffic, particularly lorries and large vans, drive close to the pavement due the road width....

vic

The route from the Historic Market Town of Saffron Walden to Widdington is good & easy to follow as it mainly follows a section of the Harcamlow Way. From Widdington we would suggest a number of improvements in order to align this route more closely to the SlowWays methodology. Our suggestions would make this route safer, more accessible, reduction to road sections,pass additional rail link, be easier to navigate & be more enjoyable....

moraybee