Colchester to Chappel & Wakes Colne Viaduct
14 people attending
8 places left
Come and enjoy some fresh autumn air and the attractive North Essex Countryside on this 8.5-mile day walk.
We will start from the busy Historic Town of Colchester and then escape out into the countryside mostly following the River Colne and taking in some lovely country scenes. We’ll end up at the village of Chappel & Wakes Colne where we can take in the views of the impressive 32 arched brick-built Chappel Railway Viaduct. Here we can then enjoy a well-earnt pint or two hopefully in front of a welcoming roaring fire at the local pub.
The train enthusiasts amongst you will no doubt appreciate the small but interesting East Anglian Railway Museum at Chappel Station which you can peruse at your leisure at the end of the walk.
At the end of the event we will take the little branch line from Chappel (across the viaduct!) to Marks Tey station which is on the London Liverpool St mainline. From here if you arrived at the event start in Colchester by car, take a mainline train back to Colchester for your car.
Dog owners - this is a dog-friendly walk but please be prepared for the fact that there will be stiles and also please remember that not everyone is a dog lover so please be a responsible dog owner and keep it on a lead when and where required.
Photo credits:
Andy Gent
Used under the Creative Commons 2.0 License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/
What to bring
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking, trainers are OK if the ground is dry and there’s little chance of rain
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter.
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch unless otherwise stated
Food & drink
Please bring a packed lunch, snacks and plenty of hydration.