May the fourth be with you Essex walk
23 people attending
2 places left
Added after walk: OS Map route for anyone wishing to clone the event:
https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/954764/Finchingfield-Circular…
A long long time ago, in a county not very far away...
Join us for this lovely day walk that has absolutely nothing to do with Star Wars - it just happens to be on May the 4th. Light sabers are welcome or just strap two danish pastries to the sides of your head and quote 'help me obi-wan' - if you so choose.
Starting and finishing in the sleepy village of Finchingfield this circular route will take us around beautiful Essex countryside. This leisurely walk requires no jumps to hyper space as we'll take our time at a pace that suits everybody. Finchingfield is often called the most beautiful village in England, a "picture-postcard" village and one of the most photographed, with a duck pond and village green surrounded by Georgian and medieval cottages; St John the Baptist Church on the hill; an eighteenth-century windmill and three public houses, one of which we will undoubtedly finish in at the end of the walk for a pint of something local.
As there is no convenient train station for Finchingfield, suggest using the comments box below to see if we can rally some (storm)troopers to get a few heads too and from nearby stations in their cars - the nearest being Braintree.
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:
Richard Green
Christine Matthews
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 and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
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
Bring some snacks for walking, plenty of water / hydration and you can either bring a packed lunch so we can grab a picnic on route, or as mentioned there are pubs towards the end of the walk later in the day.