POSTPONED - Nice & Easy Colchester Castle to Wivenhoe
17 people attending
8 places left
Unfortunately this event is now postponed for safety reasons due to Met Office Weather warning for Heavy Rain, Thunder and Lightning. The event is due to be rescheduled for a later date to be advised.
Get out in the crisp autumn air for a nice easy 6 mile linear walk from the historic Roman town of Colchester (which claims to be Britain's oldest recorded town) and down alongside the river Stour to the pretty little estuary town of Wivenhoe.
The mostly flat and hard surface walk will take us initially to and through the lovely grounds of Colchester Castle Park (where there is some short uphill incline) and around the outside of the Castle itself. An impressive building, ripe for photography, it's a Norman Castle dating back to 1070 and apparently built under instruction of William the Conqueror. We will not on this occasion, be entering inside (trust me, you'd sadly be disappointed probably by its interior!). We'll then walk down through more of Colchester itself towards the small industrial area of The Hythe where we'll eventually leave the built-up area and escape into the countryside along the path that follows the River Stour on its journey to Wivenhoe. We'll end up in the lower part of this small town which has a quaint historic riverside feel with a couple of narrow streets and some pretty architecture
Once there we will head towards the charming quayside pub on the river for a customary ODL beverage stop. From there we'll head over to Wivenhoe station for the trip back to Colchester (£4.20 single)
Dogs - On this occasion sadly dogs will not be able to join us as the they are not allowed to enter the main Castle Park area.
Newbies - I would like to warmly welcome any newbies looking perhaps to try this as their first Outdoor Lads event. You may find this link useful https://www.outdoorlads.com/my-first-event or if you have If you have any questions then feel free to message me.
IMPORTANT! - Participation Statement
You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.
COVID-19 – IMPORTANT, Please read the following before you sign up to this event:
- Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms or who is showing any symptoms is asked not to attend.
Photo credits and thank you's to:
Andy Gent
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
We should arrive in Wivenhoe in time for lunch. Although we are ending up at the pub, food availability cannot be guaranteed on the day so it is recommended you bring a packed lunch which we will consume somewhere before we get to the pub itself for drinks. Please bring plenty of water for hydration along the walk and a carrier bag is a top tip for sitting on when we stop for lunch.