Thorpe-le-Soken - Weeley Heath - Thorpe-le-Soken

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Thorpe-le-Soken, on the junction of the main railway line between Clacton, Walton, Frinton-on-Sea and London Liverpool Street, formerly had a major maltings and is still surrounded by farmland whose main produce is grain. Matthew Arnold had a home (Comarques) in the centre of the village and there was a fine old inn which burned down a couple of years ago, but which is currently being restored at great expense. You start from the picturesque village church (behind the aforementioned inn) and walk past old cottages and through farmland, to cross the railway line and continue through the pastoral landscape to the village of Weeley. After passing the church and hall and by-passing a wood (unless you want to extend the walk by a detour), you pass for a second time close to an incredible structure which is a navigational aid owned and run by National Air Traffic Services and which acts as a vital beacon for all aircraft passing over south-east England, including those heading to or from Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick. If bluebells are in season it will be worth your while to make the there-and-back detour into Weeley Wood. When you arrive back in Thorpe there are some pleasant little pubs and eating-houses, as well as a number of interesting village shops.

England - East England - Essex - Countryside

Features

Birds, Church, Flowers, Great Views, Pub, Toilets
11/10/2019 - Sid Marks

A very nice walk with perfect walk instructions.At the start,I parked in The Crown Pub car park opposite the church. I walked through the Churchyard to the bottom right corner. Fork right here, then in 30ft, fork right again to arrive at Mill Lane. Turn left to start the walk. I made it 5 miles.

11/28/2004 - debbie macey

Comarques was the home of Arnold Bennett, the novelist, not Matthew Arnold.