COLNES FOOTPATH ASSOCIATION
This is our walks programme for 2008/2009
The walks take place on the first Sunday of each month. As with previous years we have an exceptional programme of walks over an ever changing terrain, exploring in and around the picturesque Colne Valley. This is a particularly splendid part of Essex with its grand network of Public Footpaths, the majority of them very well maintained. We are a very friendly walking group, if you haven't walked with us before we will be pleased to see you on any of our forthcoming walks. There is a contact number for details of each walk. If you have a more general enquiry about our walking group or would like a 2008/2009 walks programme please telephone either John Edwards 01787 222934 or Ann Runtle 01787 223409 WALK IN ESSEX - THE COUNTY OF HIDDEN TREASURES
WALKS PROGRAMME 2008/2009
2008
Sunday July 6th - Gosfield Area. Sunday, August 3rd - Local Walk. Sunday,September 7th- Wickham St. Paul including Bulmer Brick Yard - 2pm Sunday, October 5th - Memorial Walk Colne Engaine Area - 2pm.
Meet Colne Engaine Village Hall Car ParkLeaders Ann & Brian Runtle. For more details telephone: 01787 223409 Sunday, November 2nd - Pebmarsh Area. Sunday, December 7th - White Colne Area - 2pm
Friday, December 26th - Boxing Day Walk, Colne Engaine Area - 10.30am Meet Colne Engaine Village Hall Car Park .
Social Drink after the walk at The Five Bells. Leaders Ann & Brian Runtle. For more details telephone: 01787 223409. 2009
Sunday, January 4th - Pattiswick/Stisted Area. Sunday, February 1st - Halstead Area. Meet Solar Car Park - 2pm. Sunday, March 1st - Wivenhoe River Walk. Meet Wivenhoe Town Car Park - 2pm
Leaders Sarah & Robin Greatorex. For more details telephone: 01206 531547. Sunday, April 5th - Discovery Centre, Great Notley
Meet Discovery Centre, Great Notley - 2pm For more details telephone: 01787 222040 Sunday, May 3rd - Bures to Sudbury. Meet Bures Railway Station - 1pm
Walk to Sudbury, Train back to Bures - PLEASE NOTE 1pm START
Leaders Ann & Brian Runtle. For more details telephone: 01787 223409
Sunday, June 1st - Bures Area.
Meet Bures Village Hall Car Park, Nayland Road - 2pm Leader Nancy Schwier. For more details telephone: 01787 224689.
COLNES FOOTPATH ASSOCIATION REPORT ON THE SEPTEMBER WALK3 D’s is how I would describe this summer – damp, dismal and disappointing – and September hasn’t been exactly brilliant either, so far, in fact the start of our recent walk from Wickham St Paul saw us taking cover in the bus shelter on the village green! However luck was with us and in spite of it being soggy underfoot the showers held off. Most of the walk was on good paths but some fields had been ploughed and were yet to have paths reinstated. We set off from the Green in the direction of the B1058 Hedingham/Bulmer road. This area stands high and open, with sweeping panoramic views towards Gestingthorpe, the Belchamps and Bulmer. Crossing the road we dropped down into the valley and followed the course of a brook, with Gestingthorpe to our left and Hill Farm ahead. Passing the site of the roman villa on the Hill Farm estate and with Westborough Hill in sight we approached the Bulmer Brick and Tile works. The last surviving example of a once very important local industry – in 1895 there were no less that 26 brickyards in the Halstead/Sudbury area – it is also possibly the last coal fired brickworks in the country. Clay is still being dug from the yard and each time a kin is fired it takes £1000 worth of best quality coal. The bricks are much in demand for restoration work and the group were reluctant to leave this most interesting and fascinating site. If you would like to know more I urge you to obtain a copy of ‘Our Mother Earth’ by Ashley Cooper, published by Bulmer Historical Society. Heading back towards Wickham St Paul the footpath passes through Butlers Hall Farm with its sadly deserted buildings and eventually emerges onto the lane that leads back to the village. Storm clouds were building but we made it back in the dry. The October walk will start from Colne Engaine Village Hall car park, meeting Sunday 5th
at 2pm. Known as the memorial walk it is dedicated to past members, sadly we add another name to the list with the untimely passing of David Gilbert, who served the Association in the past as Chairman and as an enthusiastic member of working party’s when the C.F.A. were responsible for path maintenance. All are welcome to join us on this walk which will be towards Pebmarsh. Cross your fingers for some fine autumn weather. Ann and Brian will lead, telephone 01787 223409 for further information. For details of the Colnes Footpath Association and forthcoming monthly walks please visit www.adventure-trek.co.uk
Ann Runtle
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