Walnut Tree - Broads Green

Very nice mid-Essex pub with variety of rides

As I live in Witham, this is a regular destination.

It is even easier for Chelmsfordians to clip on a set of lights and enjoy anything from a 10 mile round trip upwards as the summer evenings take you.

The Walnut tree

This is a genuine pub with Greene King's version of real ale served by gravity straight from the cask.

There is food and you can sit outside and enjoy the evening sunshine. The regulars who are extremely loyal to their traditional drinking hole, enjoy the community back-chat, gossip and reminiscences.

Opens at noon.
See web page


Broads green is roughly five miles due north of Chelmsford.
Map Landranger 167 or Explorer 183

Ordnance Survey map reference TL 693 125

Chelmsford
Chelmsford has all the charm of a multi-storey carpark without any of the excitement. If some wag has sent you here for a day out then the tourist information office is two minutes cycle from the railway station. Left out of station (with bridge on your right). Straight on over both roundabouts, sharp right at shopping area, 50 yards on right, past toilets, hidden in the County Council offices up steps.

Witham
Witham tries to emulate its bigger neighbour. (See Chelmsford.) There are 14 pubs but I won't use any of them except under extreme pressure.

Braintree
The fastest growing town in Essex. ‘Nuff said!

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The rides described here are:

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Chelmsfordians - Get on your bikes!

This is a really easy bike ride through the country lanes. A 10 mile round trip shouldn't be too taxing.

Over the bridge detour

  • Chelmer cycles. Open Mon-Sat 9am-6pm. Helpful. Over bridge, left at tee.
  • Decent real ale (And cider) pub Queens Head in Lower Anchor St. Over bridge, right at tee then first left
For the occasional cyclist use the same route back.
When you get to the tee-junction on the edge of Chelmsford you could turn left, go half a mile then turn right at the next tee-junction. Cycle route signs should direct you to the town centre.

More adventurous cyclists could try the following return route:


Witham to Broads green is 11 miles.

(OS 791 148) Dog-leg cross roads

This is quite an important route point a the west of Witham.
N Peg Millar's Lane
E Terling Road (which leads to Witham)
S Dancing Dick's Lane (which leads to Witham)
W Witham road (which leads to Terling)
The shortest way to the Walnut Tree is West. North leads to all sorts of interesting possibilities.

Broads green to Witham

Fancy another way back to Witham? This is a bit longer but shows some other possibilities for future expeditions in this direction.

Straight on option If you fancy a bit of off-road and don't mind getting to Black Notley (NB Railway station is called Cressing) then

Shenfield to Broads Green 22 miles

I rode this to take advantage of a strong South westerly wind.
Blackmore - Norton Heath - Willingale - Good Easter.
I have noted some off-road bits which might appeal to Chelmsford area cyclists who fancy something different with say a summer's evening run west to build a thirst.

At the bottom of Beech Rd you come to a T-junction.
If you look at the map you'll see some off-road possibilities by going right.
    • ½ mile towards Roxwell (604 079)
    • Left onto the Essex way. This is trashed by 4x4s with deep ruts but might be passable.
    • This eventually brings you out to the A1060 (621 109)
    • which you cross onto a field-edge track.
    • When back on the road turn Left up the hill towards Good Easter.
    • Right at X-roads at Good Easter.
    • Continued...
    • Following the road all the way to and through Roxwell village you come out at the A1060 (660 083).
    • Cross over with a right-100yds-left dogleg. The field-edge track is in the field not the drive to the pumping station.
    • When the track reaches the bottom of the hill steer right a bit,
    • across the river and up the track.
    • When you come to a real road (668 098) turn left.
    • 1st right (665 113) takes you through Chignal Smealy.
    • Left (678 111) just before the Pig and Whistle pub.
    • Right at top of hill to Broads green and a welcome glass of ale.

The road route turns left.


Broads Green to Braintree etc.

There are many possibilities.
I'm including a few pointers here to flag-up options for all sorts of runs.
Watch out for unnecessary valleys and keep off the A130.
Use Landranger 167.

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