Roach Valley Way: Rochford to Hockley

"There were only four of us on the walk but we were blessed with perfect weather - sunny but not too hot.



"The going for the most part was easy and we made good speed to the lunch stop at Pagglesham Churchend, where we arrived at 12.30, having covered the first 7.5 miles in less than 2.5 hours. There we had our picnics in the churchyard then headed for the particularly attractive marshland near Lion Creek, which is now a nature reserve.





"From there we walked along the top of the embankment beside the River Crouch for 2.5 miles, wading through long, rough vegetation, which was hard going and slowed our pace, before at last arriving at Upper Raypitts Farm, where we headed north along field paths to Canewdon and a much-need drink. After a few problems route finding we arrived at Hockley Station at around 5.45 pm, having covered nearly 20 miles in around 6.5 hours of walking". Jane Rosoux, who kindly led the walk and provided both report and photography.

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Rochford Circular

Ten Ramblers joined Walk Leader Jane Rosoux on the South coast near Southend last Sunday.

As we moved out to the coast the countryside ...

gave way to a more bleak, windswept landscape...

Our walk was planned to be 15 miles long,

though some navigational difficulties led to us walking 17!

History, both ancient and modern, surrounded us. We walked through the site of the court of King Canute, Canewdon.


The village lock-up would have been used to detain miscreants overnight until they could be transported to the county jail.

This pill box was part of the coastal defences from the second World War.

The low-lying, flood-prone estuary land even led some of the local farmers to build structures on stilts....



Finally, we were all puzzled as to what the crop was in this picture. Any suggestions or ideas? Just click on "comments" below right and share your thoughts.



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