Great Bardfield to Finchingfield
The villages of Great Bardfield and Finchingfield are lovely places to visit to see
the historic village centres, pubs and tea rooms. The countryside in between is
just as enjoyable.
1 Start: The walk begins at the footpath which runs through the car park of the
Vine pub, follow this through the car park, into a field and follow a well trodden
path through the meadows and down hill crossing a couple of fields and through
gates until you get to the River Pant on your right. Follow the edge of a field until
you get to a concrete bridge with Copford Hall in front of you. Cross the river at
this point and turn immediately left keeping the river on your left. Exiting this field
into another you will see a stile near a weir and measuring station. Continue
along the path and you will pass on your left another concrete bridge. Continue
ahead and climb over another stile and turn immediately right up the slight incline
towards Beslyns. Cross over a stile into the lane and turn left.
2 Continue past the small triangle with a signpost to Pitley Farm and, after about
100 metres, follow the fingerpost into the field on the right up a track, just past
Beslyns. Beslyns reached prominence in a painting by Edward Bawden, who was
a resident of Great Bardfield, in his picture entitled ‘Pond at Beslyns, Great
Bardfield’. This picture is now held at the Chelmsford Museum. Turn left on the
brow of the hill and follow the broad track to the top of the field. The route is
indicated by a yellow waymarker that takes you off the broad track, by heading to
the right of the hedge. Follow the footpath round the edge of the field eventually
meeting another broad track. On your left you will pass a spinney known as
Great Wincey. A scheduled ancient monument, it contained a 17th century
moated farmhouse with a fishpond to the north of the site. Three arms of the
moat are still visible through the trees. Follow the track and ignore another
leading off to your left and walk a grassy track down into Finchingfield. As you
walk into Finchingfield, you will pass fields and the site of the Finchingfield Riding
Club and the recreation ground and then down through a shaded track coming
out at the side of houses and on to the main road.
3 Rest awhile in the pubs or tearooms in the village or turn right and cross over
the road and pass the post office. Walking along the pavement, you will come to
a fingerpost. Turn left and after about 50 metres there is a track off to your right
at the back of the houses. Alternatively, continue along to the attractive church of
Finchingfield, dating mainly from the 14th century, before returning to the track.
Follow the track through a small spinney and out into the open fields once again
with the Finchingfield Brook on your left. The path follows the river past small
arable fields, fenced gardens and grass paddocks containing sheep and horses.
The path leads eventually to a track connecting Champions Farm with the main
road. Turn briefly right and then left around the side of an arable field and
continue round the side of the field until you turn left over a long footbridge with
the watermill ahead of you. Continue past the house and turn right through the
farmyard and up a track keeping the garden on your right. You will cross two
fields and another stile until you meet the brook on your right. Continue for about
25 metres and turn right over a plank bridge between the houses leading to
Bridge Street. Turn left onto the narrow pavement and walk up the hill towards
Great Bardfield village centre. You will pass The Cage (the former village lock-up
built in 1816). Continue up Bridge Street and turn right, back into Vine Street and
The Vine pub.
Distance: 4 miles / 6.45 km
Terrain: Rolling countryside with 4 stiles and a squeeze stile
Start: The Vine pub, Vine Street, Great Bardfield (GR 305 676)
Map: OS Explorer 195 Braintree and Saffron Walden
Parking: The Vine pub (ask permission first) or on-street parking, making sure
that you park with consideration to residents
Refreshments: Pubs and tea rooms in Great Bardfield and Finchingfield