Retry The John Ray Walk -1/2
We made another try to walk 'The John Ray Walk', because we gave up on the half way last time. Again, the John Ray Walk is a 9 miles (14.5km) linear walk between Braintree and Witham, Essex, celebrating the life and achievements of an English naturalist, John Ray (1627-1705).
It was a slightly cloudy morning. Last time we started from Witham, but we started from the opposite end (Braintree) this time. It's an easy walking course through gently undulating countryside.
We walked through a peaceful residential area in Braintree, and towards the road A120.
Always near the road is not nice because of busy traffic noise... We crossed the bridge over the road and walked the path along the road for a while.
We crossed the field and finally got a peacefully quiet area.
There was a footbridge. I wonder if someone almost fell off the steps..., the panel was broken. Actually, when the big mouse stepped on the bridge, another panel creaked. Even if it was a shallow stream, you don't want to get wet from the beginning, do you?
Buttercups were all over. The natural view was so beautiful.
Next, we found a mustard field! The peak of the season was over but still beautiful.
We passed a big oak tree.
We went through a kissing gate. I thought the name of the gate is lovely. The name is that the gate merely 'kisses (touches)' the enclosure either side, rather than needing to be securely latched. This name made us smile:)
We crossed a footbridge and stiles, walked the footpath in Black Notley.
We didn't get lost in fields, but got lost once in a part of the residential area of Black Notley because we couldn't find a footpath... We corrected the direction, and started to walk the field again towards White Notley.
We cossed a few footbridges and enjoyed the view of fields and River Brain.
We were planning to have a lunch at White Notley, because we knew there is a nice pub in the village.
See, the huge pig had its lunch time:)
Eye-grabbing beautiful English garden! Gee, I want to make a garden like this!
The horse had a lunch time as well! Our lunch time is coming soon!
We headed off the course and headed to the centre of the village to have a lunch. But unfortunately, this pub was closed until 3:00 pm on that day... So we gave up to rest there, and started to walk to Cressing Temple, because the map says there is a café. We crossed our fingers that the café would be open.
Part 1. Braintree to White Notley (This article)
Part 2. White Notley to Witham
It was a slightly cloudy morning. Last time we started from Witham, but we started from the opposite end (Braintree) this time. It's an easy walking course through gently undulating countryside.
We walked through a peaceful residential area in Braintree, and towards the road A120.
Always near the road is not nice because of busy traffic noise... We crossed the bridge over the road and walked the path along the road for a while.
We crossed the field and finally got a peacefully quiet area.
There was a footbridge. I wonder if someone almost fell off the steps..., the panel was broken. Actually, when the big mouse stepped on the bridge, another panel creaked. Even if it was a shallow stream, you don't want to get wet from the beginning, do you?
Buttercups were all over. The natural view was so beautiful.
Next, we found a mustard field! The peak of the season was over but still beautiful.
We passed a big oak tree.
And we found something. It looked like a mushroom, fruit or something, but there was only one. Later, we found it is called 'oak apple', which is caused by a tiny gall wasp.
We reached at the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul where John Ray was laid to rest.
We went through a kissing gate. I thought the name of the gate is lovely. The name is that the gate merely 'kisses (touches)' the enclosure either side, rather than needing to be securely latched. This name made us smile:)
We crossed a footbridge and stiles, walked the footpath in Black Notley.
We didn't get lost in fields, but got lost once in a part of the residential area of Black Notley because we couldn't find a footpath... We corrected the direction, and started to walk the field again towards White Notley.
We cossed a few footbridges and enjoyed the view of fields and River Brain.
We were planning to have a lunch at White Notley, because we knew there is a nice pub in the village.
See, the huge pig had its lunch time:)
Eye-grabbing beautiful English garden! Gee, I want to make a garden like this!
The horse had a lunch time as well! Our lunch time is coming soon!
We headed off the course and headed to the centre of the village to have a lunch. But unfortunately, this pub was closed until 3:00 pm on that day... So we gave up to rest there, and started to walk to Cressing Temple, because the map says there is a café. We crossed our fingers that the café would be open.
To be continued.....
Part 1. Braintree to White Notley (This article)
Part 2. White Notley to Witham
- The map of 'The John Ray Walk' is available from here; https://johnraytrust.com/the-john-ray-walk. It's absolutely helpful. We walked this course with only this map.
