Distance 7.5 miles (12km)
Classification Moderate
Duration 3 hours 30 minutes
Begins National Trust Armoury car park
Ends Blake's Wood car park
OS grid reference TL779 046
Walk in a nutshell
This is actually three inter-linking walks centred on the village of Danbury. The first is a circuit around Danbury Common, the second slides from Danbury Common to Lingwood Common, while the third explores Blake's Wood. The Common is criss-crossed with paths, so you'll need the help of a large-scale map for this walk.
Why it's special
Combined, this trio of walks offers up a superb variety of wildlife habitats including grassland, heath, ponds and mixed woodland.
Keep your eyes peeled for
The long-lived peacock butterfly, which may stagger on to the ripe old age of 11 months. It's easily recognised by the four large eye spots on its wings resembling those on a peacock's tail feathers. Further on, St John the Baptist church is built on a hill top in Danbury on the site of an ancient fort. Known as Danbury Camp, it was occupied at least 2,500 years ago and there are still traces of its fortifications visible. The 13th-century church, meanwhile, suffered bomb damage during the second world war, but has since been restored. When you reach Lingwood Common look out for birch polypore – a birch tree with the polypore fungus on it. It's easily spotted because it looks like someone has overcooked an omelette and stuck it on a tree.
Recover afterwards
At the Anchor in Runsell Green, a traditional country inn right down to the exposed beams and the brasses on the wall, where they've a wide-ranging menu likely to suit all tastes.
If it's tipping down
Head for Hylands House in Chelmsford. Built in 1730, the mansion has been restored to its former glory. If the rain stops, there are 574 acres of landscaped parkland to enjoy.
How to get there
Take the train to Chelmsford and then the 31X or 36 bus from the bus station to Eves Corner, Danbury.
Step by step
1 From the Armoury car park in Penny Royal Road (not the main car park in Bicknacre Road), head down to Bicknacre Road. Turn left on to a sign-posted public footpath and walk to Common Road. Cross over and bear right towards marker post 2.
2 Continue straight until reaching marker post 3, then head slightly to the right to marker post 4. Continue to head slightly right until reaching the bridle path 28, turn left, then right and head south towards marker post 5. Continue and shortly bear slightly to the left to marker post 6.
3 Turn left and continue towards marker post 7, recrossing the bridle path. After a short way, follow the path to the left, then turn right and head north to marker post 8. Go straight and turn right to reach marker post 9.
4 Walk a few paces towards the boundary and turn left towards marker post 10. Continue on and cross bridle path 30. Head on until reaching a footpath on the left. Turn left, then right, then make a half right turn followed by a left turn, crossing the Common Road again. Turn left, with the houses on your left, to reach marker post 11.
5 Return to the car park, then, facing the main road, turn right and head down Bicknacre Road to the road junctions. Cross over and turn left into Sporhams Lane. After about 15m, turn right at the footpath sign on the right.
6 Follow the footpath until reaching an unmade road (Fitzwalter Lane): do not exit on to Sporhams Lane but turn sharp right and follow the lane.
7 Cross Woodhill Road and follow the path as it leads between houses. At the junction with FP16, take the right-hand fork and continue, with the parish church on the left.
8 At the junction with FP20 turn sharp left and follow the path down to the A414. Cross over and after a few yards turn left on to Moorbridge Lane – FP59, unsigned. Continue for about 250m and, after entering Bellhill Wood, look out for a footpath crossroads and turn right up FP15 (with a close-boarded fence on the nearside).
9 After a few metres you will reach Lingwood Common. Cross two footbridges then continue to the junction with bridle path 13 and turn left downhill. If you miss this junction you will arrive at The Ridge; in which case turn around and make your way back downhill along bridle path 13.
10 Follow this path past a seat and continue for about 30m to a bridle path junction. Turn left on to Coleman's Lane (bridle path 14). Continue straight and just before reaching the ditchline and culvert, look for a small unsigned path on the right. If you reach the houses you have gone too far. Follow this path along the Lingwood boundary until reaching a marker post and turn right.
11 Follow this path until reaching a National Trust sign. Turn left, exit the gate on to Riffhams Chase, turn right and walk up to the Blake's Wood car park (150m on left). Go through the kissing gate and turn left. Taking the path immediately to the left, head downhill to a marker post. There are three paths now in front of you. Take the centre path and continue until reaching a seat and marker post 2.
12 Keep to the left-hand path until reaching another marker post, at which point bear right and continue until marker post 3.
13 Bear right until reaching marker post 4, then bear left until reaching a footbridge. Stay on this path until marker post 4. Continue, passing two pond beds to your left, and follow the path as it bears right along the perimeter of Blake's Wood to marker post 5.
14 Stay on this path as it bears left until you reach a seat and another marker post. Turn left and continue to a footbridge. Bear left until reaching another footbridge and continue until reaching another marker post.
15 When the path forks take the right-hand branch and continue.
16 Making a left and a right over a footbridge continue uphill past a seat to return to the car park and kissing gate. Turn right out of the car park and head down Riffhams Chase, then turn right on to bridle path 13. There are two seats on this stretch – just after the second, look out for the second path junction on your right.
17 Turn right, exiting Lingwood and re-tracing your route along Mooresbridge Lane until reaching a footpath crossroads. Turn right and follow the path until reaching a main road (A414). Cross the road and continue left up to the church. Go through the gate by the side of the church and follow the footpath directly downhill past the water tower on the left, until reaching Penny Royal Road at the bottom. Cross the road to enter the car park.
