A Walk Around the High Country

Just in case you suffer with an excess of good cheer this year, you might wish to exercise. The total distance of the walk shown below is just over 6 miles.

From the rear of the car park the Budworth Hall take the Essex Way towards Greensted. As the path narrows, walk between dwarf oaks, over the cross path and through the kissing gate. Bear right, then left towards the second kissing gate, passing the pond of Greensted Hall on your right. Walk through the gate, passing Church Lodge on your left; Greensted church is on your right.

Keeping the church on your right, bear right past terraced cottages and go through the gate. After 100yds (91m), turn left across the footbridge and follow the field-edge path keeping the hedgerow on your right. Maintain this direction through three fields, passing Greensted Wood on your right, until you reach Greensted Road. Turn left and pick up the footpath on your right. Continue along the field-edge path keeping hedgerows on your left for about 100yds (91m), where you cross the stile so that the hedgerow is now on your right. Climb a series of five stiles.

At the fifth stile turn right and after 100yds (91m), cross another stile. Turn right, passing the low wall of Widow's Farm on your left, and follow the path right. After 25yds (23m), take the footpath left and follow the field-edge path to Toot Hill Road. Turn left for Clatterford End. At the T-junction maintain direction for Coleman's Farm, following the lane.

As the lane bears right into Coleman's Farm, maintain direction on to the bridleway for ½ mile (800m), ignoring paths left and right until you reach the tarmac lane. Just before the T-junction, turn right on to the cross-field path to Stanford Rivers. At the converted barn dwellings on your left, turn right on to the gravel path and left on to School Road with St Margaret's Church on your left.

Walk past the church to the crossroads and turn left. After 400yds (366m) follow the right turn next to the house called Ambermead. Maintain direction on the uphill path for views of farmland and pass the ridge of oak trees at Kettlebury Spring. Follow the path past the school and turn right on to The Borough. Continue to the T-junction passing the Two Brewers pub on the right. Turn left into the High Street and