Chipping Ongar to Greensted Church 

After a long spell of dry weather, it was with some surprise that we had a wet day for our 5 mile walk, though the forecast thunderstorms didn’t materialise.

Eight of us met near Chipping Ongar Library on 29th August, having travelled in two cars. We headed left out of the car park and followed the High Road down to the Two Brewers junction, then turned right up Greensted Road where just before the school there is a footpath which runs alongside the school. Following this we arrived at a field. The directions were to follow a path parallel to the telegraph poles across the field. On the recce a month or so previous this was a clear footpath, however the combination of recent ploughing and rain meant this wasn’t a viable option, but we were able to follow a path to the left of the field, then right between the field and a hedgerow to arrive at the required bridge. With several other fields having been ploughed the paths at the edges seemed somewhat narrower than I remembered and we also got our boots rather caked in mud at various times which made it heavy going. We spotted a red kite at one point and in the woods heard a robin.

The footpaths circled round to join up with the Essex Way to get to the beautiful log church of St Andrew in Greensted where we stopped for lunch and a browse inside the church.

We then carried on along the Essex Way back to Chipping Ongar where we found a nice café for a warming cuppa and a well earned slice of cake.

Despite the rain it was an enjoyable walk with good company.  Richard. 30th August 2026