The walk from White Notley Station to Cressing Temple Barns, Braintree, Essex, England
This walk is about one mile each way and should take you 30 minutes each way depending on your average walking speed and whether, or not, you dawdle. The path is well marked with signs and is also well worn such that it is easy to follow on the ground.
White Notley Station has only one track and one platform. Follow the platform until you reach the road, and the level crossing, then turn right over the level crossing and along the road.
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In the view above you would be walking towards the camera then turning to your right and going out of the left edge of the picture.
This is a minor road without pavements which means that you will have to walk in the road but it is not heavily used so you should have no problems with what little traffic there is.
Continue down the hill until you see the narrow bridge over the river.
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This is the little bridge with the ford to it's right. Turn left immediately before the bridge (do not cross the bridge) onto a wide surfaced track with a footpath signpost on the verge near the bridge. You can just make out the signpost in the shadows on the left of the picture (Easier to see in the larger picture) pointing out of the picture to the left.
In this picture you can see the grass verge on the left curving round into the above mentioned track.
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This track is blocked by locked gates which you can bypass by going through the Kissing Gate on the left-hand side. The locked gates are to prevent access by vehicles and not to impede pedestrians.
Follow this track to the point where it veers left and directly in front of you is a stile which you should climb over. Follow the left edge of this field as far as the next stile, climb over the stile and continue straight ahead.
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The next visual marker to look for is this footbridge - you can't miss it.
When you see this bridge you will be on the other side of the river from this view with the bridge on your right. Don't go over the bridge but go past it to continue in the same direction that you have been travelling and continue along the edge of the field.
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Here the field has recently been ploughed but it may look quite different when you see it. With the field boundary now on your right (the main body of the field will be on your left) continue to the corner of the field, where you should see a footpath marker post, and follow the field boundary round to the left.
You will be heading for the far top corner of the field which is almost on the centreline of the picture.
Follow the field edge to the top corner of the field where you should see a stile in front of you together with some signs on the other side of the hedge.
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Over the stile you will find that the path goes across a single railway track so cross the track with care. There is a good view each way along the track for quite a long distance such that if there was a train coming then you would see it well in advance. Be aware that, being a single line, trains can approach from either direction. Children should be kept under strict control in this area for their own safety.
After crossing the railway track you will go over another stile visible between the two signs.
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Walk a short distance to a kissing gate and, after passing through the gate, you will find yourself on the edge of a large field. Directly in front of you on the far side of the field you should see a red tiled roof which is part of the Cressing Temple Barns complex. Head for the red roof in a straight line across the field.
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When you reach the far side go through the obvious Kissing Gate, just visible in the picture, to the edge of the road, just showing through the gap in the trees, and on the opposite side of the road is a large sign proclaiming "Cressing Temple Barns". This road can be busy so cross with care to the grass verge on the other side and, again, keep children under strict control in this area for their own safety.
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Turn right along the verge for just a few yards until you see a stile on your left over which is a path which leads to the car park and entrance to Cressing Temple Barns.
NOTES:
Follow the route in reverse to go back to White Notley Station.
This is a lovely walk on a fine, dry day but if it is wet be prepared to get muddy in places.
There are toilets and a cafeteria in Cressing Temple Barns.