Greensted to Coopersale Street and back
Maps - OS Landranger 167
14.75 miles
Start at Greensted Church OS TL 539030 nr Chipping Ongar.
Park near Greensted Church ( www.greenstedchurch.com ) and take time to visit the oldest wooden church in the world. Follow the Essex Way East, just South of the Church. The gate marked "Essex Way" is where the driveway (marked "private residences") turns North. Follow the North edge of 2 fields before passing through a gate to cross a driveway. Pass through a wooded strip then continue along the South edge of another field . Continue East towards Chipping Ongar but just before the conrete bridge that takes you into the town turn right on the path that crosses the Essex Way towards some houses which are the North edge of Marsden Ash.
Walk between two hedges onto a road where you turn right. After a short distance turn left down Fairbank Close. This brings you to the road to Greensted Church from Chipping Ongar, turn right. Turn left at the end of the houses and follow the Three Forests Way.You will pass a school on your right. Continue on this path in a Southwesterly direction to Stanford Rivers. The path is enclosed by hedges initially then follows the edge of a field to a cross roads of tracks where you continue straight ahead. Pass through some trees the continue along the edge of another field with a thin strip of trees on your left. Eventually just before Stanford Rivers the track becomes hedged on both sides and climbs up a little way.
At a minor road turn right then at the fork turn left. Continue straight ahead where the path is closed to cars and again where the footpath crosses the way. Shortly after turn left through the hedge onto a field. The map shows the path going straight across this field. In fact you turn right and keep the hedge on your right, going slightly North of West before turning South to a minor road. Do a right / left dogleg across the road to continue on the Three Forests Way in a Southwesterly direction with a hedge on your right.
At the end of the field do another right / left dogleg through the hedge the go straight across the field to the marker post ooposite at the end of the hedge. At this post cross a plank bridge and continue straight ahead in a Southwest direction on grassy strip between two fields. At the end of this strip turn left along a track. Where the track meets a hedge from the left pass through that hedge then go round the field keeping the hedge on your right, as opposed to going striaght across the field as it is marked on the map. At the bridge on your right, cross then turn left through the hedge to continue South.
At the row of trees turn right (West) to a wood. At the wood continue along its southern border by crossing first a concrete bridge then a wooden one. Keep the wood on your right until you come to hedge by a road. If you exit at the first gap opposite a house then turn left onto the minor road then right on the bridleway to Stapleford Tawney. If you exit at the second gap cross the minor road to the bridleway. At the end of the field the path continues West through a small wood before exiting onto another field which you cross beside a line of oaks to another narrow wood. Turn left then right to cut through the corner of the wood to a field where you turn right and keep the wood on your right.
At the end of the field the path passes through a deep hedgerow before exiting onto another field where you continue straight ahead (West). At the end of the hedgerow continue West across the field to far left of the houses opposite (Stapleford Tawney). At the minor road turn right passing St Mary's Church on your left. As you walk North along the road there are fine views West to Theydon Mount. Where the road turns right continue North past Little Tawney Hall. The path goes through the farm, past stables, pass the white house on your left and the sign "North End" on your right.
When you are back onto fields continue North through a gate keeping first a hedge then a fence on your left. At the end of the field pass through the hedge via a gate and continue North with a fence on your right. At the top of the hill go through a gate onto a gravel track and continue North. The gravel track ends at a brick driveway where you turn right then left to a minor road in Tawney Common. Take the Northern of the three roads to the Moletrap public house on your right. 7.75 mile.
Short route
Turn right out of the pub to continue North along the road. At the t-junction cross by a left / right dogleg to enter the wood and go North on a path. Where the path meets the Essex Way turn right. Continue on the common route.
Long route
Leave by the road heading Southwest past Beachet Wood on your left. At the t-junction turn left with a wood on your right. Where the road bears sharply left continue straight ahead (West) on a bridleway marked "Coopersale Street". Continue West until you reach the M11 where you turn right through a gate then left to cross the M11 by a bridge. At the end of the bridge turn left then right to walk along the edge of a field with a fence on your right. At the end of the field cross the stream via a bridge and continue straight ahead to a minor road.
At the road turn right immediately on a path heading North. The path skirts a field with a hedge on your left. At the end of the field take a left / right dogleg through the hedge to another field which you skirt keeping the hedge on your left. At the wood go over a stile and bridge then turn left along the path. At the edge of the wood turn right (Northeast) following the Essex Way marker. There will be a school on your left. After the school go through a gate to cross a recreation ground with a fence on your right. At the end of the fence turn right into Gernon Bushes nature reserve then left on the path.
At the end of some duckboards turn right on the bridleway, this will take you back over the M11. The bridleway comes down to a track where you go straight on. The track to the left is not shown on the map. Where the track bears right carry straight on. This path goes due East to Toot Hill over about 2 miles. There is a crossroads with a bridleway where you go straight on. After this the path may seem to fade. Just keep walking and it will become obvious. The long route meets the short route at the edge of the wood. Continue on the common route.
At the edge of the wood continue East along the edge of a field with a row of trees to your left. The path follows an obvious grassy track between two fields. Eventually it meets a hedgerow on the right. Turn right at the footpath marker to pass through the hedge then turn half left across the field to the telegraph pole opposite. Pass the gap in the hedge and continue along the edge of a field with the hedge on your left. Ignore the turning on the left through the hedge, but at the end of the field continue straight on between the hedges. Cross the stile then turn half right across a field in a Southeast direction. Cross another stile to exit onto a minor road at Toot Hill. Turn left to pass The Green Man pub on your left.
Continue North on this road ignoring Toot Hill Road to your road and Mill Lane to your left. Where the road turns sharply left continue straight ahead on the concrete driveway passing Weald Lodge to your right, there is a telegraph pole by the driveway with an Essex Way marker on it's Nortwestern face. Exit onto a field and turn right, almost immediately turn right across a bridge then left between a fence and the hedge. Cross another bridge and a stile to enter a field and continue Southeast with the hedge on your left. Cross a stile and a bridge to continue Southeast between a fence and the hedge. Where the fence turns right continue straight ahead.
At the plantation continue straight ahead with the plantation on your right and hedge on your left. After the plantation ignore the gap in the hedge on your left opposite the black barn, but turn left through the hedge at the marker. Cross the paddocks keeping the trees on your left. After the fourth paddock the path continues on the left side of some scrubland. Pass through the hedge on your left via a stile, mind the hanging wire! Then turn right along the edge of a field.
At the minor road go half left to cross and continue on the Essex Way slightly North of East with trees to your left. At the corner of the field go straight ahead through the hedge via a bridge. Continue along the edge of the field until passing through the hedge you come to a concrete track. Turn right then at a gate in a brown fence pass through and continue straight ahead back to your vehicle.