Purleigh, Hazeleigh and Rudley Green

The Church on the Hill

A walk through meadows and fields under huge Essex skies. The walk begins at Purleigh, a delightful village on a hill which offers fine views over the Blackwater estuary to the coast at Bradwell-on-Sea, nearly 20 miles away. From the village, the walk takes you on a five-mile circuit through gently undulating Essex countryside.

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Start Point

Purleigh

Grid Ref: TL 83817 01587

Total Distance

5.1 miles (8.2 km)

Total Climbing

80 metres

Estimated Time

2–3 hours

Difficulty Grade

Easy

Trail Navigation Files:

💾 Download GPX Route Google Earth (KMZ) 📖 About Purleigh

Ordnance Survey Explorer Map (1:25,000)

Essential paper map for exploring Chelmsford and The Rodings:

183 Chelmsford and The Rodings →

The Walk Report

After walking from Purleigh via fields, a short section of Birchwood Road, and along field sides by the edge of Kent Wood and a couple more fields besides, the route reaches the village of Hazeleigh. From here the walk continues along a green lane which was once part of a Roman road leading to Maldon. In fact, when on the Hazeleigh plateau at Spar Hill you can see as far as Maldon and the River Blackwater with its boats and barges plying their way to and from the coast.

The final part of the walk from Spar Hill to Purleigh passes some of England's most established vineyards as well as passing the site of an old motte and bailey castle at Castle Mound. The site may take some seeking out, now being obscured from the path by trees.

Acknowledgment: Text derived from the Out and Out Series; Discovering the Countryside on Foot. Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.

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Purleigh, Hazeleigh and Rudley Green

Ordnance Survey Explorer Map (1:25,000)

The Walk Report

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