Hike report - 1985

There was already snow on the ground as we set off for Essex, another county in which we had not previously hiked.

Although the number of hikers had been reduced to six, absences were not the result of the very cold weather.

As usual we drove into town and found a suitable looking pub – one with a garden that the landlord might let us camp in.

In we went, had a few drinks and as closing time approached asked the question.

Following the positive response we went round the back and pitched the tents (just the two this year) amongst a small clump of trees. Despite the cold, something we were all now pretty used to, we had a good night’s sleep.

Although the route had been planned in advance, past experience had proved that weather conditions have a real impact on our rate of progress. It was therefore obvious that with snow covered roads and fields we would not be covering as many miles as we had originally expected.

With everything packed away we set off north-west to Gestingthorpe via minor roads and a series of footpaths crossing farmers’ fields.

Lunch was then taken.

Although cold it was at least dry, in fact not bad conditions for hiking. Nevertheless, the afternoon stretch was not very far and we arrived on the outskirts of Belchamp Walter in the early evening, just as it was staring to get dark.

We stopped at the local pub and asked the publican to suggest a campsite and also enquired as to when he opened in the evening. He suggested Wait’s Farm a few hundred yards on the road out of the village. The farmer was very friendly and readily agreed to us erecting our tents on the edge of his field – well away from his private airfield and landing strip!

After our meal we walked back to the pub to find it seemingly still closed. A short discussion followed and we decided to go for a walk into the village to fill in the spare time – plus there were some of us that wanted to ring home. As Geoff says, ‘Oh how different things were before all-day opening and mobile phones’.

Anyway when we got back to the pub we tried the door and went inside to find the publican seated at the bar. When asked why he hadn’t opened early like he said, he replied that he had been ready to open and had heard us outside, but wasn’t going to open the outside door until we had knocked!

Geoff also recalls:

“Outside the pub they proudly displayed that they were in the Good Cider Guide, but when I asked what they had available he replied that there was no call for cider in the winter so it was only bottles!”

It was a large pub with a great games area with darts and pool, but amazingly we were almost the only customers. We spent a very pleasant and relaxing evening enjoying the facilities.

However, all good things come to and end, and we returned to Wait’s Farm, found our tents and climbed into our sleeping bags for the night.

Morning arrived and it was not long before breakfast was over and we were starting to strike camp.

Once we were ready to go the farmer showed us round and allowed us to look at his plane.

Other forms of transport were also available but in the end we decided to continue on foot.

We set off around the airfield section of the farm and headed west to North End a small village to the east of Little Yeldham. It was still cold with plenty of snow about – there was even a pond where we were able to check the thickness of the ice.

Peter was last to leave the pub at North End, by which time someone had stopped to ring home with everyone else waiting. However, Peter kept going and missed the footpath turning. It was a little while before everyone realised that he would not look back and eventually Howard chased after him.

All together again, we followed the footpaths and road back the van. Another hike completed.