Braintree and the Flitch Way

1 Start from Braintree Station where a set of buffers terminates the old line from Liverpool Street in London to Bishop's Stortford. Beyond is the Flitch Way, a narrow bridleway approached via the path at the western end of the station car park. The Flitch Way crosses the bridge over Notley Road and soon becomes a grassy track. After a mile (1.6 km) the River Brain flows under the track. Turn right here over the stile, just before the river, and follow the path past Clapbridge Farm, modern housing estates and across meadowland. Keep the river on your right until you reach Clap Bridge on Rayne Road, the former Roman road of Stane Street. Turn right, continue over the roundabout and into the town to the White Hart Hotel. Walk past the hotel into Coggeshall Road to the double roundabout. Cross Railway Street and, on your right, there is a block of apartments fronted by a heritage board describing the site of the Crittall's Manor Works, demolished in 1992. Continue along Coggeshall Road and take the first turning left into John Ray Street, to a pair of weathered timber gates which mark the entrance to the recreation ground, a gift to the town from Julian Courtauld.

2 Back in Coggeshall Road, turn right into Cressing Road to the Kings Head pub, where a heritage board describes the site of a grand old oak tree opposite. In 1964 the tree was removed because it was considered too big and dangerous, but many townspeople remember sitting on the bench beneath it to watch the world go by. In Cressing Road there is an interesting mix of late 19th-century cottages, and an impressive thatched row of cottages dating back to 1620.

3 At the end of Cressing Road cross over to Clockhouse Way, a conservation area of houses constructed with concrete blocks, complete with Crittall metal windows. Built for Crittall workers in 1918-19, the design was copied, in 1926, at Silver End (to the south east of Braintree). Similar, albeit grander, houses can be seen at 146 and 148 Cressing Road.

4 Return to the junction and continue along Chapel Hill. At the end, turn half left to the roundabout then turn right on to Mill Hill. Go under the railway bridge, on the left is another heritage board describing the site of an old flour mill which Courtauld converted into a silk mill, and which is now a residential area.

5 Turn right up Skitts Lane, go under the railway bridge and take the first right into The Yard, a modern complex of apartments. Keep left and follow the footpath towards the gas works where a heritage board describes the function of Lake and Elliot's Power House. Follow the footpath into Manor Street, turn left passing modern developments in Trinovantes Street and return to the car park.