Saffron Walden Town

A stroll taking in the architectural splendours of a country market town.

Distance 3.5 miles (5.7km)

Minimum time 1hr 30 min

Ascent/gradient 62ft (19m)

Level of difficulty Easy

Paths Urban, parkland and common

Landscape Country town architecture

Suggested map aqua3 OS Explorer 195 Braintree & Saffron Walden

Start/finish TL 540385

Dog friendliness On lead all the way, though maze is dog friendly

Parking Pay-and-display at Swan Meadows, Common Hill and Fairycroft Road, free parking at Catons Hill

Public toilets Swan Meadows, Common Hill and Hill Street

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Directions
Background
Information

1 With your back to Common Hill car park walk across The Common to The Maze. Turn right to the river and right again, keeping the river on your left to head back to the car park. At the car park turn left then right into Hill Street, turn right into Market Street passing Market Row on your left into Market Square.

2 Keeping the Corn Exchange on your left, walk towards Museum Street (at the junction with Church Street) to the historic Sun Inn where Cromwell is said to have stayed during the Civil War. On the corner there is a group of 14th-century houses decorated with impressive 17th-century pargetting. Turn left into Church Street and right into the churchyard of St Mary the Virgin.

3 At the church, turn right, cross Museum Street to view the museum and the ruined flint walls of the 11th-century castle keep, built on the remains of a Saxon church. Retrace your steps to Museum Street, turn right and then left into Castle Street. After 350yds (320m), turn right into Bridge End Gardens.

4 Take the main path left into Bridge Street. Turn left to pass the 16th-century Eight Bells pub, with its fine carved beam decorated with leaves and dolphins below the downstairs middle window. Maintain direction towards the town crossing Castle Street, where on the right you can see

5 Continue along Bridge Street to see more listed buildings. These include the Army and Navy Stores, a good example of a 16th-century house with original first floor windows. Another 16th-century architectural masterpiece is the Cross Keys Hotel, with a raised roof which was added in the 18th century. Turn left into King Street and right in front of Dobsons and The Hoops. These buildings still retain their 15th-century shop windows. Go left into Market Row to return to the car park.

Saffron Walden is a delightful country town and well worth a visit at any time of the year. In 1968, it was designated a Conservation Area, unsurprising perhaps when you consider that the town has some 400 buildings of special architectural or historic interest dating back to medieval times. There are houses with massive timbers, carved brackets, overhanging eaves and plastered decorative fronts, or pargetting.

The finest 15th-century medieval building in Saffron Walden is on Castle Street. A former maltings, and one of six which graced the town in the 1600s, it's now the Youth Hostel and must be one of the most atmospheric places to stay in the county. On the left is the 16th-century house called The Close, home of Francis Gibson, creator of Bridge End Gardens.

Market Square is the hub of the town, and the mock-Tudor Town Hall, with a projecting gable, houses the tourist office. Other notable buildings include the Italianate-style Corn Exchange, now the library, and an impressive drinking fountain commemorating the marriage of the Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandra in 1863.

St Mary the Virgin, with its saffron crocus emblem, is one of the largest parish churches in the county and looks boldly across the town. Standing on the site of a Saxon and Norman church it was mostly rebuilt between 1450 and 1525 and its sheer size demonstrates the prosperity of the area.

The Common, formerly Castle Green, which played host to a Royal Tournament in 1252, is nowadays a pleasant recreational venue for local fairs and festivals. At the far end is The Maze, believed to be over 800 years old and reputed to be the largest turf maze in the country. If you have time you can enjoy exploring its mile-length trail before continuing the town walk. The town's other maze is at Bridge End Gardens, exuding early Victorian elegance with a viewing platform, pavilions and statues.

This trail explores part of the Conservation Area but you should allow time to wander at will and lap up the atmosphere of this picturesque town. Other attractions here include the remains of a Norman castle and some great walking country right on its doorstep.

While you're there

The museum, which opened in 1835 as a natural history museum, lies adjacent to the ruins of Saffron Walden's 12th-century castle. It has superb displays of local history including galleries on architecture, costume, pottery and a Discovery Centre highlighting the nature and wildlife of north west Essex.

What to look for

Look for the weavers' cottages in town and imagine the sound of clattering looms behind closed doors during the height of the wool industry. In Gold Street there are 17th-century cottages which have a communal rear courtyard.

Where to eat and drink

There are plenty of pubs, restaurants, coffee shops and take-aways to choose from. The Kings Arms, a cosy pub dating back to Tudor times in the heart of the town, is a good place for home-cooked food and real ales. The Mocha Café & Diner in Central Arcade offers a wide choice of meals, snacks and sandwiches and has a take-away service too.