From the station, we walked uphill to Manningtree church where we joined the Essex Way which we followed most of the day. We reached the waterfront and followed the Stour estuary to Mistley, famous for its twin church towers and its witch finder. We left the riverside to walk across pastures, woodlands – passing old oaks including Old Knobbley – and wheat fields. We had our picnic lunchin the playing field or the churchyard before having a drink in the Strangers Home pub in Bradfield. We crossed more wheat fields before rejoining the waterfront to Wrabness Nature Reserve. We stopped at Wrabness church with its bell housed in a cage in the churchyard and at a stall selling home-made quiches and brownies. Before reaching the station, we passed Grayson Perry’s A House for Essex. 14 Polyramblers.

Dominique