Great Dunmow Walks
This Essex based market town has some interesting old buildings and nice country trails to follow through the area.
This walk from the town takes you along the Flitch Way to Hatfield Forest.
The walk starts in the town where you can pick up the Flitch Way, a shared cycling and walking trail running along a disused railway line. Follow the waymarked trail west and it will take you to Canfield End and Takeley. Here you can pick up a section of the Harcamlow Way and follow it south west to enter the expansive Hatfield Forest Country Park. There's miles of cycling and walking trails here with attractive woodland, ponds and a visitor centre.
The route heads north through the forest past the Portingbury Hills along the Forest Way before rejoining the Flitch Way. You can then follow the trail east back into Great Dunmow.
Postcode
CM6 2AD - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsGreat Dunmow Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Great Dunmow Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Great Dunmow OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Great Dunmow Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
The Angel and Harp is a good choice for post walk refreshment. They have a nice interior with with oak beams and red brick fireplace. They serve good quality food and have a nice garden area to sit out in too. You can find them at 16 Church Street, CM6 2AD.
Dog Walking
The woodland trails on the route make for a fine dog walk. The Angel and Harp mentioned above is also dog friendly.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
At Takeley you could pick up the Harcamlow way and follow it north to visit Thaxted. Here you'll find a number of historic half timbered houses, a 14th century Guildhall, 16th century almshouses and a picturesque windmill.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Essex Walks page.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Doctors Pond, Great Dunmow, Essex. It was on this pond that the inventor of the "unsinkable" lifeboat, one Lionel Lukin (1742-1834), first tried out his ideas using model boats. It is also thought that the local doctors used to keep their supply of leeches in the pond.
High Street, Great Dunmow. A variety of different building styles with scarcely a national retail outlet in sight.
Church End. The parish church, as seen in this picture, stands quite a distance from the main part of the town in an area to the north known as Church End. St. Mary's church dates from the 14th and 15th century.
The Flitch Way. A former railway line, converted to a footpath. Looking towards the former Takeley station from Canfield Road.
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Flitch Way Country Park at Takeley Station. This view of the disused railway line is taken looking toward Braintree.
Hatfield Forest
The Lake, Hatfield Forest. Looking SW across to the Shell House. This lake was created by Jacob Houblon III in circa 1750 from marshland fed by the Shermore Brook.
Hangman Coppice, Hatfield Forest