Paper Mill Lock Walk
2.2 miles (3.5 km)Enjoy an easy stroll along the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation on this circular waterside walk from Paper Mill Lock. The area is particularly picturesque with the popular Paper Mill Lock tea rooms making an ideal start and finish point to the walk.
Walk Report October 3rd 2026 By Sarah Collins:
Paper Mill Lock turned out to be one of those places that feels much more peaceful than you expect when you first arrive.... I parked near the lock and started out along the Chelmer, with the water looking particularly clear in places. There were plenty of signs of life along the river, and I stopped several times to watch the fish moving beneath the surface. The weather was bright and mild, which made it a particularly pleasant morning for a short countryside walk.
The first part along the navigation was probably my favourite. The lock, weir and boats give the area plenty of character, but it is very quiet once you leave the immediate area around the tea room. I could easily have spent longer here just watching the boats and enjoying the water, although I carried on towards the countryside around Little Baddow.
Once away from the river the walk changes quite quickly, with fields, woodland and quiet country lanes replacing the waterside scenery. I passed horses and alpacas in the fields, and there were rabbits disappearing into the grass as I walked past. Some of the lanes are particularly peaceful, with attractive houses and gardens along the roadside, and it was a nice change from following the canal for the whole route.
Little Baddow Hall was another highlight. The old timber-framed building has a very different character from the lock and waterways earlier in the walk, and I stopped for a while to look across at the hall and St Mary the Virgin church opposite. It is the sort of place that could easily be missed if you were concentrating purely on following the footpath.
There were a couple of places where I checked the route carefully, as the paths are not always completely obvious where the countryside tracks meet the quieter roads. It wasn't a major problem, but having the route map available was useful. After some rain I imagine parts of the walk could also become quite muddy, particularly around the fields, so decent footwear would be sensible after a wet spell.
Back at Paper Mill Lock, I finished with a stop at the Paper Mill Lock Tearooms. The outdoor seating beside the water is a lovely place to sit, particularly when the boats are moving through the lock, and the cakes were too tempting to ignore. It felt like the perfect ending to a short country walk, and I could easily understand why so many people use the tearoom as the start and finish point.
For me, the appeal of the Paper Mill Lock Walk is the variety packed into such a short route. You get the lock and peaceful waterside path, open countryside, woodland, old houses and Little Baddow Hall, before returning to the river for a well-earned drink and cake. It is an easy walk to fit into a morning or afternoon, but there is enough to see along the way to make it feel like a proper outing rather than simply a stroll around the lock.
If you would like to extend the walk you could continue west along the path to Little Baddow Lock and then on into Chelmsford. Heading east will take you into Maldon.
To continue your walking in the area head to Blake's Wood near Little Baddow. It's located just to the south of the lock and has some nice woodland trails to try. The circular Little Baddow starts from the nearby village and visits the lock before heading to the woods.
Postcode: CM3 4BS
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Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation Blake's Wood Chelmsford Maldon Little Baddow
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