Bradwell & Maldon: Saturday Essex Adventure

Overview

This is a full day, train-assisted ride. It is a long day, with an early start and a late return. It is a long ride (69 km/43 miles), but there are no significant hills, and we will be riding at a leisurely pace with several stops to take in the sights.

We will be taking the train from London Liverpool Street to Southminster, cycling to Witham, and taking the train back to London from there.

Most of the ride is on quiet country lanes. There is one short section on potentially busy roads and some short sections on unsealed tracks which are a bit uneven and stony in places.

Our lunch stop is in Maldon, after 49km/30.5 miles of the ride. You will need to bring enough snacks & water to keep you going until then.

Please read the travel arrangements and the ride description carefully.

Travel Arrangements

Our outward journey is on the 08.50 departure from London Liverpool Street. The final destination of this train is Southend-On-Sea. We will change at Wickford (arr. 09.28, dep. 09.35) for the train to Southminster, arriving at 10.06. An off-peak single fare is £23; discounts available.

Our return journey is from Witham to Liverpool Street. Trains run at approx. 15 mins intervals and take approx. 45 mins. An off-peak single fare is £29.80; discounts available. We expect to reach Witham by approx. 6pm.

No bike reservations are required.

The Ride

From Southminster station, we ride through one of the most remote parts of Essex, the Dengie Peninsula which lies between the Crouch and Blackwater Estuaries. We enjoy quiet roads and a flat landscape of salt marsh, as we make our way to the shoreline of the Blackwater Estuary to visit the remarkable Saxon chapel of St Peter on the Wall https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/church/st-peter-wall-bradwell-sea.

We ride on through country roads which get busier as we approach the attractive lively town of Maldon. We will have a leisurely stop here for a well-earned late lunch and some time to meander around the town and the quayside. https://www.visitessex.com/explore/coastal-destinations/maldon

Leaving Maldon, we ride for a short distance along the picturesque Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation https://waterways.org.uk/waterways/discover-the-waterways/chelmer-blackwater-navigation to the Heybridge Basin, where will be able to walk along the sea wall and admire the views. From here, it is a short ride on more quiet country roads up to Witham and the train home.

Train-assisted full day ride in the Essex countryside.

Quiet country roads. A short section on busier roads. Some short sections on unsealed tracks.

Visit to St Peter on the Wall chapel at Bradwell. Refreshment stop in Maldon.

Plenty of water & snacks. Lock for your bike. Money/card for rail fares & refreshments.

First-timers welcome!