1.1/1.8

Turn right and walk north on Mersea Road to just beyond the right hand bend and take the footpath on your left which leads down through the woods and over a stile.  The meadow ahead of you is liable to flooding but is passable at most times along a slightly raised bank. Continue in the same direction with the hedge on your left until you reach the river. Turn left over a stile and follow the raised bank until you reach the bridge. Cross the river and, with the hedge on your right, climb up to a stile which leads onto a tarmac track. Turn left along this track. At the point at which the track bears right, continue straight on down a steeper muddy track through a gate to the concrete bridge which spans the Roman River.***  Note: in winter the approaches to this bridge can be under water and you will need to take the following alternative route. Instead of passing through the gate at the top of the track, turn right across the grassed area to rejoin the track. Bear left and follow the track for a short distance until you reach a drive on your left which leads to Park Farm. Take this drive and turn right at the entrance to the farm. Continue to follow this drive until you reach a crossway of paths just before the overhead electricity cables. Turn left, passing under the cables. This will bring you back on the actual route. Continue straight ahead and you will be following the route below.

1.3/2.0

After crossing the bridge, turn immediately right. The definitive path runs along the right hand side of the tree line. A permissive alternative has been established on the other, higher side of the hedge to be used in times of flooding. Both paths join again at the point where a small bridge allows you to cross the Roman River.***

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2.2/3.5

After crossing the bridge, turn left then immediately right. Leaving the river behind you, follow the path along the boundary of an “Out Of Bounds” property. There is a dogleg to the right on this path as the woodland track bears left. Follow the path beneath the overhead power cables until you reach a cross track (waymarked footpaths) at which point you turn left. (The alternative route rejoins at this point.) This track leads down across a stream. At the top of the short concrete section which climbs up from the stream, turn left. Beyond a dip in this path, as you enter an open area, turn right. When you join a track turn right again and follow this path into Friday Woods Car Park.***

Car park

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3.6/5.8

Exit the car park from its right hand corner and go through the gap onto Bounstead Road and turn right. Take the footpath immediately on your left and follow the track, which runs parallel to the right hand field edge. Pass through two tree lined field boundaries and, at the third line of trees, turn left leaving these trees to your right. After crossing a stile you will be on a grassy track. At the field edge go over a stile and continue down the track to Layer Mill. Continue past the Mill House up the drive and turn right at the end of the garden fence onto a grassy track. Follow this track and the next field edge and enter the woods. Crossing two stiles and through the woods you appear in the open with an old pond to the left and a choice of stiles to left and right. (see option below for route via the Donkey & Buskins)

Take the left hand stile and walk up the field to bypass the house, join the drive from the house by means of a stile on your right. Follow the drive, until you reach the road.  Turn left along road for 50 metres and then turn right over the stile and follow the path until you reach High Road, Layer.***

Option - At the point where the path divides, take the right hand option past a barn conversion where the tarmac driveway leads to The Folley. Turn right and the Donkey and Buskins public house is ahead of you. Turn left up the hill of High Road, Layer until you reach New Cut.***

Bus Route

Donkey and Buskins