2. Bridge End Garden 8. St John the Baptist Church, Thaxted Thaxted is an attractive historic town and a Very interesting Victorian garden that has The church stands proud and spacious in a real architectural gem. As well as its landmark undergone major restoration. Bridge End Garden gently undulating landscape, its splendid 180ft buildings, St John the Baptist church and the 15th is in fact a series of seven interlinked gardens high steeple dominating the countryside for century Guildhall there is plenty more to see. laid out by the Gibson family in the 19th century. miles. Saved from harsh restoration, this medieval The compact nature of the historic centre with These grade II* listed gardens featured recently church is Gothic architecture at its best. its timber framed buildings, its steeply pitched in ‘Hidden Gardens’ series on BBC. Tel: 01371 830221 roofs and chimneys contrasts with the surrounding Tel: 01799 524002 agricultural mosaic of brown, yellow and green. 9. John Webb’s Windmill, Thaxted Gustav Holst, the celebrated composer, lived 3.The Fry Art Gallery John Webb’s Windmill was built in 1804 by John in Town Street and drafted part of the Planets Situated in the centre of , the Webb, a local farmer, at a time when the demand Suite here, a Blue Plaque marks the house. The gallery houses an impressive number of paintings, for milled wheat and malt was increasing. The mill music tradition has been very much kept alive prints, illustrations and decorative designs by stands on the site of the earlier Church Mill and was by the annual music festival that is held over artists of the 20th century including Edward constructed of local bricks. It has been recently Saffron Walden four weekends – last two in June and the first two Bawden RA, Eric Ravilious, Michael Rothestein RA, restored and is now open to the public. Saffron Walden is an ancient town with a rich in July – attracting performers of international Kenneth Rowntree and others. Tel: 01371 830285 heritage of old buildings reflecting its wealth as repute. The festival is known for its ambitious Tel: 01799 513779 a rural market town. The name saffron relates to repertoire including orchestral and choral works. www.fryartgallery.org 10. Broxted Church the importance of the valuable crocus sativus Thaxted is also the venue of the famous Morris The church dates from the early English period crop between the 15th and 18th centuries, grown Ring on the first weekend after Spring Bank 4. Audley End House (English Heritage) with a north aisle added about two hundred as a medicine, dye and flavouring. The local Holiday attracting up to 300 Morris dancers from Built by Thomas Howard, Earl of Suffolk, Lord years later. The oak pulpit is 300 years old, as market was established in 1141 and received the all over the country. Treasurer to King James I, Audley End is one is the fine processional cross. Roman tiles can first Charter in 1236. It is now held on Tuesdays of ’s most magnificent stately homes. be seen built into the walls. There are also two and Saturdays and together with many specialist Enjoy over 30 lavishly decorated room interiors remarkable windows, dedicated in January 1993 small shops it contributes to making shopping by Robert Adam and a wonderful collection of commemorating the captivity and the release of in Saffron Walden a very pleasant and relaxed paintings and furnishings. Explore the beautiful the Beirut hostages. th experience. Elysian garden, 19 century parterre with its Saffron Walden successively prospered as a elaborate floral displays and the organic 11. Tilty Church centre for wool production in the 15th century, Kitchen Garden. The parish Church of St Mary the Virgin was once saffron in the 16th and 17th centuries and malt Tel: 01799 522399 part of a Cistercian abbey. All that remains of the in the 18th and 19th centuries. This continuing www.english-heritage.org.uk abbey are the ruins of the cloister wall, but the prosperity has left numerous fine old buildings church, formerly the gate chapel of the abbey whilst retaining the original medieval street layout. 5. Audley End Miniature Railway and dating from around 1220 is still in regular use. Bridge End, Castle Street, Myddylton Place and Lord Braybrooke’s private 1.5 mile railway through The church is dominated by the magnificent east Church Street display many timbered houses mature woodland adjacent to Audley End House. window to the chancel, built in circa 1330 in the dating from the 15th century, of which the Youth A wonderful addition to your day decorated style. Hostel and the Old Sun Inn are outstanding at Audley End. examples. Tel: 01799 541354 12. Prior’s Hall Barn The town’s crowning glory is St Mary’s parish www.audley-end-railway.co.uk One of the finest surviving medieval barns in th church, the largest and one of the most beautiful eastern England, tree-ring dated to the mid-15 parish churches in , built between 1470 and 6. Debden Antiques century, with a breathtaking aisled interior and th 1540. Nearby, the Museum, built in 1834 to house Displayed in a beautiful 17 century Essex Barn, crown post roof, the product of some 400 oaks. the collections of the Saffron Walden Natural you will find a wonderful selection of antique Tel: 0870 3331181 (English Heritage Customer History Society, is one of the earliest purpose built furniture and in the Courtyard Garden fountains, Services) www.english-heritage.org.uk museums in the country. It now contains many statues and an array of unusual items. interesting collections and displays from Africa, Tel: 01799 543007 the Americas, Australasia and the Pacific, as well www.debden-antiques.co.uk as decorative arts that include ceramics and glass, furniture and woodwork, costumes and 7. Thaxted Guildhall needlework, dolls and toys. Is a fine example of a medieval guildhall few of th The delightful Victorian Gardens at Bridge End which now remain. It was built in the 15 century and were created during the late 18th century and Attractions along the route: it houses a permanent display of old photographs middle 19th century and have been recently 1. Saffron Walden Museum and objects relating to the history of Thaxted. restored to their original splendour. The town is Friendly, family-size museum. Exhibits include Tel: 01371 831281 uniquely fortunate to have two important mazes: moccasins, mummy cases, woolly mammoths the yew hedge maze in the Bridge End Garden and Wallace the Lion! Meadow for picnics with and the ancient turf maze on the Common, which castle ruins. Winner Best Museum of social history. is the largest example of its type in the world and Accessible for disabled visitors. one of only eight surviving turf mazes in England. Tel: 01799 510333

Getting to Saffron Walden Essex

Arriving by Road • SAFFRON WALDEN Travel on the M11 if travelling from or Map 1 DEDHAM • the south. At junction 8 either take the A120 • THAXTED • • • • then B184 via Thaxted or the B1383 via Stansted • • BRAINTREE Mountfitchet and Newport. Alternatively exit STANSTED AIRPORT CLACTON-ON-SEA • at junction 9 and travel south on the B184 via • • • • BRADWELL Great Chesterford. If travelling from the north •

arrive via the M11 taking the A505 at junction • • BURNHAM-ON-CROUCH 10, then the A1301 and B184. • • BRENTWOOD • For detailed travel information call • LONDON • SOUTHEND-ON-SEA 0871 200 2233 or visit www.traveline.org.uk • • Arriving by Train Saffron Walden is served by a regular service by National Express East Anglia www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com tel: 0845 600 7245 directly from London Liverpool Street to Audley End Station (2 miles away).

Accommodation 1 The Bell House 4 Thaxted Bed and Breakfast HHHH B&B HHHH Guest Accommodation Castle Street, Saffron Walden, CB10 1BD Totmans Farm, Dunmow Rd, Thaxted, CM6 2LU Tel: 01799 527857 Tel: 01371 830233 2 Fieldview Bed & Breakfast www.thaxtedholidaycottages.co.uk HHHH B&B 5 Cosh Cottage Howlett End CB10 2XW HHHH Self Catering Tel: 01799 599616 Duddenhoe End, Saffron Walden, CB11 4UX www.fieldview.eu Tel: 01763 838880 3 Crossways Guesthouse HHHH Silver Award – Guesthouse 32 Town Street, Thaxted, CM6 2LA Tel: 01371 830348 www.crosswaysthaxted.co.uk

Tourist information Saffron Walden Tourist Information Centre Telephone 01799 524003 www.visitsaffronwalden.gov.uk

www.visitessex.com Medieval markets, mazes and Morris dancing Saffron Walden and Thaxted routes

Total distance of main route is 55km/34miles

R i v Chrishall e B 0 Miles 1 2 3 4 54 Short rides r 1 1 05 Park C 84 2 1

a B Wood m 3 1 A 10.2km/6.4miles

o  Littlebury r

Green G 0 Kilometres 2 4 6 8 B r

10 a 1 B10 B 29.3km/18.3miles

39 n  53

t a 4 AUDLEY Sewards Green EN SAFFRON Hempstead C 19.7km/12.3miles B D RO End 103 Wood AD 9 WALDEN 054 5 B1 D 24.3km/15.2miles Radwinter

3 Attractions along this route

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1 B B 18 1 Saffron Walden Museum 2 4 B 10 D 53 05 EB Duddenhoe 1 DE N Bridge End Garden B 2

End R Cole O 9 A End The Fry Art Gallery 03 D 3 High B1 Audley End Wimbish Wood Audley End House (English Heritage) 5 4 5 Audley End Miniature Railway Wendens 6 Debden Antiques Ambo Peverel’s Great Wood Sampford Thaxted Guildhall Wimbish 7 Airfield Green 8 St John the Baptist Church 2 Langley Carver  9 John Webb’s Windmill Barracks 1 Arkesden 05 B1 10 Broxted Church Elder Howlett Street End Tindon End 11 Tilty Church R i

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5 V e  PO Newport Y r 6 O B 12 Prior’s Hall Barn T S R 1 E O 8 t 4 S D Rowhey o B MILL T 10 D r R 38

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1 r B G Debden 3 Crossways Guesthouse r a Green 51  A n 0 1 t B Clavering a S 12 4

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R  A T Widdington F O O D R R ROA 5 LOW M D Rickling H OL 8 Cosh Cottage 3 A 7  R  H

O N E A 3 Thaxted H Brent D Hamperden T  Pelham N S ARDFIELD ROAD O C D B End R R FO 2 T L H O  B Places to eat BRICK K H ILN A D L A LA 4 RO B L 9 BARDFIELD 1 N Quendon Prior’s Wood 03 R  1 Dish 8 E O  A

D 01799 513300 D A 1 O www.dishrestaurant.co.uk R 5 0 Quendon Y 1 E N B 2 Poppy’s Tearoom Wood K  Berden C D I H 01371 830453 N C ORTH

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Henham 5 C

S 0 T 5 Axe and Compasses 1 r  Furneux Pelham B e 11 v B i 1 01799 550272 R 8 M

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I www.axeandcompasses.co.uk L L B1051 R O A This map is intended as a guide only. Please refer to relevant D Ugley OS Explorer maps for specific details. Green 10 Lindsell Elsenham Broxted Duton Hill Gallows Green Key Alsa Manuden Wood Cycle Route 1 Short rides Elsenham 1 B105 Place of worship Great Telephone in rural area Easton Bigod’s Wood Public House Molehill National Rail Green B 1 1 Farnham 8  Accommodation 4 Albury Reproduced from Ordnance Survey mapping with the permission of the Tye Green controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office © Crown Copyright. 1 Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution  Restaurants or civil proceedings. Essex County Council. Licence no: 100019602, 2006