The walk started in the car park opposite the pub. How often does a walk not start from a car park opposite the pub? The handy car park is where we divest ourselvesof normal apparel and emerge with huge rucksacks, bobble hats, Arran sweaters, Rohan fleece jackets, coats at least one size too big, woollen socks up to the knees, and this is just the women. My apologies I digress. This is not just an ordinary walk. This was the annual long distance walk from Chipping Ongar to the ancient chapel of St. Peters on the wall at Bradwell on Sea, Essex. Organised by the West Essex and Herts Ramblers Association, and on this occasion supported by members of the Essex and Herts LDWA of which John Beamish who led the walk is a member. Just after 4:30 am, thirty hardy souls cast off and headed into the great unknown drums muffled in deference to the local landowners. As you can imagine there are no Cheviots, windy gales, Cushat Laws to impede progress but never the less the terrain is very attractive. The villagers of Blackmore and Stock including the church and windmill and the reservoir at Hanningfields were highlights leading up to the pub stop at Purleigh for lunch. Leaving this spot, which is the highest point on the walk, there were tremendous views across the Blackwater estuary and the salt marshes to Bradwell and the power station. From here to Steeple, the temperate nature of the walk was again in evidence. Waist high wheat, barley, flax and one crop at 5" tall which no one could identify were either walked straight through or round the edges of the fields following what was once an old railway track. The ground was covered with plums, black, yellow, red, there appeared to be no one interested in harvesting them, shake the branch of a tree and the fruit came tumbling down. However the best was yet to come, as we emerged from this spot, we walked smack through the middle of a vineyard at New Hall. I could just imagine, in keeping with its surroundings, the wine produced would have a friendly bouquet. At Tillingham we met with other groups of walkers from various associations and continued towards the Chapel at St. Peters, which was about five miles ahead. The route continued with marsh on either side of a raised track, over three earth bridges, on top of a hugh embankment, to St. Peters Chapel. Since it was first built in 654 AD on part of the site of the Roman Fort of Othona, the little Chapel of St. Peters on the wall at Bradwell has fired the imagination of men and been the inspiration of many pilgrimages, ours included. While the majority of the group terminated the walk here, yours truly in company with half a dozen others, who must have had the Marquis de Sade as a godparent continued. Then along the top of this huge earth wall, round the power station to the village at Bradwell where the walk terminated, 50.2 miles. How was I treated I hear you ask? Very friendly, none of this stupid "oop north" business, for myself, I never met this "wee timorous beastie" that is the Essex man/woman. In conclusion I would like to thank several people for their kindness and courtesy; Mr & Mrs Brown, who provided breakfast and afternoon tea. Barbara Williams for the afternoon cake. Maureen Mountain for the packed lunch.Renate Romen, and the LDWA for the publicity otherwise I would still be in ignorance of this walk, and those who carried the pots and pans that created that 'party atmosphere' at the end, and last but not least, John Mountain. He it was who arranged my weekend stay at Writtle College and picked me up at 3:30 am on the morning of the walk, organised the drink stops, and pulled all the strings that tied the parcel which was the St. Peters Way walk.

N M Younger