Blakes Wood to Lingwood Common walk
Enjoy this peaceful woodland walk from Blakes Wood to Lingwood Common. On this 100-acre sloping site, look out for hornbeam and sweet chestnut coppice, along with oak, ash and birch. This is one of three walks linking Blakes Wood with Danbury and Lingwood Commons. Each walk can be undertaken separately or joined with this one for one long walk.
Try the other walks at Danbury Common
This is one of a trio of trails at Danbury Common that can be linked together to make a longer walk. See the More near here section below for nearby trails.
Total steps: 9
Total steps: 9
Start point
Blakes Wood car park or from Lingwood Common, grid ref: TL775064
Step 1
After coming up from Lingwood Common, starting from the Blakes Wood car park go through the kissing gate at marker post 1 and turn left. Taking the path immediately to the left (FP43), head downhill until reaching a seat and marker post 2.
Step 2
Ignore the path to your right, keep to the left-hand path until reaching another marker post, at which point (ignore the path to your left), bear right. Continue on until you reach marker post 3.
Step 3
Ignore the path to your left and bear right until you reach marker post 4. Now ignore the path to the right and turn to the left until you reach a footbridge. Over the footbridge the path bears to the left and then, further on bears right.
Step 4
Shortly afterwards, ignore the path to the right and continue on until reaching a marker post, where you will turn left. You will pass two old pond beds to your left and then the path bears right, along the perimeter of Blakes Wood. There are views to the left-over pasture, with Chelmsford in the distance. Follow this path, which eventually bears to the right, until reaching marker post 5.
Step 5
Turn left, then right, and proceed to marker post 6, where the path turns to the left.
Step 6
Carry on until reaching another footbridge. Ignore the path directly to your left and continue on until reaching marker post 7.
Step 7
You now have two options. Either take the path directly to your left (over footbridge) and continue to Parsonage Lane and Danbury Ridge (on the left is The Generals Arms Public House, which may be open for refreshment) or, if continuing with the Blakes Wood trail, continue straight on until reaching a bench marker 8. Turn right and, shortly afterwards, there is a branch in the path. Take the right-hand branch and continue to marker post 9.
Step 8
Make a left turn followed by a right over a footbridge and continue uphill until you reach a bench on your left – take a welcome break.
Step 9
Continue uphill until you reach the kissing gate entrance to the car park – marker post 1. If continuing back to Lingwood Common, turn right out of the car park and head for Riffhams Chase to point 10 on the Lingwood trail, 150 metres on the left.
End point
Blakes Wood car park or from Lingwood Common, grid ref: TL775064
Trail map
More near here
Danbury Common to Lingwood Common walk
An easy, 1.5 mile walk through wetlands, wooded glades and open heathland, that makes an ideal family walk.
Lingwood Common to Blakes Wood walk
A 3.5-mile circular walk, ideal for families, through mixed woodland between Blake's Wood and Lingwood Common.
Get in touch
National Trust Danbury Common, The Armoury, Penny Royal Road, Danbury, Essex, CM3 4ED
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