Essex, Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire

Blakes Wood to Lingwood Common walk

Dappled warm light coming through trees with bright green spring-summer leaves — Trees in Blakes Wood near Danbury Common in Essex | © National Trust Images/Justin Minns

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.

Near to

Danbury Commons and Blakes Wood

Start point

Blakes Wood car park or from Lingwood Common, grid ref: TL775064

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 2.5 (km: 4)

Duration1 hour 30 mins

Dog friendly***

*Woodland paths that are occasionally uneven. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**Not suitable for pushchairs, wheelchairs or cycles.
***Dogs on leads are welcome. For further details, please see Facilities section.

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.

Address
Blakes Wood car park, Danbury, Essex. The nearest postcode is CM3 4AU, which will take you to Riffham Chase.
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Nearest station, Chelmsford (6 miles).
On foot
From Lingwood Common and Riffham's Chase or from Danbury Main Road (A414) via Riffham's Lane to Riffham's Chase.
By bus
Take the 30/31 bus to Eves Corner in Danbury and walk along The Ridge. Turn left into Riffham's Chase and then right into Blakes Wood.
By road
From Danbury Main Road (A414) via Riffham's Lane to Riffham's Chase.
Total stages: 9
Total stages: 9
Start point
Blakes Wood car park or from Lingwood Common, grid ref: TL775064
Stage 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.
Treecreeper | © northeastwildlife.co.uk
Stage 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.
Stage 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.
A carpet of bluebells | © National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra
Stage 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.
Coppicing
The practice of cutting trees to a cycle is known as coppicing. The 'thin-poled' coppice is often used for firewood and the thicker so-called 'standard' is used in the construction industry. For hundreds of years, coppicing went on in the same way which produces a woodland habitat that alternates between light and shade, and open and densely bushy vegetation. By continuing to coppice, the National Trust conservation team is ensuring the survival of this habitat, and the wildlife that makes its home there.
Stage 5
Turn left, then right, and proceed to marker post 6, where the path turns to the left.
Stage 6
Carry on until reaching another footbridge. Ignore the path directly to your left and continue on until reaching marker post 7.
Stage 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.
Stage 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.
Stage 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
Blakes Wood to Lingwood Common walk map | © © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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