Stride out in the Sampfords

This charming, circular winter walk takes you on a tour from the village of Great Sampford to its neighbour, Little Sampford, and back again

- Laurie Page

THE WALK

1 From the pub entrance, go left along the road, past houses, the Victorian primary school and the old village hall. At the road junction follow the road around to the right onto the Finchingfield Road. A little way up on the left, take the footpath going through a metal gate and onto a path between the hedge and a fence, then out into a cornfield. Continue along the field boundary with the hedge to the left. At the end of the second field go right still following around the field edge and going gently uphill until you reach the lane.

2 Take the footpath on the opposite side of the lane, across a crop field and under pylons. There are good distant views of the Essex countryside to the right. At the end of the field, at the path T-junction, turn right. The path follows a ditch, soon swinging left across a footbridge and then across the edge of another cornfield. Continue into the next field and at the corner, to the left, is a lane. Turn right along the lane which immediately bends sharp left. Continue along the lane which bends right at Sampford Lodge and goes downhill to a road T-junction by the thatched cottage.