Black Water Rail Trail

This page details an approx. 10km walk (about 2½hrs at a steady pace) along the former Witham to Maldon railway, which opened 1848. In 1966, as part of the Beeching Act, it closed -- or went to sleep depending on your point of view. This is not an 'anorak's' page, but we shall stop occasionally to appreciate remnants of railway architecture because they will help you identify where you are. Occasionally we have to take a diversion get round obliterated parts of the trackbed, but most of the railway course is intact. I have divided the trail into three sections, each containing a description, thumbnail map and photos, which you can click on for larger versions. Click the back button on your browser to return.

Unless otherwise acknowledged, all photos were taken by the author during summer 2005. In the interests of sustainability, travel was undertaken on foot or on public transport. Although you can help yourself to any images on this page, an acknowledgement of their source is politely requested. N.B. I accept no responsibility for errors or omissions. Distances are approximate.

Section 1: Witham to Wickham Bishops

We start our walk on the Colchester Road at Catholic Bridge, named after the church on the opposite side of the road. Iron steps lead down to the trackbed. Proceed through the cutting in a southerly direction for about ½km. Cross over Pasture Road onto the embankment, offset slightly to the left.

	The quest begins here. Atop Catholic Bridge looking south into the cutting.
	In the cutting, looking north through Catholic Bridge to Witham Junction, approx 500m away.
	Looking south toward Pasture Road, along the 'twig' line that remained until 1982 to serve the factories on the industrial estate (modern-day East Industrial Area) on the left. (Length of walking stick: 100cm.)

After about 400m you will descend some steps onto a concrete road which is Blackwater Lane. Turn right* and walk until you reach the main, Maldon Road. 100m on the left hand side is an alleyway which will take you back to the trail (turn right). This diversion is necessary to traverse the River Blackwater, which was bridged by a wooden viaduct in railway days.

*Note that you could turn left along Blackwater Lane and proceed via Whet Mead Nature Reserve and Benton Hall. This avoids the hazardous Blue Mill Hill but is not a short cut.

In the distance you will hear the noisy A12 Witham Bypass -- essential to modernity yet probably persisting no longer than this one-time rail route. Continue southwards to the A12 underpass. Another 200m and we rise out of the cutting onto Blue Mill Hill. This is main Wickham Bishops road so take care because we have to follow it for ½km using the grass verge on the right hand side. Benton Hall Golf Course is on your right and after crossing the narrow bridge (watch out as road traffic has to go single file over it) locate the Public Footpath sign where we start the second section.

	The A12 Underpass.
	At Blue Mill, the Maldon-Witham District Boundary just outside Wickham Bishops.

Section 2: Wickham Bishops to Langford

For the next couple of kilometres we are not in fact walking along the trackbed but taking one of the before-mentioned diversions, through Benton Hall Golf Club. Follow the gravel track, which runs along the river bank; the River Blackwater is on your right and golfing greens are on your left. You will pass underneath the trestle viaduct, by Wickham Mill and come out on the main road.

	Looking SW at the wooden viaduct, restored in 1995, behind Wickham Mill.
	Underneath the viaduct, looking N.

If you care to take a little detour to Wickham Place Gardens, turn left and walk along about 75m along the road to find the entrance. They are open every day to the public in the summer months. At the rear is Chantry Wood, which is owned by the Forestry Commission, and is in fact part of the old railway. To the south is the viaduct, to the north is the A12 underpass, but you can't (yet) walk from one to the other without diverting via the golf course because the trackbed is overgrown. Click here to see the Town Council's response to my request for this section to be reopened.

	Looking through a round window in the wall at Wickham Place Gardens.
	Chantry Wood, looking S along the old railway. Note the alignment of the trees.

If you stopped to admire the gardens, walk back up the road until you see a red phone box and enter the field. Proceed south until you reach the farm track. We rejoin the old railway at the ancient St Peter's church. Cross over St Peter's Bridge, turn right and make your way down the steps into the deep cutting.

	St Peter's Church.
	St Peter's Bridge: in the cutting, looking south.

Section 3: Langford to Maldon

The trail continues uninterrupted for another 2km until you reach the first "buried bridge" at Langford. Ascend the steps up the side of this blocked-in bridge onto the road and walk along the grass verge for approx 300m until you reach Langord church and T junction with the B1019 . Turn left -- cross over to the right-hand side of the road -- and walk for 150m until you see a path off and down beside the second "buried bridge". Keep your eyes on the ground as you walk past Railway Cottage and you will see Langford & Ulting Halt.

	Buried Bridge 1. The railway went under a bridge on our left, which has now been filled in and forms an embankment, on top of which is the road.
	Langford village, looking NW.
	At the former Langford & Ulting Halt, looking SW to Maldon. The railway emerged from under a second, now buried, bridge behind us.
	Remains of the platform at Langford & Ulting Halt

On the final, level stretches of the Blackwater Rail Trail, we pass by parks and over culverts on the old triangular railway junction. The eastern branch took trains to Maldon East station and terminus; the west branch went over the River Chelmer to Maldon West station. Today the A414 follows exactly the same route. Keep walking until you reach the modern-day road bridge over the River Chelmer. Turn left under the steel road bridge -- mind your head! -- and walk along the river bank until you can see Tesco, which you can reach by making your way over the footbridge and across the car park.

	By the River Chelmer, where the railway embankment (left) starts curving west.
	The former Maldon East railway station today.
	Tesco: the end of the trail!

There is a cafe in Tesco, and at the time of writing, bus number 90 runs hourly back to Witham, calling at the bus stop on the northern side of the store building.