Step in to the New Year - Essex river walk
24 people attending
2 places left
Happy new year! Yes it's 2024 and you've already "resolutioned" to get more steps in and to #getoutmore. OutdoorLads is here to help fulfil that ambition.
Join me, Sharpie, on this 7 mile / 11.5 km riverside circular walk. Relatively flat, casually paced and perfect for new members or well seasoned ODL walkers.
Starting in central Chelmsford, we'll head out of the city along the River Chelmer, across the meads and agricultural land and follow the river bank, brooks and streams. At the half way point we'll circle back on the opposite side of the river, stopping off at the Fox & Raven pub for a drink, before heading back in to the city where you can choose to head home, explore the city, visit the cathedral or hang around for a farewell pint/hot chocolate.
For those who need to plan travel, we'll kick off at 11am and aim to be back by 2/3pm.
At the time of making this event page live there are no planned engineering works or strikes.
Is it dog friendly?
Dogs are very welcome but please note and abide by the Countryside Code (https://tinyurl.com/rlqvp3h). Please also remember not everyone loves your dog as much as you do so please be mindful of other members.
New Members
Please feel free to join this as your first OutdoorLads event. If you have any questions then feel free to message me, or go to the "My First Event" section under "About Us".
Image / photo credits: All leader's own images - with permission for OutdoorLads to use and reuse.
IMPORTANT! - Participation Statement
You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.
What to bring
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have asthma, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking, trainers are OK if the ground is dry and there’s little chance of rain
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch unless otherwise stated
Food & drink
Please bring water, snacks and some lunch.