We are a friendly group of walkers who meet the second Thursday in the month to enjoy a walk of between 5 and 8 miles. We usually follow a circular route but sometimes use public transport to get us to the beginning and then walk back. We always try to have a stop for tea/coffee at a local cafe or pub, sometimes in the middle of the walk, always at the end. We usually lift share to reach our starting point.

Recent walks

The Tiptree U3A Long Walking group celebrated the U3A week by doing a walk around Tiptree on 25^th September 2025; this was a guided tour lead by our local historian Elaine Bamford. We started at central Tesco’s car park and set off towards our first stop along Church Road looking at photos of various shops past and present. We moved on via Tiptree United Reform church then on through Wilkins estate towards Tiptree playing fields. We then moved on towards Maldon passing Tiptree duck pond and finally finishing up at The Ship where we had lunch.

This month’s walk on the 11th April was a circular walk around Alton Waters reservoir. Having arrived at the centres carpark we set off along our 7.88 mile walk. This covered walking very close to the water’s edge watching the wildlife and passing some Highland cattle along our way as we headed towards Lemons Hill Bridge. This is where we turned to walk back towards the reservoir centre stopping off for our snack in one of the hides. Having refreshed ourselves we continued the walk passing the Weir and the Dam where one could see the tower of the Royal Hospital School at Holbrook we completed the walk by having an enjoyable cup of tea/coffee and an enjoyable chat in the visitors centre.

Our February walk was cancelled due to very bad weather conditions. However, we did manage to get our walk in for this month March 14.03.24 which was a 7.38 mile circular walk in Tollesbury meeting at Woodrolfe Road carpark. This walk was passed to me by one of our walkers which took in some of the Manor houses of Tollesbury including passing “White House Farm”.

Hello and welcome to 2024. We started off the New Year with our walk from Heybridge to Maldon and back.

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This was our annual memorial walk in aid of Robert Greed which we did on 14th December 2024. We started off from the carpark opposite The Cricketers Arms at Danbury. We headed up towards Danbury and then onto Sandon Ford where we stopped briefly to take in the view of the high water that was coming off the fields. We then moved onto Water meadow and picking up Graces Walk heading towards Hammons Road where we turned to see the church at Danbury in the distance and heading back towards Danbury Country Park where we stopped for our snack and drink. We completed the rest of the walk back to carpark and finishing with some refreshments at The Cricketers Arms after our walk of 7 miles.

On the 9th November 2023 we finally was able to do our celebratory 10th Anniversary walk which had been rescheduled from Thursday 12th October 2023 which was postponed due to bad weather. It was a seven mile circular walk to Layer Marney, re-enacting the very first walk of the U3A Walking Group in October 2013 which was led by Tom Donovan. Our meeting place was at Tesco’s carpark for 10.00am and headed out down New Road towards Birch wood and then following the footpath up to Park Lane. From there we took the footpath towards Long Wood down to Rockingham Farm and then continuing onto Parkgate Farm picking the footpath up towards Layer Marney Towers. Here we stopped for a snack and a drink before heading back towards Tiptree via Stockhouse Road then Hayes Green Road picking up the footpath via the “The Ramparts” onto Pods Wood passing the lakes on our way and finishing up at the Exchange in the village for well-earned refreshments.

14th September 2023 we did a 6.7 mile circular walk starting at Sudbury CO10 2SU. This walk was arranged by Richard Metcalf. We started off from Sudbury following the old railway line from Sudbury to Bury St. Edmunds “The valley trial”. When we reached Rodbrige Corner we stopped off at Melford Country Park for our lunchtime break.

10th August 2023 we started our walk from the middle of Tesco’s carpark to complete an 8.93 mile walk from Tiptree to Kelvedon and back. We headed towards Pod’s Wood and continued up through the woods passing the fishing lakes and heading towards Conyfield Wood and making our way down towards Messing. After walking round the village we picked up the footpath towards Prested Hall and then the footpath towards Threshelfords Business Park crossing over the A12 by footbridge where we stopped for our picnic lunch. After refreshing ourselves we continue towards Kelvedon and the Railway Tavern, where we had a most refreshing drink by the river Blackwater. Suitably refreshed we headed back towards Tiptree via Inworth and passing behind Perrywoods Nursery and finally stopping off at the Crate on the outskirts of Tiptree for a Coffee, Tea and other refreshments to finish the walk.

On 13th July 2023, we did our monthly circular walk of 7.47 mile starting at Dedham CO7 6DM to Flatford and then back. We headed west and picked up the Essex Way towards Stratford St Mary, where we stopped off for some refreshments at The Anchor pub. After our refreshments which revitalised us we headed towards East Bergholt where we stopped for our picnic lunch. After this we then headed towards Flatford Mill. On arrival we spent sometime enjoying the scenery and then set off to follow the river Stour back towards our starting point at Dedham and finished off the day by having tea and cakes at a local tea rooms.

Select links below to more walks and photos

• List of Walks in 2022
• Heybridge Walk January 2023
• Tollesbury Walk February 2023
• Mersea Island Walk March 2023
• Bures Walk April 2023

To find out more please use the enquiry link at the top of the page to contact the Group Organiser.

Links

• Long Walks Video