Leaving the centre of Thaxted, we walked passed the imposing church and the almshouses to the windmill. From here we followed the River Chelmer as far as Duton Hill, past a mill and onto the ruins of Tilty Abbey. We stopped to admire the Church of St John the Baptist which was once the gatehouse chapel to the Abbey and then continued across the fields and country lanes until we reached the A120 on the edge of Takeley. Having crossed the A120 we turned right to continue along the southern side of this main road. Progress was very difficult along this section due to a lack of maintenance of the footpath, but we finally emerged from the 'jungle' close the Takeley church. Having passed the church we turned left along the old A120 before heading right across country to Hatfield Forest Country Park.
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