Broxted: Walking Routes, Countryside and Historic Houses

Broxted combines old country lanes, beautiful views and a remarkable density of historic buildings with concrete opportunities for walks. Anyone planning a trip to Broxted can choose between a longer route through the countryside, another walk with a fixed starting point and historical discoveries.

Walking routes with different focuses

The Hundred Parishes Quiet Lane Walk number 332 starts and ends at Broxted Village Hall. The Hundred Parishes Circular Walk number 120 also starts and ends there. The circular route is 5.5 miles (9 km) long and leads through the countryside. Along the way, it explores parts of the parish of Broxted as well as the hamlet of Tilty in the adjoining civil parish of Great Easton & Tilty.

This information helps you plan your day: the Circular Walk offers a clearly named route with a specific length, while the Quiet Lane Walk is described as a separate walk with the same starting and ending point in Broxted. If you are planning a trip around several interests, you can combine a focus on walking with visits to historic buildings and local history.

Countryside and local character

Broxted is a parish with old country lanes and beautiful views. These two features give the place a distinct rural character. For travellers who are not looking exclusively for indoor attractions, the walking routes and countryside provide an independent reason to include Broxted in their travel plans. At the same time, the surroundings remain specific: the named routes do not simply pass through a generally described landscape, but have a fixed starting and ending point at Broxted Village Hall.

Church and unusual windows

The Church of St Mary the Virgin in Broxted dates from the early 13th century. It has a north arcade from the early 15th century, was substantially altered in the 14th and 15th centuries and extensively restored in 1875–1876. Several historical phases therefore come together in one building.

A distinctive addition to the building's history is the two Hostage Windows: the Window of Captivity and the Window of Freedom. Both were installed after the release of journalist John McCarthy in 1991. In addition to its medieval origins, the windows give the church a connection to an event from the 20th century.

Timber-framed houses and architectural forms

Several named buildings showcase Broxted's architectural variety. Knowles in Broxted is a timber-framed house dating from the late 15th or early 16th century, with externally visible timber beams and a thatched half-hipped roof. The Flying Rat in Broxted is a plastered timber-framed house from the early 17th century with a thatched half-hipped roof. Walkers in Chaureth Green, Broxted, dates from the late 16th century and also has plastered timber framing and a thatched half-hipped roof.

Water Hall in Broxted is also a plastered timber-framed house, attributed to the late 16th or early 17th century, with a thatched roof. Chaureth Hall is a plastered timber-framed house from the 17th century that was extended in the 19th century. Its hipped roof is made of red plain tiles and grey slate. Brick House in Church End, Broxted, dates from the early 18th century and has a red-brick house with a red-tiled half-hipped mansard roof.

Planning Broxted as an accommodation base

When searching for a holiday rental in Broxted, you can first decide whether walking routes, countryside or historic buildings should be the focus of your stay. For a trip with varied interests, the longer Circular Walk can be considered as a separate planning point, while the church and houses provide starting points for historical and cultural discoveries. Your choice of accommodation should fit the rhythm you envisage for your trip, without deriving any particular facilities or location for a holiday rental from the attractions described.

Further destinations for travel planning

If you would like to note down further destinations for your trip in addition to Broxted, here is a compact selection: Stondon Massey, Weeley, Little Hallingbury, Woodham Ferrers, Boxted, Dedham, Hempstead and Maldon.

For the overarching travel overview: Essex.