This is a cache gathering walk (of about 7 miles or so) in the Essex countryside near Little Canfield & Great Dunmow, paying particular attention to the second world war RAF Great Dunmow and the Flitch Way with a quick visit to Little Easton.
The terrain is mostly flat footpaths, bridle-ways and rights of way that are not suitable for wheelchairs or prams - sorry! Once completed, you should have 16 new caches plus any others in the area which you don't already have - good luck!
Great Dunmow airfield was one of 15 airfields in Essex that was allocated to the United States Army Air Forces by The Air Ministry in 1942, and over 2000 mature Oaks were felled during construction. It was opened on 1st July 1943 and was home to the 368th Bombardment Group which flew B26 B&C Marauders.
In October 1944, the base was transferred to the RAF and was home to No.38 Group RAF and their Stirling & Halifax aircraft. After the war, the airfield was used for storing surplus military material, and the field was finally abandoned in 1948. The area is now used for agriculture, but some sections of runway and perimeter track remain, as well as a blister hangar and some Nissen huts.
The ‘Flitch Way’ is a linear country park on what was once a Victorian railway, which ran from Braintree to Bishop’s Stortford - approximately 15 miles. It is now open to all and it is possible to walk, ride or cycle the remaining sections, although it has been chopped up a little to allow for roads and housing - and you can enjoy tea and cake at Rayne Station, a cafe housed in the old station buildings.
Parking can be found at the nearby All Saints Church which can be found here: N51 51.903 E000 18.174, on Church Lane. It is a circular route, so you will return to your start point eventually! There are a couple of road crossing to negotiate, so please keep an eye on your kids / Geodogs at these points.
There are 16 caches in this series as follows:
RAF Great Dunmow Loop 1 – Brick Bridge.
RAF Great Dunmow Loop 2 – A120 Foot Bridge.
RAF Great Dunmow Loop 3 – Troll’s House.
RAF Great Dunmow Loop 4 – Bent Tree.
RAF Great Dunmow Loop 5 – Horse Crossing.
RAF Great Dunmow Loop 6 – Wartime Relic?
RAF Great Dunmow Loop 7 – Toppled Tree.
RAF Great Dunmow Loop 8 – Between A Rock & A Hard Place.
RAF Great Dunmow Loop 9 – Burnt Oak.
RAF Great Dunmow Loop 10 – New Footbridge.
RAF Great Dunmow Loop 11 – Danger Of Death!
RAF Great Dunmow Loop 12 – Rusty Gates.
RAF Great Dunmow Loop 13 – Forgotten Flitch.
RAF Great Dunmow Loop 14 – Banana Gate.
RAF Great Dunmow Loop 15 – New Footpath.
RAF Great Dunmow Loop 16 – Church View.
Good Luck!