Audley End Walk – A Stroll Through The Estate

An impressive Jacobean House, a colourful park and a cute pub are a few of the things you can discover during the Audley End Walk. Follow me in Essex for a walk through history, perfect for a stroll with friends, family and our four-legged companions.

I like mixing culture and nature. Whilst disconnecting from urban life and immersing myself in the countryside, forests, hills and valleys, sometimes staying close to civilisation has its perks: there is something to visit! And this is exactly what this walk across Audley End park is about. Let me guide you from Audley End station to the Estate and you will find all the information you need about visiting Audley House.

Disclaimer: This walk takes place around Audley End estate only, but some London-based hiking groups may offer walks passing by Audley End. You can find more information on these groups here.

Logistics of the Audley End Walk

Audley End Garden & House Information

What is Audley End House & Garden?

The 6500 acres of the Audley End estate in Essex are composed of woodlands, farmlands and amenities such as a golf course. It is also the home of an impressive house and garden, which are worth the visit.

But before we get onto the walk, let’s take a short history lesson and learn more about Audley End House and its owners.

Walden Abbey

Before becoming the magnificent Jacobean house it is nowadays, Audley End House went through many different phases over the centuries.

Following the Norman Conquests, the Mandeville family built a manor on the site. Later, they founded a Benedictine monastery, which gained the title of Abbey in 1190.

During Henry VIII’s Reformation, the Abbey was dissolved and granted to Sir Thomas Audley, Lord Chancellor. He demolished the Church and covered the cloister arcades.

Thomas Howard

The house ownership went to Thomas Howard, who was executed for conspiring against Elizabeth I. His son (also a Thomas) saved the family’s reputation and regained the trust of the Queen. Under the reign of James I, Thomas was nominated Lord Treasurer. However, his extravagant renovations and transformations at Audley End House and Garden brought financial difficulties to the family. He was found guilty of corruption and extortion, money he used to repay his debts.

He was fined and retired at Audley End House with his wife.

The Decline

Thomas Howard left a heavy debt on his successors. This dark period of the Howard family ended when King Charle II bought Audley House in 1667 due to its proximity to Newmarket horse races. However, the King never used the place and the house fell into disrepair.

In 1701, the estate came back to the family. The successors made considerable reductions to the house to make it more manageable. In 1751, descendant Elizabeth Howard brought all the shares of the house and the park for her nephew, Sir John Griffin Griffin.

Sir John Griffin Griffin

The lucky nephew of Elizabeth Howard inherited the estate in 1762. He made massive improvements to the house, adding galleries, building a new kitchen, redesigning the garden and creating state apartments on the first floor. He and his wife continued the extension of the house until his death in 1797.

The ownership passed to Richard Aldworth Neville, an antique dealer. He gave back to Audley End its lost Jacobean character and made new arrangements in the house and the garden.

Nowadays

The estate remained in the Neville family until 1941 when it was requisitioned during the war. The site became the headquarters of the Polish Special Forces. After the war, the house ownership went back to the Neville family.

Nowadays the house is managed by the English Heritage charity and the heirs of the family still own a portion of the estate.

Audley End Walk

So now we covered the basics, let’s get to the walk!

Getting to the Estate

Our walk starts at Audley End Station, Essex. When you come out of the station, walk down Robinson’s Bungalows and then turn left onto Royston Road and its colourful cottages. As you arrive at St Mary the Virgin Church, Wendens Ambo, take the footpath going across the churchyard.

Originally, there were two parishes which were amalgamated in 1662 under the name of Wendens Ambo (Wenden Together). The church features in the Domesday Book so it was built at least before 1086. It underwent many extensions between the thirteenth and the fifteenth centuries.

Exit the churchyard via Churchpath and then turn right onto Royston Road. Don’t follow the road as it makes a turn to the right, but take the footpath in front of you. This footpath goes along a field and as you come to the end of it, turn right and continue walking on the side of the meadow.

You then arrive at the end of the field facing a busy road. Turn right onto London Road and continue on this road until you reach Audley End Estate.

Audley End Estate

When you reach the red brick wall of the Audley End Estate, turn right onto Spring Hill. Walk along the wall until you find the entrance to the estate further down, just before the crossing with Wenden Road.

Enter the estate and take the path in front of you. Depending on the season when you go, what you see might differ a lot from my pictures. I visited the estate during the Autumn season (and on a gloomy day as you can see), therefore the park was all orange and green. I read that during Spring you can even see bluebells, so each season its colours.

You know you reached the limit of the estate when you see this house with the tower. It is time to turn around and take the path on your left leading through a tree tunnel in the heart of the park.

Walk under the tree tunnel in all yellow and orange with the ground covered in leaves.

You then have an exercise to test your balance waiting for you. As you leave the forested area and continue on the path you arrive at a stream with rocks perfectly positioned to help you cross. Don’t forget to bring waterproof footwear, just in case you fall! But don’t worry it is a shallow stream of water; worst case scenario you will just get your feet wet.

Audley End House

On the other bank, you walk alongside the stream below you on the right-hand side. You even walk past a stone gate with the remains of a fence where the water flows. At the end turn right and the path becomes a road. Follow this road to exit the park. The columns of the gate are surmounted by sculptures of cow heads.

Walk on London Road and you arrive at the perfect spot for a great shot at Audley End House. View from the road, you can see the house behind the orange leaves tree on the other side of a grassy green piece of land. If you want to spend more time on the estate and visit Audley House, you will find all the information you need about the place at the start of this post.

Going Back to Audley End

Our walk is nearly over.

As you continue on London Road, you then get back to the crossing when we diverted to Spring Hill. This time, continue straight on London Road and retrace your steps to get back to Audley End Station.

But before we get to the station, let’s have a pub stop! My recommendation is the Bell Inn. This (very) small traditional British pub is a hidden gem in the middle of nowhere. View from the outside, it is hard to believe this old house is in fact a charming pub. With a giant fireplace, this little space is perfect to warm up after a walk outside in the cold season.

Bon appetit!

Audley End Walk Map

Do you want to do this walk? Easy! Simply download the GPS map by clicking on the download link below. If you need extra help, check my step-by-step guide to learn how to upload the map on your navigation app here.

Final Thoughts on the Audley End Walk

If you like mixing walking and culture, here are a few suggestions for your next walk:

Knole Park In Sevenoaks Walk – A Fairy-Like Day Out

Amberley To Arundel Walk: A Christmas Fairy Tale Hike

Strawberry Hill House Review – Is It Worth Visiting?

Flatford Mill Walk – Walking in John Constable Paintings

And you, what is your favourite place to visit? Let me know in the comments below.

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