GPS Cycle and Walking Routes

Beeleigh Falls Walk

1.55 miles (2.5 km)

Enjoy a short walk to these pretty falls on the River Chelmer in Essex. It's an interesting spot, where four waterways converge with a series of locks and weirs. The River Chelmer, River Blackwater, the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation Canal and the tidal Chelmer all meet at Beeleigh Falls. It's a great place for birdwatching so keep your eyes peeled for the Kingfishers which frequent the area.
The walk starts in the village of Langford just to the north of the falls. From here you can pick up footpaths running south along the Langford Cut, the section of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation (canal) which approaches Maldon. It will take you to the falls where you can also see Beeleigh Falls House, an attractive Victorian villa.
It's easy to extend your walking in the area if you have time. You could try our longer Maldon Circular Walk which starts in the town and visits the rivers, the canal, the falls and the interesting Beeleigh Abbey house, which incorporates the remains of the earlier monastery on the site. The abbey gardens, are now open to the public, on specific days during the summer months.
There's also the option of picking up the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation Canal and following it to the Blackwater Estuary where you can try the Heybridge Basin Walk. This will take you around the nearby Chigborough Lakes Nature Reserve which is another lovely place for a stroll.

Beeleigh Falls OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Beeleigh Falls Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Photos

Langford Cut - geograph.org.uk - 973729

Langford Cut 1. The section of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation (canal) which approaches Maldon is known as the Langford Cut.

Langford Cut - geograph.org.uk - 230869

Langford Cut 2. Small and overgrown side branch of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation running parallel to the River Blackwater to the village of Langford.

Below Beeleigh Falls - geograph.org.uk - 230821

Below Beeleigh Falls. From the weir over which flows a side branch of the Chelmer.

Beeleigh Falls - geograph.org.uk - 230832

Blackwater/Chelmer Navigation weir. Just downstream of the confluence of the river and the canal.

Hurst frame, Beeleigh Mill - geograph.org.uk - 1180687

Hurst frame, Beeleigh Mill. As I recall this was arranged to drive five pairs of stones underdrift. The stones are completely absent on the first floor. The drive shaft from the beam engine comes in on the left.

Beeleigh Lock - geograph.org.uk - 1844227

Beeleigh Lock

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Beeleigh Falls.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Beeleigh Falls.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)