This week's deceptively short walk is a tour of one of the most attractive towns in Essex.

Those who wish will be able to combine this with next week's visit to nearby Audley Park.

The Saffron' in the town's name derives from the harvesting of crocus for the use of a dye and medicine over three centuries.

The expression of the wealth resulting from this trade can be seen in the host of wonderful buildings including the magnificent and dominant parish church.

Our tour will take in a wide variety of architecture including the former Old Sun Inn which reputedly hosted Cromwell and Fairfax and which boasts some extraordinary examples of pargetting featuring mythical giants.

Early on we cross The Common to visit the oldest turf maze in Britain; constructed 800 years ago this encloses a pathway which is over a mile long.

You will also get the chance to view the ruins of the Castle before crossing the Market Square on your way to the astonishing Bridge End Gardens in all its restored Victorian elegance.

You can supplement your visit by seeking out the Fry Art gallery and the town Museum.

1. Start Leave the Swan Meadow car park by passing to the left of the automatic toilet. Go forward the full length of Park Lane to reach the High Street.

Go right and take the first left into George Street, which becomes Hill Street, passing public toilets on the right.

At the end, cross the road and veer left then right to walk alongside the bed of a river on the right and a car park on the left.

Keep forward until you reach a bridge, then strike out diagonally left across The Common towards some raised ground over near houses. You arrive at the Maze.

Continue left up the hill to reach Ashdon Road.

2. 0.6 miles/0.9km Go left, walking parallel with the road to reach a road junction with the Castle over to the right.

Cross over and go left down Common Hill. Take the first right turn into Emson Close, going left at the end into the Market Square.

3. 0.9 miles/1.4km Leave the square with the Library to your left to walk up Market Hill to the junction with Church Street (on the corner is the former Sun Inn).

Go left then right into the Churchyard of St Mary the Virgin. Turn right before the church to reach Museum Street.

Go left, passing the entrance to the Town Museum to reach Castle Street 4. 1.3 miles/2.1km Turn left along this short but interesting backstreet until you see a brown sign to Fry Art Gallery.

Opposite this, on the right, is the Bridge End garden entrance. Go through an arch, passing the entrance to the Art Gallery, and continue downhill to enter a walled garden.

Go immediately right to tour the gardens in an anti-clockwise direction. (You can mount the viewing platform).

Continue up some steps (passing some toilets on the right) and go to the right of a domed garden house and alongside a rose garden to leave through an arch and turning right before you return to the main wall.

5. 1.9 miles/3.1km

Emerge on Bridge Street and turn left to pass The Eight Bells.

Go right down Freshwell Street continuing along a lane at its end to go over a bridge and pass a pond on the left. Go right to return to the car park.

Factfile Starting Point/Parking: Swan Meadow, a pay-and-display car park (free on Sundays) is at the end of New Pond Lane off the B184 to the north-west of the town.

Distance: 2.2 miles/3.5km Time: 2 hours Refreshments: There are lots of cafes, restaurants and pubs in the town. You might like to eat in the 16C barn which forms part of the Eight Bells in Bridge Street.

Public Toilets: there is a pay-for-use toilet at the start, early on there is a toilet in Hill St.

Public Transport: There are frequent bus services from Bishops Stortford and Newport. It is possible to catch a bus from Audley End station which is 2.5 miles away.

Map and Grid Reference: Explorer 195 536386 More Information: The Fry Art gallery which you will pass on your way to Bridge End Gardens is nationally famous and houses important paintings by Edward Bawden and Eric Ravilious.

Admission is free and it is open on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons (01799 513779).

The Museum is open every weekday and Sunday afternoons, admission is £1 (01799 510333) Len Banister has written Drive and Stroll in Essex which contains 20 circular walks and contributed to Pub Walks for Motorists: Essex, Suffolk & Norfolk - both are published by Countryside Books.

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