Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Login or Signup

Get the App

Login or Signup

Routes
Bike touring routes & trails
United Kingdom
England
East Of England
Essex
Colchester
Layer-De-La-Haye

Malting Cottage Honey – Layer Church loop from Layer Breton

Easy

3.3

(3)

10

riders

Malting Cottage Honey – Layer Church loop from Layer Breton

01:01

16.9km

110m

Cycling

Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: June 26, 2026

Waypoints

A

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

1

14 m

Abberton Reservoir Nature Discovery Park

Highlight • Viewpoint

Another great place to stop on a long bike ride. The visitor centre features a lovely cafe with handmade hot sandwich options and a terrace with a view over the reservoir (locals say you can see some nice wildlife here). Oh, and there's some bike parking at the entrance (although the place appears pretty safe).

Tip by

2

5.56 km

Potholes Along Edge of Road

Highlight • Other

3

6.61 km

Malting Cottage Honey

Highlight • Other

£5 per jar from the porch of a cottage, honesty box system. Since finding this I've been back several times to buy it - the honey is good.

Tip by

4

14.7 km

Layer Church

Highlight • Religious Site

Not much to be seen from the road but continue just south of the church and there are good views across Abberton Reservoir.

Tip by

5

14.8 km

Info taken from layerchurches.org.uk/churches.htm

The first record of the church's existence is found in a charter of 1128, although the oldest parts of the present walls were built some time before. At this time the church belonged to the Abbey of St John in Colchester, but within sixty years it had passed to the Priors of St Botolph. It was from these two great religious houses that the priests who ministered to the needs of the parish were drawn for over four hundred years.

The written records of the church are few. We know that after the Black Death the monks of St Botolph set to work to rebuild the nave and tower, both of which date from about 1350. A hundred years later they raised the chancel arch and gave the church its oldest bell (1459).

Layer de la Haye interiorDuring the 17th and 18th centuries the church suffered from neglect while it was held in plurality with Berechurch and other places. It was not until the middle of the 19th century that steps were taken to repair the fabric of the church and make it fully fit for worship. This was during the incumbency of the first resident vicar. The church was also enlarged by the building of the south aisle because the population had more than doubled since the turn of the century.

The registers of the church date only from 1752, fire having destroyed the earlier ones which probably dated from the sixteenth century.

The bells are of particular interest and below is a link to a page giving fuller details. Early in 2001 we completed a major restoration project involving the installation of a new bell frame and ringing chamber in the tower, a new bell, and refurbishment of the other bells, the oldest of which dates back to circa 1459.

Tip by

6

15.0 km

Cycleway Next to Abberton Reservoir

Highlight (Segment) • Cycleway

New cyclepath which is part of a larger network of new permissive footpaths and bridleways around Abberton reservoir. A bit bumpy in places, but takes you off the 60mph Wigborough Road, and some lovely views (especially if you stop along the way and walk up a few steps).

Tip by

B

16.9 km

End point

Bus stop

Loading

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

13.2 km

2.26 km

1.30 km

< 100 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

12.8 km

3.98 km

127 m

< 100 m

Sign up to see more specific route details

Sign up for free

Elevation

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Sign up to see more specific route details

Sign up for free

Weather

Powered by Foreca

Tuesday 14 July

27°C

16°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 21.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

guide_signup

Want to know more?

Sign up for a free komoot account to join the conversation.

Sign up for free

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

Save

Edit route

Download GPX

Move start point

Print

Share

Embed on a website

Report an Issue

Report restricted access

Nearby routes

Moderate

4.7

25

North Chelmsford to Essex lanes loop

02:16h

38.4km

200m

Explore
RoutesRoute plannerFeaturesHikesMTB TrailsRoad cycling routesBikepackingSitemap
Download the app
Follow Us on Socials

© komoot GmbH

Privacy Policy