Hadleigh Castle: a Man About Country Story Walk

“I come not from Heaven, but from Essex” - William Morris

Royal ruins, dancing ghosts, witches & wizards, woodland smugglers and a nature reserve on a rubbish dump island - there's so much to discover in Hadleigh Country Park!

On this story walk, you’ll be guided by storyteller James Lawrence, who will bring the landscape to life with history, folklore and local legends. 

Essex is a land rich with cultural and natural treasures. Despite the one-dimensional view of Essex peddled by the media, we know that our county is like a glittering ruby with hundreds of sparkling facets. There are many secrets to be discovered here; some so well-kept that not even locals know about them! It’s about time we rediscovered the many ways of Essex, to celebrate our county in all its glory.

If you want to know more about the history, stories and places in your local area, while getting some quality time in nature - this walk is for you.

Walk Details

• Start time: 12pm
• Parking: Hadleigh Country Park Car Park, SS7 2PP (pay to park)
• Distance: 5km
• Duration: 2.5 hours (approx)
• Terrain: Grass paths, dirt tracks, a steep hill
• Dogs: Welcome
• Questions: james@manaboutcountry.co.uk

This story walk was originally part of ‘The Essex Ways’ a storytelling project funded by the Essex County Council Art & Cultural Fund 2025. For this project, Essex-born storyteller James Lawrence undertook an epic 400km walking journey around the county in Spring 2025. Along the way he collected stories: from people, books, and the land itself. These stories have been woven together into a series of modern Essex myths,  shared in a series of story walks across Essex. James’ aim is to celebrate the many different sides of Essex by highlighting local heritage as well as the beauty of the county’s natural landscapes.

You can learn more about The Essex Ways here:

• Website: www.manaboutcountry.co.uk/essexways
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/man_about_country
• TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@manaboutcountry