Black Boy, Weeley to the Plough, Great Bentley
Optional extension to Red Lion, Thorrington via Fusilier Aingers Green
The route
We plan to repeat this rambale on 13th June 2026, again making our way to the Black Boy at Weeley for opening time so the estimated times below will be pretty similar. We will tweak the stops slightly to concentrate on pubs on this year’s pub passport, so for example we will visit the Snooty Fox (which we pass on the route shown above) rather than the Kings Arms, and once we’ve reached the Plough at Great Bentley we’ll offer an optional leg to the Fusilier and back, or to the Fusilier and on to Red Lion, Thorrington (about 0.5 miles more). Edit: We finished at the Red Lion with time for a drink before the 19:15 bus back to Clacton.
Much of the route is off-road, so boots with ankle support are advised.
Estimated timings
As for other rambales, estimates are based on 4km/hr rounded up to next 15 minutes, with 1/2 hour stop per pub
Black Boy, Weeley to Bricklayers Arms, Little Bentley, 12:30 -> 14:15
Bricklayers Arms, Little Bentley to Kings Arms, Frating, 14:45 -> 16:00
Kings Arms, Frating to Plough, Great Bentley, 16:30 -> 17:30
Approximate distances:
- Black Boy, Weeley to Bricklayers Arms, Little Bentley, 6.7km (4.2 mi)
- Bricklayers Arms, Little Bentley to Kings Arms, Frating, 4.4km (2.7 mi)
- Kings Arms, Frating to Plough, Great Bentley, 3.8km (2.4 mi)
Getting to Weeley
The following notes based on traveline.info on 5th April 2022 for Saturday 7th May 2022.
For our walk on Saturday 7th May, we are advising the use of the train as the rambale ends near Great Bentley railway station. This will involve a short walk up the hill from Weeley station and perhaps a short wait for opening time at noon.
The 11:05 train from Clacton, change at Thorpe-le-Soken gets to Weeley at 11:21. Note there are a number of buses from Clacton that will get you nearer to the Black Boy – such as the 2 to Manningtree/Mistley or the X76 to Colchester.
For the return journey the train leaves at 23 minutes past the hour and takes just over 20 minutes to Clacton, including the change at Thorpe-le-Soken.
From Harwich the quickest route is the number 3 bus to Thorpe-le-Soken then the 105 towards Colchester. The alternative would be the 09:26 train from Harwich Town, changing at Manningtree and Colchester to arrive at Weeley at 11:26.
For the return journey you’d need to take the train changing at Colchester and Manningtree, leaving at 24 minutes past the hour with the total return journey taking just under 2 hours due to a 55 minute wait at Colchester (rather than at Manningtree where at least there is a buffet)
Route documents
To follow