• Belhus Woods Country Park
  • Directions / Map
  • Tickets and Parking
  • Friends of Belhus Woods
• Cressing Temple
  • Directions / Map
  • Tickets and Parking
  • Building Courses
• Cudmore Grove Country Park
  • Directions / Map
  • Tickets and Parking
• Danbury Country Park
  • Directions / Map
  • Tickets and Parking
• Hadleigh Country Park
  • Directions / Map
  • Tickets and Parking
• Gt Notley and the Flitch Way
  • Directions / Map
  • Tickets and Parking
• Marsh Farm Country Park
  • Directions / Map
  • Tickets and Parking
• Thorndon Country Park
  • Directions / Map
  • Tickets and Parking
• Weald Country Park
  • Directions / Map
  • Tickets and Parking
• Education

Places to Visit

Great Notley and the Flitch Way

Address:
Great Notley, CM77 7FS
Flitch Way, Rayne Station, Rayne, CM77 6RX

Telephone: 0845 603 7624.

Available facilities

• Refreshments
• Toilets
• Picnic Area
• Fishing Lake
• Countryside
• Events
• Education
• Cycling
• Available for Functions
• Parking
• Dogs Allowed
• Walks
• Horse Riding
• Lakes
• Playground
• Football Pitches
• Orienteering - Only at Great Notley

Great Notley Country Park covers some 100 acres of open space, which is managed for the benefit of wildlife and the community. The site was formally arable farmland and has been transformed into a mixture of wetland and open grassland. Each of these habitats provides a haven for a variety of species.

The park includes a number of mature species of native trees. Elsewhere, bats have made their homes in the grassland and wildflower meadows.

Walking, cycling, jogging and horse riding can all be enjoyed in the park and beyond with its links to the Flitch Way in the north and the bridleway in the south. A variety of activities and events are held throughout the year. Families can picnic or fly kites or, for the more energetic, there is an all-weather, multi-activity, floodlit pitch and two grass football pitches. There's also an excellent visitor centre, housed in the award-winning Discovery Centre. An outstanding example of sustainable architecture, this has been designed with construction materials, which ensure low maintenance and energy consumption to reduce the impact on the environment.

The Flitch Way passes through 15 miles of countryside along the former Bishop's Stortford to Braintree railway in the heart of rural Essex. Its name comes from a medieval ceremony, which originated in Little Dunmow and which still takes place every four years. The ceremony involved married couples trying to prove that they hadn't argued for a year and a day - if successful they were awarded with a Flitch (or side) of bacon.

The route of the Flitch Way has a multi-user surface making it accessible for all throughout the year. Much of the route can be explored on foot, bicycle or horseback taking you through wildlife-rich railway cuttings, past Victorian stations and over embankments with views across impressive farmlands, villages and woodland.

It would take a full day to walk the length of the Flitch Way from end to end, but with links to other paths it is easy to plan a circular walk. The route passes through historical towns and villages allowing you to explore places such as Great Dunmow or to combine a walk with a pub lunch at Rayne or Little Dunmow. It also links with other countryside attractions such as Great Notley Discovery Centre and Hatfield Forest.

 

• The biggest playing frame in the UK
• Continuous interactive play equipment and sensory trails
• Walking, cycling, horse riding, fishing and fitness all in one park
• The Flitch Way has over 15 miles of unspoilt countryside
• Many sections of the Flitch Way provided good access for wheelchair users
• The Great Notley site is flat with wheelchair/buggy friendly way-marked all-weather paths
• Play activities for less able children
• Water play and sensory trail
• Disabled parking

 

Opening times

The park is open daily from 8:00am till dusk
The visitor centre and cafe is open daily from 10:00am till 4:00pm. (Except 25 December)

Rayne station:
Feb to mid April - Refreshments available from 9:30am to 3:30pm

Mid April to Octotber - Refreshments available from 9:00am to 5:00pm

Toilets open daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm

 

Contact details

Address:
Great Notley Country Park, Great Notley, CM77 7FS
Flitch Way, Rayne Station, Rayne, CM77 6RX

Telephone:
01376 347134