Tendring CAMRA - RambAle 20 - The Three Ships (Kirby, Holland, Great Clacton)
The route
Walking boots with ankle support are strongly recommended for the section of walk from Kirby-le-Soken until the sea wall.
More to follow
Estimated timings
As usual timings are based on 4km/hour walking with half an hour stop at each pub.
Based on bus times for 17th September the 98 service seems to leave Pier Avenue, Clacton at 3 minutes before the hour, so take the 10:57 bus from stand C to get to Halstead Villas stop at 11:20 and be in the pub by 11:30, aiming to start walking at noon.
Leave the Ship at 12:00, for a 4.1km walk to the Ship, which will take just over an hour, so estimate arrival by 13:15
Leave the Ship at 13:45 for the next leg. We pass a public toilet block at about the 5km mark (about 15:00).
In terms of optional stops, the Oakwood is usually busy with diners but if walker numbers are low there should be room to stand near the bar, arriving at about 15:30
In numbers are higher though the bar of the Roaring Donkey is probably a better option arriving 15:45 (or half an hour later if you decide to do both optional stops)
Assuming one optional stop we should then reach the Ship at 16:45
Approximate distances:
- Ship (Kirby) to Ship (Holland): 4.1km / 2.5mi
- Ship (Holland) to Oakwood: 5.7km / 3.5mi
- Oakwood to Roaring Donkey: 0.9km / 0.6mi
- Roaring Donkey to Ship (Great Clacton): 1.8km / 1.1mi
- Totals: 12.6km (due to rounding this doesn't match the individual distances mentioned above) / 7.8mi
Getting to Kirby-le-Soken
Estimated times are based on using the number 98 bus from Clacton. For those starting at Harwich this journey planner suggests four trains and a walk from Kirby Cross, but the other option is the number 3 bus (09:42 from Harwich Town station) into Clacton and join the 98.
Hedingham's timetable for the 98 is currently available here
Hedingham's timetable for the 3 is currently available here
Route documents
Booklet printable (2 pages per side, double sided print)
Standard PDF (1 page per sheet)