Walking from Colchester North station to Colchester Girls

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adensano
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2015 11:04 pm

Walking from Colchester North station to Colchester Girls

Post by adensano »

Hi,
Does anyone have a DD who walks from Colchester North station to Colchester girls, please? How long does it take and how safe is it?

Any information/advice would be very much appreciated.

Regards

Aden
KB
Posts: 3030
Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:28 pm

Re: Walking from Colchester North station to Colchester Girl

Post by KB »

Mostly I think they catch a bus. I should think getting on for a couple of miles - so 35 minutes depending on how much they are carrying and how much chatting?
It's perfectly safe just a bit of a drag on top of a train journey.
Minesatea
Posts: 1234
Joined: Sat Oct 31, 2009 12:08 am

Re: Walking from Colchester North station to Colchester Girl

Post by Minesatea »

DD says quite a few older girls walk it, but the majority bus to the school from the station (first 65 or Chamber 84/754 are prefered buses) Unfortunately the preferred walking route involves walking on grass for some distance so isn't an option in bad weather as it gets very boggy!
Proudmumregardless
Posts: 304
Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2015 9:09 am

Re: Walking from Colchester North station to Colchester Girl

Post by Proudmumregardless »

That's a heck of a walk (I used to walk from the station to college at the institute daily) and I'd be encouraging her to get the bus
Colcmum
Posts: 71
Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2015 5:58 pm

Re: Walking from Colchester North station to Colchester Girl

Post by Colcmum »

There are three different ways. 2 of them are roughly parallel and go through town. Mostly main roads, plenty of crossings and a steep hill to climb in both directions. They take about 35 minutes.

The last one involves going down Sheepen Road, behind Colchester Institute and taking the footpath across the nature reserve to Sussex Road, which joins onto Lexden Road. Muddy and probably best done in groups and whilst it is light. It takes about twenty minutes.
KB
Posts: 3030
Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:28 pm

Re: Walking from Colchester North station to Colchester Girl

Post by KB »

Knowing what goes on in that area I would certainly say only in a group that was going to stick together ( no teenage girl stropping off) and definitely only in daylight and no lingering.
bravado
Posts: 468
Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 11:28 am

Re: Walking from Colchester North station to Colchester Girl

Post by bravado »

Colcmum wrote:T

The last one involves going down Sheepen Road, behind Colchester Institute and taking the footpath across the nature reserve to Sussex Road, which joins onto Lexden Road. Muddy and probably best done in groups and whilst it is light. It takes about twenty minutes.
Do you mean Hilly Fields? If so, it's not an area I'd recommend girls walking through, group, or no-group. An internet search of Hilly Fields brings up a rather interesting array of crimes and unfortunate events (see May this year) - some search engines bring up more with Hillyfields.
Colcmum
Posts: 71
Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2015 5:58 pm

Re: Walking from Colchester North station to Colchester Girl

Post by Colcmum »

I agree it is not a route I would recommend, but it is a route that is used. It avoids Balkerne Hill and North Hill which are both steep hills, plus it cuts off at least ten minutes walk to the station. Teenagers being teenagers....

If you know it's there then you know to forbid your child to use it.

It's actually pretty safe during the day, lots of families cycle and walk there and a lot of the issues took place in a neighbouring residential area (and in Hilly fIelds, Enfield in London). But I wouldn't want Dd walking home there by herself, just as I wouldn't want her walking in any semi-deserted open space at dusk.
ToadMum
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Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:41 pm
Location: Essex

Re: Walking from Colchester North station to Colchester Girl

Post by ToadMum »

Colcmum wrote:I agree it is not a route I would recommend, but it is a route that is used. It avoids Balkerne Hill and North Hill which are both steep hills, plus it cuts off at least ten minutes walk to the station. Teenagers being teenagers....

If you know it's there then you know to forbid your child to use it.

It's actually pretty safe during the day, lots of families cycle and walk there and a lot of the issues took place in a neighbouring residential area (and in Hilly fIelds, Enfield in London). But I wouldn't want Dd walking home there by herself, just as I wouldn't want her walking in any semi-deserted open space at dusk.
I know that there will be several forum members who will be sending their DC 45-50 miles each day to school in Colchester, but I'm curious as to how something happening in Enfield makes it undesirable to walk from Colchester North station to Lexden Road at eight o'clock in the morning?
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.Groucho Marx
Minesatea
Posts: 1234
Joined: Sat Oct 31, 2009 12:08 am

Re: Walking from Colchester North station to Colchester Girl

Post by Minesatea »

Agreed this is the route I was talking about too, DD has friends that walk that way in good weather. I would not recommend it to the OP for a new year 7 tho', she would be better off on a bus.

2 different Hilly fields causing confusion I think!
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