Essex Witch Trails IIII

October is fast making its way into our present lives. The leaves will be falling and out in the fields the bounty of this year's harvest will soon be reaped.. Darkness will drape its cloak around the yielding sun and the ceremonial procession towards the dead of winter begins...

Okay okay, lighten up a little bit here...

Let's at least get a bike ride in before the seasonal dread takes over! The latest rendition of the hugely successful Essex Witch Trails is upon us! Not heard of it?! Well you are in for a treat. The Essex Witch Trails has been a series of annual rides taking us into the eastern stretches of Essex, up and out to Manningtree and down to Wivenhoe before jumping on its collective broomstick back into Colchester. The routes pass through the historic hunting grounds of the Witchfinder General, who in the 17th century preyed upon innocent women, rounded them up under suspicion of witchcraft and took them to Colchester castle to be locked up, awaiting trial. In the process collecting fees and sorting out his own personal vendettas...

This year is the 4th glorious edition, who would have thunk it (!) and will connect the riders further to the landscape and the natural elements that have stood the test of time since the days of the Witch Trials (what I'm saying is this year it will be a gravel ride). The smaller roads and byways that the riders will take feel more like the real paths the people of the past would have been used to, aka that means there will be mud. It will be October so expect this on parts of the off-road sections; this is a trail and a trail all in one. Not too demanding, you will be tested, but you are mainly in it for the fun..

Pre-ride you will receive a booklet in the post. Every year the theme and route of the ride is different and within the pages of the booklet your journey will be revealed. On the day of the ride you will go through six checkpoints. Here you will either have your booklet stamped, collect a token, find a talisman, and no doubt get a hot cup of coffee alongside some spot prizes from us here in The Duckhouse!

On your return to Colchester, we shall reconvene outside the castle and as a reward for your successful journey you will receive a pair of rather fetching unique Blackmore Witch Trail socks witch we have had produced especially for this years ride!

Come join us on the 18th of October for a ride into history