When Bob and his wife, Gloria, came to live in Rayne in 1974, they felt that the village was rather open, with not many mature trees at that time, but as they had a large dog they would walk along the track which was to become the Flitch Way.

Bob enjoyed walking and liked to explore the local footpaths, but he found that many of them were overgrown so he went out with a pair of secateurs and a large stick in an effort to clear them.  The Rayne Village Society then became involved so that there was a group of volunteers who helped him to clear all the footpaths.  The footpaths originally were across the fields, but now there are footpaths along Pods Brook which are used by common consent of the farmers who own the land.

At first it was not possible to follow some of the other footpaths as a result of fertiliser put on the crops so the paths had become overgrown; however, they have now been cleared becaused of more frequent use.

The ancient footpaths used to go from the church to the local hamlets and remote farms; however, many of these were ploughed up during World War II and the signposts removed.  After the war the custom of family walks by church families around the village on Sunday afternoons ceased because no-one knew where the footpaths were.  However, some of the signs were replaced and some weren't - some farmers blocked traditional footpaths through their farmyards with large dogs.

All footpaths are now featured in the new Ordinance Survey map.  In addition the Council Offices in Braintree have a definitive map of all the footpaths in the district which can be viewed on request.

Footpaths radiate from the centre of Rayne.  The Fenton's Farm to Crix Green path was cut through a big hedge called the Primrose Path after the many primroses that can be seen along the path in spring.

The footpath from Pound Farm to Saling is very remote and finishes by the White Hart in Saling.

Another route goes from Mount Farm, along Pods Brook, crosses the brook and then goes through what was a sheep farm.

There are three different ways of walking from Rayne across the fields to Panfield.

The traditional New Year's Day Walk follows a circular route on footpaths around the village - as many as 70 people have been on this walk.  Some of the people who went on the original walk with Bob Chisholm still join it to this day as it follows traditional footpaths all the way.