Walking Routes in Essex

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Suffolk Walks
Route Name	Pic	Distance	Description
Centenary Circle		20 miles (32 km)	This circular walk takes you through the parks and countryside around Chelmsford. The walk starts on Sandford Mill bridge on the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation and passes Sandon, Chignal Smealey, Galleywood, Writtle and Broomfield. Highlights on this walk include Hylands Park with the Grade II listed Hylands House and gardens. Also look out for the 17th century New Hall school. Founded in 1642 it is one of the oldest Catholic schools in England. Finally there is a lovely waterside section along the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation taking you back to Sandford Mill and route end.
Epping Forest Centenary Walk		15 miles (24 km)	Follow the Epping Forest Centenary Walk fom Manor Park to Epping on this pleasant 15 mile walk. You start near Manor Park and head through the lovely Wanstead Flats Park and then on through Leyton Flats to Higham's Park. You then pass through Great Monk Wood in Epping Forest before finishing at Epping.
Essex Way		81 miles (130 km)	Travel through the Essex countryside from Epping to Harwich on this 81 mile footpath. The path takes you through some interesting towns and delightful villages, including Chipping Ongar, Terling, Willingale, Pleshey, Coggeshall, Dedham and Mistley. The walk includes riverside sections along the River Blackwater, the River Colne and along the River Stour at the end of the route. This final section is particularly lovely passing the Wrabness Nature Reserve on the banks of the river Stour estuary. Here you can see owls, yellowhammers, whitethroats, turtle dove, song thrush, nightingales and bullfinches. The walk is waymarked with a white disc featuring poppies.
Flitch Way		15 miles (24 km)	The Flitch Way is a cycle and walking route running along a decomissioned railway line through Essex. Starting in Bishops Stortford, the path takes you through Hatfield Forest Country Park and the town of Great Dunmow to Braintree. Highlights include the Victorian railway stations dotted along the path, deer in Hatfield Forest Country Park and views of the River Chelmer near Great Dunmow.
Forest Way -Essex		25 miles (40 km)	The Forest Way in Essex runs from Loughton station to Hatfield Forest Park. The walk starts taking you through Epping Forest and Epping Green towards Harlow where you pass through Harlow Common. The route continues north passing Hatfield Heath and Woodside Green before finishing at the lovely Hatfield Forest Park with its resident deer.
Greenwich to Cheshunt		21 miles (34 km)	Follow NCN route 1 on this plesant ride or walk through north London into Hertfordshire. You start by the Thames at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich and crosses to the Isle of Dogs via the Greenwich tunnel. This section gives splendid views of the River Thames and Canary Wharf. Shortly after leaving the Thames behind you will come onto the Lee Valley path which will take you along the Regent's canal and through Tower Hamlets and Victoria Park. You then join the River Lee near Lea Bridge for some more waterside riding. The off road path then takes you past various Reservoirs until you reach the lovely Lee Valley Park - London's largest open space. After going through the park you will soon pass close to Waltham Abbey in Essex before you arrive at the finish point at Cheshunt station next to Cheshunt lake.
Hadleigh to Stratford Legacy Walk		72 miles (116 km)	A walk created to celebrate the 2012 Olympic games in London. It runs from Hadleigh, in Essex, to the Olympic Park in Stratford, London. The route starts near the Hadleigh Mountain Bike Centre and takes you through some of the most beautiful countryside in Essex to the White Water Centre near Waltham Abbey. From here the route heads south to Stratford and the main Olympic Stadium. The walk visits Hanningfield Reservoir, Epping Forest, Lea Valley Park and Waltham Abbey. The walk is waymarked with a H2S disc.
Icknield Way Path		110 miles (177 km)	The Icknield Way Path starts at Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire and heads to Knettishall Heath in Norfolk along prehistoric pathways.
Ingrebourne Valley		3 miles (5 km)	This is a nice easy, family cycle ride or walk through the Ingrebourne Valley near Upminster. The route includes a stretch through Hornchurch Country Park with its ponds, lakes and pleasant scenery. You will also visit Ingrebourne Hill which offers brilliant views across the Thames and a variety of wildlife. Finally, there is a lovely stretch along the Ingrebourne River to enjoy, making for a peaceful, varied easy walk or ride. Good access points are the stations at Upminster and Rainham.
John Ray Walk		10 miles (16 km)	Travel along the John Ray Walk from Braintree to Witham on this lovely walk through Essex. You will pass through the delightful countryside of the Brain Valley, the birthplace and home of John Ray. Heralded as the father of English natural history he had a supreme understanding of the natural world. One of Ray’s greatest achievements was to lay the foundations for the classification of all living things.
Lea Valley Walk		53 miles (85 km)	A super walk with a series of delightful waterside sections along the River Lea. The walk runs from Leagrave, the source of the River Lea near Luton, to the Thames at Limehouse Basin, east London. You follow a riverside path for much of the way through, Luton, Hatfield, Hertford and Cheshunt with a swan emblem clearly waymarking the walk. The walk passes Nature Reserves, pretty riverside villages and also includes a section through the fantastic Lee Valley Park - London's largest open space.
London Loop		149 miles (240 km)	Also known as the London Outer Orbital Path, this walk takes you on a tour of the parks, woods and fields around the edge of Outer London. You start at Erith, on the River Thames and pass through Crayford, Orpington, Petts Wood, Coulsdon, Kingston upon Thames, Uxbridge, Elstree, Cockfosters, Chingford and Upminster Bridge before finishing back on the River Thames at Purfleet, opposite Erith. The walk has been divided into 24 manageable sections as follows: Erith Old Bexley Petts Wood West Wickham Common Hamsey Green Coulsdon South Banstead Downs Ewell Kingston Bridge Hatton Cross Hayes Uxbridge Harefield Moor Park Hatch End Elstree Cockfosters Enfield Lock Chingford Chigwell Havering-atte-Bower Harold Wood Upminster Bridge Rainham The walk is waymarked with a disc featuring a kestrel
Pilgrimage Way		23 miles (37 km)	This is a largely traffic free cycle ride or walk from Barking Abbey to Waltham Abbey via Three Mills, Limehouse Basin and the Olympic Site. The route starts at Barking Abbey and heads through Plaistow and Mill Meads to the Limehouse Basin. This section follows a cycle track for most of the way and includes a stretch along the River Lea. From Limehouse the route turns north through Victoria Park and Hackney Marsh to Lea Bridge where you begin a section along a series of reservoirs including West Warwick Reservoir and Lockwood Reservoir. The final section takes you through the lovely Lee Valley Park and along the River Lee Navigation Canal to the finish point at Waltham Abbey. As this ride is mostly on off road paths and tracks it is also suitable for walkers.
Rainham Marshes		6 miles (9 km)	Explore the RSPB Rainham Marshes Nature Reserve on this easy cycle or walk along NCN route 13. The route runs mostly along a riverside path by the River Thames from Purfleet to Rainham. The reserve has a variety of regular winged visitors, including peregrines, lapwings and wild ducks. There are also water voles and rare dragonflies to be seen across the boardwalks. Also take time to explore the visitor centre which has a wealth of information about the area. This route is easily accesible with train stations at either end at Purfleet and Rainham.
Roach Valley Way		23 miles (37 km)	This easy, circular walk explores the area around Rochford in Essex. The path starts and finishes in Rochford, passing Hockley, Canewden and Paglesham Churchend. There are lovely riverside sections, one along the River Crouch where there are views of Bridgemarsh Island and Burnham on Crouch. The second runs along the River Roach estuary , taking you back into Rochford. As such there is a variety of water based wildlife to enjoy with a Nature Reserve on the River Crouch a further highlight.
Saffron Trail		72 miles (116 km)	A walk through the Essex countryside from the coast at Southend-on-Sea to Saffron Walden. The walk starts by the pier at Southend and follows the coast to the lovely Hadleigh Castle Country Park. You then head north to Chelmsford, passing Hockley Woods, Rayleigh and Danbury with a waterside stretch along the River Crouch at Woodham Ferrers. At Chelmsford you'll enjoy a walk along the River Cam before continuing north to Great Dunmow and Newport before finishing at Saffron Walden.
Southend Millennium Walk		24 miles (39 km)	Enjoy the coastline and surrounding countryside of this famous seaside resort on this interesting circular walk. You will enjoy beaches, the famous Golden Mile with its numerous tourist attractions and the longest pier in the world on the coastal stretch which starts at Southend Tourist Information Centre. The path also visits Hadleigh Country Park and the ruins of Hadleigh Castle before heading inland through the attractive Essex Countryside passing through Rochford on the way. You then return to the coast for another pleasant coastal stretch through Thorpe Bay before finishing back at the Tourist information centre in Southend.
St Edmund Way		79 miles (127 km)	A walk through Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk from Manningtree to Brandon. The walk begins in Essex at Manningtree rail station and heads through Dedham, Sudbury, Bury St Edmunds and Thetford before finishing at Brandon. You begin with a pleasant waterside stretch from Manningtree to Sudbury along the River Stour, passing Dedham on the way. Also of note is The 16th century Willy Lott's Cottage - scene of the famous Hay Wain painting by John Constable.The path continues to Bury St Edmunds passing the National Trust owned Melford Hall stately home and the village of Lavenham as you go. The next stage runs from Bury St Edmunds to Thetford, following the River Lark before a wooded section through King's Forest and West Stow Country Park. At Thetford you will pass the ruined priory and join the Little Ouse River, which you follow through Thetford Forest to the finish point at Brandon.
St Peters Way		41 miles (66 km)	Travel from Chippping Ongar to the 7th century St Peter's Chapel on St Peter's Flat on this walk through Essex. The walk first heads to Maylandsea passing Hanningfield Water and Purleigh on the way. The sedond section heads to St Peter's Flat via Tillingham.
Stort Valley Way		28 miles (45 km)	A lovely circular walk around Harlow, Nazeing and Roydon. The path runs along the River Stort from Roydon and then onto Harlow and Sawbridgeworth. This section involves some easy riverside walking and a series of pretty locks. The route then heads through Matching Park, Harlow Park and Latton Park before heading back to Roydon through Bumble's Green and Nazeing.
Stour Valley Path		60 miles (96 km)	Follow the River Stour from Newmarket to Cattawade on this delightful walk through East Anglia. The walk passes through a series of pretty riverside towns and villages including Little Thurlow, Kedlington, Clare and the Clare Castle Country Park, Long Melford (with Melford Hall), Sudbury, Nayland and Dedham. You will also pass through the Dedham Vale AONB, an area which inspired much of the work of painter John Constable.
Thames Estuary Trail		115 miles (185 km)	Explore the Thames Estuary on this walk through Essex and Kent. The walk runs from Foulness Island to the Isle of Sheppey, passing Southend, Gravesend and Rochester. The scenery includes salt marshes, mudflats and open beaches, including the North Kent Marshes and the Essex Marshes.

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