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Essex

Concord Beach Paddling Pool on hot summer's day SWC Walk 258 Benfleet Circular (via Canvey Island)
Concord Beach Paddling Pool on hot summer's day

SWC Walk 258 Benfleet Circular (via Canvey Island)

Aug-16 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

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Benfleet Circular via Canvey Island

Varied walk around a unique island in the Thames Estuary: mudflats, creeks, river traffic, sandy beaches, seawall murals, grassy marshland, oil terminals & refineries

Hadleigh Castle Benfleet Circular
Hadleigh Castle

Benfleet Circular

Sep-20 • moontiger on Flickr

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Benfleet Circular via Leigh on Sea

Hadleigh Castle, Leigh on Sea, and Benfleet Creek

Sudbury from the common Bures to Sudbury
Sudbury from the common

Bures to Sudbury

May-15 • moontiger on Flickr

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Bures to Sudbury

The Stour Valley Way, Gainsborough country and historic Sudbury.

July walk 2009? northwards along the coast towards Walton on the Naze Two 'SWC' walk authors decide to end it all.....
July walk 2009? northwards along the coast towards Walton on the Naze

Two 'SWC' walk authors decide to end it all.....

Feb-13 • magyardave2002 on Flickr

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Clacton-on-Sea to Walton-on-the-Naze

A short North Sea coastal walk between 2 seaside resorts

St. Andrew's Church, Greensted-juxta-Ongar SWC 276 - Epping to Ingatestone (via Chipping Ongar)
St. Andrew's Church, Greensted-juxta-Ongar

SWC 276 - Epping to Ingatestone (via Chipping Ongar)

Nov-22 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

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Epping to Ingatestone via Chipping Ongar

The Essex Way and the St. Peter's Way through mildly undulating landscape with plenty of woodlands and historical buildings.

CIMG6039 Audley End House
CIMG6039

Audley End House

Aug-16 • Sean O'Neill

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Great Chesterford to Newport

Through rolling hills and river valleys to the historic market town of Saffron Walden and one of Britain's finest stately homes.

Hadleigh Castle Benfleet to leigh on Sea
Hadleigh Castle

Benfleet to leigh on Sea

Jun-12 • moontiger on Flickr

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Hadleigh Castle Country Park

Essex Coastline, a ruined castle with a view, and 2 Tree Island

St. Mary's Church, Buttsbury SWC Walk 158 - Ingatestone to Battlesbridge or Wickford
St. Mary's Church, Buttsbury

SWC Walk 158 - Ingatestone to Battlesbridge or Wickford

May-18 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

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Ingatestone to Battlesbridge

The Wid Valley and the Wid itself, Hanningfield Reservoir Nature Reserve and the Crouch Valley via a mix of woods and fields.

Grange Barn, Coggeshall SWC Walk 216 Kelvedon Circular
Grange Barn, Coggeshall

SWC Walk 216 Kelvedon Circular

Apr-14 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

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Kelvedon Circular

Gentle Essex walk through the quiet Blackwater Valley to historic Coggeshall, with 300 listed buildings, for lunch.

View from One Tree Hill towards Canvey Island SWC Walk 114 Laindon Circular
View from One Tree Hill towards Canvey Island

SWC Walk 114 Laindon Circular

Oct-15 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

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Laindon Circular

Essex Hills, wooded Nature Reserves and panoramic Thames Valley Views

Leigh-on-Sea to Shoeburyness via Southend-on-Sea

Gentle coast path with quiet, residential, and seaside resort sections, and the world's longest leisure pier.

Willy Lott's Cottage, Flatford Looking much as painted by Constable
Willy Lott's Cottage, Flatford

Looking much as painted by Constable

Dec-13 • JonCombe on Flickr

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Manningtree Circular

River Stour - Constable country

Sunset, Burnham-on-Crouch SWC Walk 162 North Fambridge to Burnham-on-Crouch
Sunset, Burnham-on-Crouch

SWC Walk 162 North Fambridge to Burnham-on-Crouch

Oct-17 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

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North Fambridge to Burnham-on-Crouch

Follow the tidal River Crouch eastwards towards the North Sea atop the sea wall. Wide open and scenic countryside, mudflats, creeks, rich bird life, sailing boats and marinas.

Stile in Hedge Gap SWC Walk 159 South Woodham Ferrers to North Fambridge
Stile in Hedge Gap

SWC Walk 159 South Woodham Ferrers to North Fambridge

Oct-15 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

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South Woodham Ferrers to North Fambridge

Varied walk out of the Crouch valley through undulating parts of Essex with a serene riverside finish, passing RHS Garden Hyde Hall, some woods and vineyards.

Southend Pier

Gentle stroll out into the Thames Estuary along the world's longest pleasure pier

The Broomway at Wakering Stairs The start of the Broomway as it heads out onto Maplin Sands.
The Broomway at Wakering Stairs

The start of the Broomway as it heads out onto Maplin Sands.

May-14 • JonCombe on Flickr

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The Broomway and Foulness Island

Fabled tidal road off the coast off Essex across Maplin Sands to Foulness Island.

Theydon Bois to Epping

An Essex walk with a heritage railway station within easy reach of London

The Thames at Tilbury
The Thames at Tilbury

Nov-06 • JonCombe on Flickr

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Tilbury to East Tilbury via the 2 Forts Way

The 2 Forts Way along the Thames Estuary coast path, passing Tilbury and Coalhouse Artillery Forts

Buttercups Wakes Colne to Bures Spectacular show of....
Buttercups

Wakes Colne to Bures Spectacular show of....

May-08 • moontiger on Flickr

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Wakes Colne to Bures

The Colne Valley, thatched cottages, brooks, farms, woods and undulating hills

SDC10383
SDC10383

Jun-10 • Andrew Murphy

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Walton-on-the-Naze Circular

Coastal walk from a faded grandeur Victorian seaside resort with pier to a fast eroding, fossil rich headland and a sand spit. Return along the beach or salt marsh sea wall.

Picnic spot on Wicken Water, Arkesden SWC Walk 116 Wendens Ambo [Audley End station] Circular
Picnic spot on Wicken Water, Arkesden

SWC Walk 116 Wendens Ambo [Audley End station] Circular

Feb-16 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

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Wendens Ambo Circular

North West Essex hills and pretty villages

Backview from Mark's Farm towards Rettendon SWC Walk 157 - Wickford to Battlesbridge or South Woodham Ferrers [Battlesbridge Ending]
Backview from Mark's Farm towards Rettendon

SWC Walk 157 - Wickford to Battlesbridge or South Woodham Ferrers [Battlesbridge Ending]

May-20 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

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Wickford to Battlesbridge

Grassy fields, quiet lanes, a smattering of woods, Hanningfield Reservoir Nature Reserve and the tidal River Crouch.

Clouds over the river Colne SWC B1 W30_20110917_04_DxO_1024x768
Clouds over the river Colne

SWC B1 W30_20110917_04_DxO_1024x768

Sep-11 • Ludovic Lemaignen on Flickr

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Wivenhoe Circular

2 circular walks on either side of the Colne estuary. **check ferry times in advance**

Wivenhoe to West Mersea or Clacton-on-Sea

Tidal river Colne to Brightlingsea. Then short ferry for coast walk to Clacton (long) or West Mersea (bus)

Region Star # Walk Km Effort Ht. gain Description London
Essex 258 Benfleet Circular via Canvey Island 23.2 2 50 Varied walk around a unique island in the Thames Estuary: mudflats, creeks, river traffic, sandy beaches, seawall murals, grassy marshland, oil terminals & refineries FS LS
Essex 268 Benfleet Circular via Leigh on Sea 15.2 4 175 Hadleigh Castle, Leigh on Sea, and Benfleet Creek FS LS
Essex 8 Bures to Sudbury 16.6 3 175 The Stour Valley Way, Gainsborough country and historic Sudbury. LS
Essex 52 Clacton-on-Sea to Walton-on-the-Naze 11.5 1 50 A short North Sea coastal walk between 2 seaside resorts LS
Essex 276 Epping to Ingatestone via Chipping Ongar 26.9 4 250 The Essex Way and the St. Peter's Way through mildly undulating landscape with plenty of woodlands and historical buildings.
Essex 130 Great Chesterford to Newport 17.5 3 175 Through rolling hills and river valleys to the historic market town of Saffron Walden and one of Britain's finest stately homes. LS
Essex 14 Hadleigh Castle Country Park 5.9 1 0 Essex Coastline, a ruined castle with a view, and 2 Tree Island FS LS
Essex 158 Ingatestone to Battlesbridge 24.8 4 250 The Wid Valley and the Wid itself, Hanningfield Reservoir Nature Reserve and the Crouch Valley via a mix of woods and fields. LS
Essex 216 Kelvedon Circular 23.2 4 175 Gentle Essex walk through the quiet Blackwater Valley to historic Coggeshall, with 300 listed buildings, for lunch. LS
Essex 114 Laindon Circular 20.9 5 325 Essex Hills, wooded Nature Reserves and panoramic Thames Valley Views FS LS
Essex 355 Leigh-on-Sea to Shoeburyness via Southend-on-Sea 12.5 1 25 Gentle coast path with quiet, residential, and seaside resort sections, and the world's longest leisure pier. FS
Essex 39 Manningtree Circular 17.3 4 150 River Stour - Constable country LS
Essex 162 North Fambridge to Burnham-on-Crouch 20.9 2 75 Follow the tidal River Crouch eastwards towards the North Sea atop the sea wall. Wide open and scenic countryside, mudflats, creeks, rich bird life, sailing boats and marinas. LS
Essex 159 South Woodham Ferrers to North Fambridge 25.7 5 275 Varied walk out of the Crouch valley through undulating parts of Essex with a serene riverside finish, passing RHS Garden Hyde Hall, some woods and vineyards. LS
Essex 45 Southend Pier 5.6 1 0 Gentle stroll out into the Thames Estuary along the world's longest pleasure pier FS LS
Essex 166 The Broomway and Foulness Island 16.0 3 0 Fabled tidal road off the coast off Essex across Maplin Sands to Foulness Island.
Essex 409 Theydon Bois to Epping 15.5 3 225 An Essex walk with a heritage railway station within easy reach of London
Essex 357 Tilbury to East Tilbury via the 2 Forts Way 13.0 2 25 The 2 Forts Way along the Thames Estuary coast path, passing Tilbury and Coalhouse Artillery Forts FS
Essex 46 Wakes Colne to Bures 17.7 5 150 The Colne Valley, thatched cottages, brooks, farms, woods and undulating hills LS
Essex 98 Walton-on-the-Naze Circular 12.2 2 50 Coastal walk from a faded grandeur Victorian seaside resort with pier to a fast eroding, fossil rich headland and a sand spit. Return along the beach or salt marsh sea wall. LS
Essex 116 Wendens Ambo Circular 23.7 4 225 North West Essex hills and pretty villages LS
Essex 157 Wickford to Battlesbridge 21.0 3 175 Grassy fields, quiet lanes, a smattering of woods, Hanningfield Reservoir Nature Reserve and the tidal River Crouch. LS
Essex 30 Wivenhoe Circular 14.8 2 125 2 circular walks on either side of the Colne estuary. **check ferry times in advance** LS
Essex 247 Wivenhoe to West Mersea or Clacton-on-Sea 18.6 2 50 Tidal river Colne to Brightlingsea. Then short ferry for coast walk to Clacton (long) or West Mersea (bus) LS

Last Updated : Apr-24