A county of creeks, castles, and ancient lanes — where walking and outdoor exploration lead through history and into wide-open space.
Essex is often overlooked, but it’s one of England’s most rewarding destinations for self-guided adventures. The landscape is shaped by water — with estuaries, tidal creeks, saltmarshes, and winding rivers creating a coast that feels more secretive than seaside.
Paths hug the edges of the Blackwater, Crouch, and Colne estuaries, passing through nature reserves, historic fishing villages, and farmland rich in birdlife. Inland, peaceful countryside walking reveals hedgerows, church towers, old woods, and quiet tracks linking villages and market towns.
From Manningtree and Dedham Vale in the north to Mersea Island, Bradwell-on-Sea, and Thaxted further south and west, Essex offers surprising depth. Exploring here feels like discovering somewhere others have missed — and that’s exactly the point.
A developing long-distance trail tracing much of Essex’s varied coastline, including tidal flats, hidden beaches, and saltmarsh landscapes.
Shared with Suffolk, this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty offers timeless riverside walks and Constable Country scenery.
A unique tidal island with coastal paths, sandy beaches, and panoramic sea views.
Remote-feeling estuary walking with wide skies, abundant birdlife, and the ancient Chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall.
Inland market towns linked by footpaths, fields, and historic architecture.
