Walking Holidays and Stays in Essex

Estuary Trails, Quiet Coast, and Hidden Countryside

A county of creeks, castles, and ancient lanes — where walking leads through history and into wide-open space.

Essex is often overlooked, but it’s one of England’s most rewarding counties for walkers. The landscape is deeply 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, you’ll find peaceful countryside walking: 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. Walking here feels like discovering somewhere others have missed — and that’s exactly the point.

Where to Walk in Essex

• The Essex Coast Path
  A developing long-distance trail tracing much of Essex’s extensive and varied coastline, including tidal flats and hidden beaches.
• Manningtree & Dedham Vale
  Shared with Suffolk, this AONB offers timeless riverside walks and Constable Country landscapes.
• Mersea Island
  A unique tidal island with coastal paths, beach walks, and panoramic sea views.
• Bradwell-on-Sea & the Dengie Peninsula
  Remote-feeling estuary walking, wide skies, and the ancient Chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall.
• Thaxted & Saffron Walden
  Inland market towns linked by footpaths, fields, and historic architecture.

Why Walk in Essex

• A quiet and wild coastline, full of estuary and saltmarsh paths
• Peaceful inland routes with historic towns and rural charm
• Great for birdwatchers, coastal wanderers, and off-the-beaten-track walkers
• Close to London but surprisingly remote in feel