A riverside town where Essex meets Suffolk — and where some of England’s most iconic landscapes begin.
Manningtree is a small town with big walking appeal. Nestled on the River Stour, it marks the beginning of the St Edmund Way and sits right on the edge of the Dedham Vale AONB — a landscape made famous by painter John Constable and still every bit as pastoral and peaceful today.
From here, walkers can follow riverside trails to Flatford and Dedham, exploring water meadows, poplar-lined banks, and quiet lanes between villages. The St Edmund Way begins at Manningtree station and winds through East Anglia all the way to Brandon via Bury St Edmunds.
It’s a gentle, timeless landscape — ideal for walkers who want to connect place, art, and history, and enjoy slow travel at its best.
Riverside guesthouses, countryside B&Bs, and village inns for walkers
Routes that start from or pass through Manningtree.
