A picturesque Essex market town where timber-framed buildings, a striking parish church, and rolling countryside make it an inviting base for walking holidays and outdoor adventures in the north of the county. Close to the Harcamlow Way and Flitch Way, Thaxted offers heritage charm alongside easy access to scenic rural paths.
Thaxted’s medieval street plan is lined with historic houses, its iconic Guildhall, and the impressive Church of St John the Baptist — one of the finest parish churches in England. The town is also known for its musical heritage, with composer Gustav Holst once living here, and for its vibrant summer festivals. The surrounding landscape is a patchwork of meadows, hedgerows, and quiet lanes, perfect for gentle day walks or longer circular routes linking neighbouring villages.
From Thaxted, walkers can explore sections of the Harcamlow Way — a figure-of-eight long-distance path linking Essex and Hertfordshire — or head west to join the Flitch Way along a disused railway line. Both offer a peaceful, rural walking experience with plenty of wildlife.
