Walking Holidays & Outdoor Adventures Across the East of England

Big skies, waterways, and quiet paths

The East of England is a region best explored at walking pace. Its landscapes are shaped by rivers, coastlines, wetlands, and long-established settlement rather than elevation or physical extremes. Walking holidays here move through working countryside, historic towns, and protected lowland landscapes — offering clarity, accessibility, and a strong sense of continuity.

Routes often pass through places such as the Dedham Vale National Landscape, follow long-established paths like the Peddars Way, and trace the open coast of the Norfolk Coast National Landscape. Rather than remote wilderness, walking in the East of England is defined by connection — between villages, farmland, waterways, and nature reserves — with routes that feel purposeful and well-structured.

This makes the region particularly well suited to travellers seeking self-guided walking holidays that balance movement with comfort, cultural interest, and ease of navigation. It is a landscape where progress is measured in distance travelled and places reached, not height gained.

Understanding the Region

The East of England is typically explored through its counties and protected landscapes, each offering a distinct walking character:

• Norfolk is defined by open coastlines, saltmarsh, dunes, and the wetlands of the Norfolk Broads National Park
• Suffolk combines historic towns, river valleys, and pastoral countryside, including the Dedham Vale National Landscape and Suffolk Coast & Heaths National Landscape
• Cambridgeshire is shaped by rivers and fenland, with long, flat walking routes connecting historic settlements
• Essex offers one of England’s quietest coastlines, with estuaries, tidal creeks, and remote seawalls

Across the region, walking routes pass through landscapes that are actively managed — farmed fields, grazing marshes, nature reserves, and conservation land — rather than remote or untouched terrain. This creates a strong sense of place and continuity, where walking feels connected to everyday life rather than separate from it.

Key Trails & Walking Areas

Peddars Way & Norfolk Coast Path

One of the East of England’s defining long-distance routes, this trail begins inland on Peddars Way, an ancient Roman road crossing heathland and farmland in west Norfolk. At Holme-next-the-Sea, it meets the Norfolk Coast Path, continuing east along beaches, saltmarshes, dunes, and quiet coastal villages such as Blakeney, Wells-next-the-Sea, and Cley-next-the-Sea. Together, they form a varied journey from inland countryside to open coast.

St Edmund Way

A historic walking route linking Dedham Vale National Landscape with Suffolk’s interior towns, including Sudbury, Bury St Edmunds, and Brandon. The St Edmund way follows rivers, old trackways, and rural lanes through landscapes closely associated with England’s medieval and religious history. Walking here feels steady and immersive rather than demanding.

The Norfolk Broads & Suffolk Wool Towns

In the Norfolk Broads National Park, walking routes follow reed-lined rivers, floodplains, and wetland trails rich in birdlife. Further south, Suffolk’s wool towns — including Lavenham, Long Melford, and Clare — can be linked on foot through classic lowland countryside shaped by centuries of farming and trade.

Fen Rivers Way (Cambridgeshire)

A long-distance riverside route following the River Cam and Great Ouse from Cambridge to King’s Lynn. The walking is flat and open, passing through historic settlements such as Ely and Downham Market. This is one of England’s most distinctive landscapes, where big skies and water dominate the experience.

Essex Coast Path

A developing coastal trail tracing the estuary-rich coastline of Essex. The Essex Coast Path winds through saltmarsh, tidal inlets, and quiet villages, with notable sections near Mersea Island, Bradwell-on-Sea, and Burnham-on-Crouch. Despite its proximity to London, much of the walking here feels remote and surprisingly wild.

What This Region Is Best For

The East of England suits travellers looking for:

• Long-distance and multi-day walking routes without steep terrain
• Landscapes shaped by water, wildlife, and working land
• Easy navigation and well-connected villages and towns
• Walking holidays that combine movement with comfort and cultural interest
• Opportunities for cycling, birdwatching, and gentle paddling alongside walking

Accommodation across the region is typically close to trails and settlements, making it easy to plan walking holidays that balance daily distance with good food, rest, and local character.

When to Visit

Spring through autumn offers the best conditions for walking and outdoor travel, with wildlife activity peaking in spring and autumn along the coast and wetlands. Winter walking is also rewarding for those seeking quieter paths, dramatic skies, and a slower pace — particularly in the Broads and estuary landscapes.