The East of England offers a gentler kind of walking. Its beauty lies in subtle shifts — the light on water, the hush of reeds in the breeze, and the steady rhythm of footpaths crossing open fields and lowland woods. This is walking for those who want space to reflect, to notice, and to move slowly through a landscape shaped by time.
Here, trails trace old Roman roads, riverside paths, and coastlines that change with the tides. It’s a region shaped by water and story — where villages, estuaries, and ancient tracks invite quiet exploration.
This long-distance trail begins inland on Peddars Way, a Roman road that crosses heathland and farmland before meeting the Norfolk Coast Path at Holme-next-the-Sea. From there, follow saltmarshes, dunes, and shingle beaches past fishing villages and nature reserves — a blend of stillness and sea breeze.
Starting in Manningtree, this gentle route travels north through Dedham Vale — the pastoral landscape captured by John Constable in his 19th-century paintings — before reaching Sudbury, Bury St Edmunds, and finally concluding at Brandon. It links historic towns and riverside paths through countryside that feels timeless.
Walk the riverbanks and floodplain trails of the Norfolk Broads, a vast wetland ecosystem rich in birdlife and quiet beauty. In Suffolk, explore routes between villages like Lavenham, Long Melford, and Clare — known for medieval timber-framed houses and enduring rural charm.
