Purleigh walks

A circular walk from Purleigh that passes close to three excellent pubs using footpaths, bridleways, byways and short sections of country lanes. It joins St Peter's Way here and there, follows a disused railway track and goes through vineyards before meeting a WW1 airfield. A walk for all seasons, although sections can be muddy after rain.

Please see the Useful Information section for important information regarding the aerodrome.

Reviewed & updated 26/5/21

This walk, close to the ancient village of Woodham Walter, offers a nature reserve, arable fields, woodland and The Wilderness. The route is along bridleways and footpaths for the most part, with a couple of short sections on country lanes. There are only two cross-field paths so it's a good winter walk but, like any Essex hike, it can be muddy after rain.

A circular walk that circumnavigates the village of Little Baddow. Beginning in Lingwood Common, the route follows bridleways, footpaths, the river towpath and quiet country lanes. A good walk for any time of year, but not after spells of prolonged rain when the towpath, especially, can become something of a quagmire. Walking it in spring is highly recommended as Blake's Wood is nationally known for its display of bluebells.

Checked & updated: August 2021

3 village circular walk through Howegreen, Great Baddow, and Sandon

Along pavements, footpaths and bridleways and across fields.

An easy stroll in the countryside near Wickham Bishops, departing close to the redundant St Peter's church, passing beneath the last wooden railway viaduct in the country and then along the meandering banks of the River Blackwater. The return passes through woodland and has some excellent views across the Essex countryside. This is an all-seasons walk but is particularly good in spring and autumn.

Checked and updated May 2022

Pleasant stroll in the Essex countryside at Hatfield Peverel along field paths, secluded lanes and a quiet stretch of the river bank.

A pleasant stroll in the Essex countryside along field paths, secluded lanes and a stretch of river bank. Along the way there is an 18th century former priory, a canal lock (and tearoom), the delightfully named World's End Cottage, a ford and the Parish Church of St. Andrew.

A walk across salt marshes with numerous birds and returning inland via the ruined Hadleigh Castle. Highly accessible from London as the Fenchurch Street line takes under an hour to get you to the start.

Explore Hylands Estate following this path through the park.

An Essex walk that explores the salt marshes between the village of Tollesbury and the River Blackwater. Tollesbury has much of interest inclusing a bustling marina, restored sail lofts and a preserved lightship.

A circular walk in a comparatively unspoiled part of mid Essex, between Chelmsford and Braintree. It is particularly suited to being a winter walk as most of the route is on quiet country lanes, surfaced bridleways and grassy field paths, thus avoiding the worst of the Essex mud. It is a good walk for any time of year though, with fine views across open countryside and is, for the most part, devoid of traffic noise.

Reviewed and updated April 2024

From wooden bus stop we follow Hutton Village, then off-road to the old church. We go cross-country to Ingrave, past the huge pile of Thorndon House & thru' Thorndon Park North. As well as the park, the route takes in many other properties owned by the Thames Chase Community Forest, including Warley Gap, Codham Hall Woods & Franks Wood. We pass thru' Little Warley, Great Warley and skirt the outside of Upminster on our way to the finish at the Thames Chase Forest Centre at Broadfields Farm.

This Kent walk takes you onto the southern shores of the Thames Estuary. The route is easy to follow (apart from the start). The area visited during the walk provided Dickens with the perfect scene for his prison huls in his novel 'Great Expectations'.

We divert off the Essex Way to take in some of the histories of this old town. Rejoin the Essex Way for a short distance, before leaving it for one last time. Then follow St Peters Way thru' High Ongar & most of the way to Blackmore. We follow St Peter's Way for over a mile to Fryerning then thru' the village & across fields to Mountnessing. A short walk thru' a housing estate & industrial estate to enter Hutton Nature Reserve to soon finish at Hutton Village.

Starts at Thames Chase Forest Centre, the headquarters of the Thames Chase Community Forest, at Broadfields Farm. Route passes thru' the old village of Cranham, then Cranham Marsh Nature Reserve, Corbets Tey, Belhus Country Park, Belhus Chase & the town of Aveley. For the last two miles we follow the Mardyke Way thru' Davy Down, then thru' Stifford Green and Warren Gorge Nature Reserve to finish at Chafford Hundre Railway Station.

A circular walk around the small Essex town of Great Dunmow.
With plenty of historic buildings, a fine 13th century church, some great pubs and a fantastic Indian Restaurant this provides any visitor a taste of this ancient town. The walk is simple and easy and one cannot visit Dunmow without discovering the interesting history of the Dunmow Fitch which is the main feature to this walk.

Through several of Kent's fine apple & pear orchards plus one field of Nordic fir Christmas trees ending through open fields of sheep and cattle.

A return rural walk between one of Kent's most interesting medieval churches and the remains of a 2,000 year old Romano-British temple.

A lovely walk through Kent orchards, past bird-rich lagoons and onto a hill with views across the Medway estuary. It takes you past historic settlements and the site of WWI inland defences before finishing with a birds-eye view of the fine tower of St Mary's church. This is walk 3, Newington.

This pleasant walk takes you both sides of Newington's historic watercress beds and past lagoons and open spaces filled with birds. This is Newington Walk 4.

A mainly flat walk in countryside surrounding a small Kent village which dates to pre-Roman times and that was on the route for Chaucer's pilgrims in The Canterbury Tales. Walk in the footsteps of Julius Caesar, see the remains of a Roman town and the site of World War I trenches and visit a fine 13th century church. Along the way are former watercress beds, historic orchards and centuries-old farms and houses. The figure of eight walk twice passes near an 18th century pub for refreshments.

Learn how to read a landscape for clues to its military past. From 1914 to 1918, Newington was at the heart of a sophisticated military defence line against a potential German invasion.
The walk takes you through the defences, leading you to four information boards that enable you to visualise the trenches, gun emplacements and observation posts that helped protect Britain.

The walk climbs a small hill reputed to have been used as an encampment by Julius Caesar and which overlooks former WWI defences with a commemorative beacon erected by Newington History Group. It gives lovely views over ancient settlements and to the Medway estuary. The descent takes you through orchards - fruit-growing has been a major part of the local economy for centuries.

The walk takes you through typical 'Garden of England' orchards, across a centuries-old farm and past historic landmarks and former WWI inland defences. This is Newington Walk 2.

A pleasant walk through apple orchards, past an ancient denehole and a beacon marking the site of WWI inland defences and over Standard Hill, reputed to be a stopping point for Julius Caesar. This is Newington Walk 1.

From start, we go north to soon join a path along the River Thames. Then turn left & upstream along the riverbank, soon under the towering Queen Elizabeth 2 Bridge which takes the M25 over the Thames. The River Thames is wide here & industry is evident, mainly on the opposite bank. At 3.5 miles we join the Darent Valley Path near the large Darent Creek Flood Barrier. We follow the path all the way to the finish, near Dartford Station.

We follow Darent Valley Path thru' Dartford, Central Park & past Brooklands Lake. Thru' the villages of Darenth, Farningham & Eynsford. A big climb up past Eagle Heights & drop back down past the Roman Villa remains. Then past Lullingstone Castle. Lullingstone Park Visitor's Centre, Shoreham Castle Farm and thru' fields to and thru' Shoreham village to finish near Shoreham Station.

This Kent walk explores the marshes, creeks and tideways on the south side of the River Swale. On the far side of the water is the Isle of Sheppey and in season the area is an excellent place for watching birdlife.

A walk along the River Stour incorporating sections of the Stour Valley Path, the Essex Way and St Edmund's Way.
Flatford Mill is the idyllic English country scene encapsulated by John Constables renowned paintings including the instantly recognizable 'Haywain'. This circular route is an exceptional walk by all accounts and the perfect way to engross oneself in this landscape that sits on the Suffolk and Essex border.

A small part of the Saxon Shore Way. A great walk along Faversham Creek to Hollowshore. Great pub, then a shorter walk back through farmland. Enjoy the beautiful desolation of the marshes, just you, the birds, and the breeze. Stop for a rest or bite to eat at the wonderful Shipwrights Arms, then either re-trace your steps or take the shorter walk back through Ham Farm.

Located on the Shotley peninsular, the Alton Water Reservoir provides an easy walk around its water. A self contained circular route that needs little in the way of maps. Just keep the water on your right and keep walking! The mixed variety of landscapes of open meadow, woods and even the hills on the northern side of the reservoir provide a constant changing scenery throughout the walk. In all this is a great walk with some pleasing panoramas and ever changing views of the reservoir.

An impressive Jacobean House, a colourful park and a cute pub are a few of the things you can discover during the Audley End Walk. Follow me in Essex for a walk through history, perfect for a stroll with friends, family and our four-legged companions.

The River Darent Walk from Shoreham to Eynsford is the ideal weekend walk. This easy and gentle stroll in the Kent countryside takes you from a walk alongside the River Darent, passing through corn and lavender fields, a Castle, a Farm Shop and even a Viaduct, with a meal in a local traditional British pub at the end.

Follow Darent Valley Path across Darent Valley Golf Club. Join the North Downs Way & also soon rejoin the Darent Valley Path. At Dunton Green say goodbye to the Darent Valley Path for the last time. We divert from the North Downs Way to take in Chevening Church and Park. Follow the Pilgrims Way along narrow country lanes, then back onto the North Downs Way, before diverting along the Tandridge Border Path thru' Park Wood Golf Club and finish at Westmore Green.