Refine your search for walks in Great and Little Leighs
Great and Little Leighs walks
Little Leighs Circular
Visorando Member 
7.25 mi
+69 ft
-72 ft
3h 25
Moderate
Departure from Great and Little Leighs (Essex)
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
Terling Circular
Visorando Member 5.69 mi
+66 ft
-66 ft
2h 40
Easy
Departure from Terling (Essex)
A countryside walk beginning and ending in the village of Terling. Nothing spectacular about the route but it has some nice views and pleasant countryside, passes an old windmill and a rare round tower church. The route follows the course of the River Ter in places, and there are quite a few springs along the way, so it can get muddy. There are a couple of woods with excellent displays of bluebells in the spring but it is a good walk for any time of year. Waymarking is generally excellent.
Details are given for a shorter walk of 4 miles that does not visit Great Leighs church.
Another Hatfield Peverel Circular
Visorando Member 4.93 mi
+98 ft
-98 ft
2h 20
Easy
Departure from Hatfield Peverel (Essex)
Pleasant stroll in the Essex countryside at Hatfield Peverel along field paths, secluded lanes and a quiet stretch of the river bank.
Hatfield Peverel Circular
Visorando Member 5.34 mi
+105 ft
-102 ft
2h 35
Easy
Departure from Hatfield Peverel (Essex)
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.
Great Dunmow Town Trail
Visorando Member 
2.70 mi
+135 ft
-141 ft
1h 20
Easy
Departure from Great Dunmow (Essex)
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.
Wickham Bishops Circular
Visorando Member 
6.07 mi
+315 ft
-335 ft
3h 05
Easy
Departure from Wickham Bishops (Essex)
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.
Ridge and River
Visorando Member 7.54 mi
+463 ft
-469 ft
3h 50
Moderate
Departure from Little Baddow (Essex)
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.
Repton
Visorando Member 1.84 mi
+89 ft
-75 ft
0h 55
Easy
Departure from Writtle (Essex)
Explore Hylands Estate following this path through the park.
Woodham Walter Circular
Visorando Member 5.28 mi
+207 ft
-197 ft
2h 35
Easy
Departure from Woodham Walter (Essex)
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.
Howegreen–Great Baddow–Sandon circular
Visorando Member 5.53 mi
+112 ft
-115 ft
2h 40
Moderate
Departure from Sandon (Essex)
3 village circular walk through Howegreen, Great Baddow, and Sandon
Along pavements, footpaths and bridleways and across fields.
Two Tothams Pub
Visorando Member 7.00 mi
+197 ft
-197 ft
3h 25
Moderate
Departure from Great Totham (Essex)
Starting and ending in Great Totham, this walk visits The Swan in Little Totham - a fine, privately owned freehouse, built in the 16th century.
For those not wanting, or are unable, to visit the pub, an amended route is given.
Maldon to Hoe Mill Circular
Visorando Member 7.40 mi
+105 ft
-105 ft
3h 30
Moderate
Departure from Maldon (Essex)
A circular walk from Maldon through farmland to Hoe Mill Lock, returning along the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation.
Three Pubs Circular
Visorando Member 
9.02 mi
+312 ft
-315 ft
4h 25
Moderate
Departure from Purleigh (Essex)
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.
Tolleshunt Knights Loop
Visorando Member 7.15 mi
+200 ft
-200 ft
3h 30
Moderate
Departure from Tolleshunt Knights (Essex)
A loop walk at Tolleshunt Knights, close to Tiptree in Essex. The route is predominately on grassy footpaths with a few road/track sections particularly towards the end. Parts of the track afford some good views over the Blackwater Estuary.
Chipping Ongar to Hutton Village
Visorando Member 12.16 mi
+335 ft
-318 ft
5h 55
Moderate
Departure from Ongar (Essex)
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.
Hutton Village to Thames Chase Forest Centre
Visorando Member 10.84 mi
+285 ft
-449 ft
5h 15
Moderate
Departure from Brentwood (Essex)
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.
Audley End Estate
Visorando Member 
6.53 mi
+246 ft
-246 ft
3h 15
Moderate
Departure from Wendens Ambo (Essex)
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.
More walks in Great and Little Leighs
Discover also walks in surrounding cities:
- Great Dunmow
- Great Easton
- Great Notley
- Great Waltham
- Greenstead Green and Halstead Rural
- Halstead
- Hatfield Peverel
- Hazeleigh
- High Easter
- High Roothing
- Highwood
- Ingatestone and Fryerning
- Kelvedon
- Langford
- Lindsell
- Little Baddow
- Little Bardfield
- Little Braxted
- Little Dunmow
- Little Easton
- Little Waltham
- Margaret Roding
- Margaretting
- Mashbury