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Highwood walks
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.
Chipping Ongar to Hutton Village
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
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.
Howegreen–Great Baddow–Sandon circular
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.
Ridge and River
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.
Little Leighs Circular
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
Woodham Walter Circular
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.
Terling Circular
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
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
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.
Epping Forest Loop
8.47 mi
+420 ft
-400 ft
4h 15
Moderate
Departure from Epping (Essex)
If you are looking at this walk, it is likely that you want to leave the city for a breath of fresh air. And you can … without leaving it! So, take your Oyster card (or contactless card) and jump on the Central Line with me for a walk through Epping Forest!
Epping Station to Chipping Ongar
7.69 mi
+249 ft
-338 ft
3h 45
Easy
Departure from Epping (Essex)
From Epping Station, we follow the Essex Way for our whole route. Thru' fields and an ancient track to Coopersale Street, then across fields to Gernon Bushes Nature Reserve. Cross over the M11 and go in a straight line towards Toot Hill. Thru' Toot Hill village and fields to Greensted and onto Chipping Ongar. Two videos at YouTube, one by John Rogers and a second by voxley19, both cover this whole walk.
Great Dunmow Town Trail
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.
Thames Chase Forest Centre to Chafford Hundred Station
11.00 mi
+240 ft
-207 ft
5h 15
Moderate
Departure from London Borough of Havering (Greater London)
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.
Around Oak Hill and Deer Sanctuary from Piercing Hill
3.93 mi
+233 ft
-213 ft
2h 00
Easy
Departure from Theydon Bois (Essex)
This quiet circular walk uses a section of Epping Forest Centenary Walk close to Ambresbury Banks (remains of banks) before you follow a path in Birch Wood with lovely views over Deer Sanctuary and its wildlife!
Three Pubs Circular
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.
Wickham Bishops Circular
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.
Leigh on Sea to Benfleet
7.17 mi
+43 ft
-43 ft
3h 20
Easy
Departure from Leigh-on-Sea (Southend-on-Sea)
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.
Belvedere to Greenwich via the Thames Path
12.92 mi
+203 ft
-66 ft
6h 05
Moderate
Departure from London Borough of Bexley (Greater London)
For a more challenging walk in London, the Belvedere to Greenwich trail via the Thames Path is what you need. This long-distance trail starts at the Natural Reserve of Crossness then through the marshes, before linking to the Thames Path all the way to the O2 arena and ends in Greenwich park with a takeaway from the market stall. Ready for a challenge?
More walks in Highwood
Discover also walks in surrounding cities:
- Abbess, Beauchamp and Berners Roding
- Aythorpe Roding
- Barnston
- Basildon
- Billericay
- Black Notley
- Blackmore, Hook End and Wyatts Green
- Bobbingworth
- Boreham
- Brentwood
- Broomfield
- Chelmer
- Chelmsford
- Chelmsford
- Chelmsford Garden
- Chignall
- Doddinghurst
- Felsted
- Fyfield
- Galleywood
- Good Easter
- Great and Little Leighs
- Great Baddow
- Great Burstead and South Green
- Great Canfield
- Great Hallingbury
- Great Notley
- Great Waltham
- Hatfield Broad Oak
- Hatfield Heath
- Herongate and Ingrave
- High Easter
- High Laver
- High Ongar
- High Roothing
- Ingatestone and Fryerning
- Kelvedon Hatch
- Leaden Roding
- Little Burstead
- Little Laver
- Little Waltham
- Magdalen Laver
- Margaret Roding
- Margaretting
- Mashbury
- Matching