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Layer Breton walks
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.
Tollesbury Wick Marshes from Tollesbury
7.04 mi
+66 ft
-62 ft
3h 20
Moderate
Departure from Tollesbury (Essex)
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.
Two Tothams Pub
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.
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.
Maldon to Hoe Mill Circular
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Flatford Mill
8.68 mi
+141 ft
-135 ft
4h 05
Moderate
Departure from Brantham (Suffolk)
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.
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
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.
Alton Water Reservoir
7.64 mi
+36 ft
-39 ft
3h 35
Moderate
Departure from Stutton (Suffolk)
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.
Across the Dam and Up the Creek
4.82 mi
+92 ft
-82 ft
2h 20
Easy
Departure from Stutton (Suffolk)
This walk gives fantastic views over Alton Water Park. The longer walk leads you to Holbrook Creek and passes through the pretty village of Stutton. A shorter walk visits a nature reserve and the Tattingstone Clifton Wonder, a building designed to deceive!
Wildlife and Wonder
3.02 mi
+33 ft
-33 ft
1h 25
Easy
Departure from Stutton (Suffolk)
This walk gives fantastic views over Alton Water Park. The longer walk leads you to Holbrook Creek and passes through the pretty village of Stutton. A shorter walk visits a nature reserve and the Tattingstone Clifton Wonder, a building designed to deceive!
Into the Valley of Wherstead
3.49 mi
+177 ft
-164 ft
1h 45
Easy
Departure from Wherstead (Suffolk)
The historic villages of Wherstead and Freston are great for exploring the unique farmed and estuary landscapes of the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB. The walks take in Freston Wood, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Wherstead Woodlands
4.71 mi
+154 ft
-135 ft
2h 20
Easy
Departure from Wherstead (Suffolk)
On the ‘Wherstead Woodlands’ walk, you can see more ancient woodland, the Stalls Valley, farmland and the villages of Wherstead and Freston.
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.
More walks in Layer Breton
Discover also walks in surrounding cities:
- Goldhanger
- Great and Little Wigborough
- Great Braxted
- Great Horkesley
- Great Tey
- Great Totham
- Halstead
- Hazeleigh
- Heybridge
- Heybridge Basin
- Kelvedon
- Langenhoe
- Langford
- Langham
- Layer Marney
- Layer-de-la-Haye
- Little Braxted
- Little Horkesley
- Little Totham
- Maldon
- Maldon
- Marks Tey
- Mayland
- Messing-cum-Inworth