Walks you can reach from Burnham-on-Crouch by train

A pleasant circular over fields, woodland and several short road sections, with stunning views across the Crouch estuary, taking in the marina, Bridgemarsh Island, St Andrew's church and the war memorial.

2 lunch spots: althorne — the Three Horseshoes, or the Huntsman and Hounds

Warnings: Several short road sections have no pavement — watch for passing traffic.

Walk details: Essex & South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership (local insights).

A circular with views over the River Crouch, passing through Woodham Fenn and the Marsh Farm saltmarsh nature reserve, managed by Essex Wildlife Trust.

Time: 3h30

Walk details: Essex & South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership (local insights).

A level, picturesque coastal walk along the sea wall of the tidal River Crouch between the villages of North Fambridge and Althorne, through Blue House Farm nature reserve with views of Bridgemarsh Island. Apart from a couple of stiles the path is clear throughout.

Blue House Farm Nature Reserve

1 end-of-walk reward: the Ferryboat Inn

Walk details: Essex & South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership (local insights).

Rolling hills, arable fields, vineyards, bluebell woods, disused railway line, tidal riverside and grassy salt marshes.

Time: 5h30

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Rolling grassy fields, quiet lanes, scattered woods, reservoir nature reserve, river valley and tidal mudflats.

Time: 4h30

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Wid Valley fields, riverside paths, cattle farm estate, bluebell woods, tree-lined tracks, open fields with far views and Crouch Valley finish.

Time: 5h30

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Recommended: Beautiful buildings and churches and amazing woodlands. A largely green route from central Chelmsford out through Galleywood, with clear, well-signposted paths through woodlands and farmers' fields and plus a stretch through the village of Stock. Can be combined with onward routes heading down to the coast.

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

Time: 5h–9h30

Warnings: Follows a busy road for a sixth of the walk.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A mostly flat suburban and green-belt route mixing pavement, paths, tracks, fields and woodland, with one unavoidable A-road section (about 600m, on pavement) and a hillier approach to Rayleigh. Some seldom-used footpaths are overgrown; classic green-belt mix of residential and scruffy farmland and semi-rural-industrial land. Optional greener finish via Rayleigh Mount and the old castle earthworks (National Trust, with closing times). Woodland Trust land near Rayleigh for picnics.

Time: 2h30–4h30

Lunch: Cafe by a garden centre just off route at the A129/A1245 roundabout.

Warnings: Crossing the busy, fast London Road requires waiting for a gap; vehicles also move fast at the A129/A1245 roundabout, crossed via an island. Some overgrown footpaths. An unofficial railway crossing at Rayleigh station involves steps.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A good route with lots of field walking, on marked footpaths and bridleways with some road walking and starting along the Chelmer navigation and passing around the south of an RHS garden on a charming footpath. Care needed where verges are limited; some field sections likely very muddy in winter. Passes a pedestrian entrance to RHS Hyde Hall, where a short diversion reaches the Clover Cafe (outside the ticketed area).

Time: 4h30–9h

1 lunch spot: the Crown

Warnings: Crossing the A1060 between the Water Works and Sandon needs care as the road can be busy with fast traffic; a stretch of road walking on Crephedge Lane has very little verge until pavement is reached; field sections can be very muddy in winter.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Time: 2h30–5h

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A rural route with some lovely countryside sections and a passage through woodland and let down by busy road crossings and a stretch of road walking. Patchy waymarking in places. Approved sections of the England Coast Path will in future remove the need for the A132 crossings.

Time: 5h–10h

Warnings: Busy crossings of the A132 (Burnham Road) just west of South Woodham Ferrers, and perilous road walking on Beeches Road east of Battlesbridge. Waymarking is patchy between Watery Lane and Hullbridge Road.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Mainly quiet, paved suburban streets out of Wickford, then off-road footpaths across fields and through paddocks to Battlesbridge, a woodland stretch, field paths running parallel to the railway and finishing through an Essex Wildlife Trust reserve that can be damp and a mud bath after wet weather. Passes Battlesbridge station, allowing the walk to be split or a return train to Wickford. Woodham Fen is an Essex Wildlife Trust reserve.

Time: 2h30–5h

2 lunch spots: battlesbridge — the Hawk, or the Green Bottle

Warnings: Two difficult crossings of the busy Burnham Road (A132), which can require a long wait for a gap to cross both lanes; Woodham Fen reserve and the trail immediately after its footbridge can be a mud bath after wet weather.

Walk details: Slow Ways.