Walks you can reach from Kelvedon by train

Flatford: Discover the views that John Constable painted in the hamlet of Flatford, set within the Dedham Vale countryside (National Trust; 1h in; 1h to visit).

4 lunch spots: Flatford tearoom (1h in), Dedham Boathouse Restaurant (1h30 in), the Sun Inn (2h in), or the Garden Café (2h15 in)

Source: Trains2Green.

A walk across the high plateau of north-east Essex with sweeping views over the valleys of the River Colne and Roman River, passing beneath the imposing Chappel Viaduct to finish at the beautifully restored Chappel station, home of the East Anglian Railway Museum.

Chappel Viaduct

East Anglian Railway Museum

Warnings: Easy walking but can be muddy.

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

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.

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

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).

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.

A pleasant, mainly rural walk on footpaths and farm tracks through farmland, with some stiles and a couple of kissing gates. The approach into Ipswich is along the busy Wherstead Road and which has a pavement but is tedious. A diversion to Pin Mill is highly recommended. St Michael's church near Ipswich high school is open to the public.

Pin Mill: Enjoy a wander around Pin Mill and escape from it all (National Trust).

Lunch: There is also a shop at Chelmondiston.

Warnings: Some stiles and a kissing gate; sheep in fields near the Ipswich high school.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A good-surfaced route between two historic Essex market towns, following the River Brain and a branch line through countryside, with farm tracks and wide grassed field edges and a delightful old tree-and-ditch-lined lane. Good even in winter with no deep mud; a few stiles and bridges to climb. Follows the Essex Way through old Cressing. A church cafe at Black Notley is open most days for lunch; Cressing also has a few amenities if you divert into the village.

Lunch: A church cafe and a few small shops at Black Notley, and amenities at Cressing, both a short detour.

Warnings: Two short no-pavement sections on the B1018 where the road is 50mph; locals use the field edges or grass verge. A footpath near Tye Green can flood.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Reverse direction: Essex & South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership.

Beautiful. Field paths with street sections at either end and flat and easy-going.

Paycocke's House and Garden: A stunning Tudor merchant's house whose walls have more than a few stories to tell (National Trust; 3h30 in; 1h to visit).

Grange Barn: 13th-century monastic barn (National Trust; 3h45 in; 30 mins to visit).

1 lunch spot: Paycocke's House and Garden tearoom (3h30 in)

Walk details: Railwalks.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A route on mostly easy paths that get waterlogged and very muddy in places, crossing a golf course where the path is unclear and with some confusing navigation points. The Billericay-to-Stock half is lower quality and very muddy; the Stock-to-Chelmsford half has nice views and varied paths.

Warnings: The path across Stock golf course is unclear and badly marked, seeming to go through the middle of holes. Take care crossing the fast-moving A414, which the main route crosses twice. Can be muddy.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Great views. A route through farmland and fields with great views, on clear, easy-to-follow paths, becoming built-up and residential near the towns. Muddy and wet underfoot near the canal in winter, some footpath sections become very overgrown with brambles and nettles and narrowing to a foot wide. An alternative is to join the canal towpath at Paper Mill Lock to avoid the section through Boreham (though the towpath can be muddy in winter).

1 lunch spot: Paper Mill Lock Tearooms

Warnings: A section of footpath near the property Latney's (south of the A12 west of Witham) can be heavily overgrown with brambles; further sections towards Wickham Bishops and Witham can be very overgrown with nettles and brambles and at times unmaintained where the path disappears; muddy near the canal in winter.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A long route passing under the Orwell Bridge and out towards Levington, then following good public rights of way down to Felixstowe and before being let down by busy roads through the town. A better finish follows the promenade past the pier.

Warnings: The route through Felixstowe follows busy roads; a pleasanter alternative uses the promenade and pedestrianised Hamilton Road.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A very beautiful walk; Beautiful, open landscapes. A beautiful, varied walk: the Ipswich end is largely tarmac main roads alongside a loud A-road, after which an off-road path tracks the River Gipping through open fields, ponds and woodland and past old mill buildings. A gentle and pretty winding river path. Follows the River Gipping for much of its length, passing Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm. The not-keen stretch is the long walk down Norwich Road in Ipswich.

Warnings: A bridge over the Old River between Pipps Lock and Creeting Lock was closed/fenced off (now resolved with a new bridge per a later review); check its status. The route around Great Blakenham and south of Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm would benefit from minor adjustments.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Reverse direction: Mid Anglia Rail Passengers Association (PDF).