Walks you can reach from Manningtree by train

Gentle valley, river stretches, country lanes, green lanes, field boundaries, rolling Essex countryside, fields and woods.

Time: 5h

Warnings: Can be muddy.

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

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).

Field and meadow paths from Stowmarket's Greens Meadow, passing a marshy wildlife reserve on the approach to the isolated settlement of Dagworth, then on by pleasant field paths to the attractive green at Haughley, once the site of a market and fair.

Time: 4h

Walk details: Mid Anglia Rail Passengers Association (PDF).

A historic walk around the Harwich peninsula, beginning at the High Lighthouse on the Essex Way and exploring the maritime heritage of Harwich before continuing along the coast past Dovercourt station.

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

Entirely flat, urban city-centre streets, royal parks, riverside Thames path, canal towpath and historic financial district.

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 route that leaves Norwich over Mousehold Heath, where flint-stone paths are steep and uneven underfoot, before settling into quiet country lanes and field paths and a wide farm track. Some sections can be muddy after rain; pavements are generally wide. Several shops and supermarkets in Sprowston for supplies early on; little in the way of facilities for the final five miles after Spixworth. Frequent trains and buses run back to Norwich from Hoveton.

Time: 4h30–8h30

Lunch: Shops, supermarkets and takeaways in Sprowston, plus a cafe at Spixworth village hall around two-thirds of the way.

1 end-of-walk reward: the Kings Head

Warnings: The route crosses the busy B1150 North Walsham Road twice, including a 50mph section, with no pedestrian crossing; take great care. The flint paths over Mousehold Heath are steep and uneven.

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.

Time: 5h30–11h

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 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.

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

Time: 6h–11h30

Walk details: Railwalks.

Spectacular views. A long, direct route mixing waymarked footpaths, pavements and quiet country roads with no pavement. Narrow and uneven in places, especially crossing fields, with around ten stiles, a flight of steps and gates and several footbridges concentrated on the Drinkstone-to-Rougham stretch. Best broken at Woolpit, roughly the mid-point, which has shops and amenities. Not suitable for cyclists (use National Cycle Route 51).

Time: 6h30–12h30

Lunch: Woolpit has a Co-op, two pubs, a fish and chip shop and a bakery; Rougham has a convenience store en route.

Warnings: There is a fair amount of road walking on minor roads which can have more traffic on weekdays; numerous stiles and uneven field paths make it unsuitable for those with reduced mobility.

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.

Time: 4h–8h

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.