Walks you can reach from North Fambridge by train

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 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 family-friendly circular around the Essex coastal town of Burnham-on-Crouch — from parkland to the marina, along the quay beside the Crouch estuary and out into open countryside, passing the commemoration site of a First World War airfield.

Wallasea Island Wild Coast

1 end-of-walk reward: the White Harte Hotel

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

An attractive linear walk from the charming riverside town of Burnham-on-Crouch, following the Crouch riverside before a steady climb across the rolling farmland of central Essex to Southminster, with a return by train on the Crouch Valley Line.

Time: 1h30–2h30

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

Similar walk: Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

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: A great route with a variety of different environments. A great route with a variety of environments and lots of off-road walking, both coastal and woodland, with sea-wall and intertidal sections along the Crouch estuary, vineyard views, woodland in nature reserves, quiet lanes. Includes slopes and steps and various gates; some sections can flood on a spring tide. Passes through two Essex Wildlife Trust reserves (Blue House Farm and a Maldon West railway-line reserve), favoured by birders, with benches along the way. Crosses the Three Rivers Golf Club. Bridgemarsh Island is visible in the Crouch. Prehistoric shark teeth can be found in the 'Creeksea Cliffs'. Can be broken at Fambridge or Althorne stations.

Coastal: three fifths along the coast.

Time: 6h–12h

Lunch: A convenience store and chemist near the start; the River Breeze Cafe at Fambridge Yacht Haven; long stretches with no shops or refreshments.

1 end-of-walk reward: the White Harte Hotel

Warnings: Crossing the Burnham Road (B1012) has no controlled crossing and vehicles travel fast, though visibility is good. Ferry Lane and parts of the coast path can flood on a spring tide; avoid the outgoing tide at the wild-swimming spots.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

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.