Walks you can reach from Witham 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).

River estuary mudflats, sea wall paths, woodland, water meadows, saltmarshes, farmland and quaint riverside villages.

Wivenhoe

Time: 4h30

Warnings: Check ferry timetable.

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

River valley, water meadows, arable fields, light woodland, estuary embankment, quaint villages and Constable-painted landscapes.

Time: 5h

Warnings: Can flood after rain.

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).

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).

Flat North Sea coastal path, sea wall, beaches and seaside resort promenades.

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

Reverse direction: Railwalks.

Mildly undulating Essex countryside, ancient woods, arable fields, historic villages, old churches, manor houses and London Clay subsoil.

Time: 6h

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.

Recommended: Lovely sandy beaches along almost the whole stretch. An easy coastal walk along promenade paths, the sea wall and pavements and beside lovely sandy beaches for almost the whole stretch. Only one set of steps to negotiate. Interesting information boards along the route as part of '150 years of Clacton'. Regular public conveniences en route, and good train links to return to the start.

Coastal: almost all along the coast.

Time: 2h30–4h30

Lunch: A couple of cafes along the route, plus plenty of options in Clacton and several in Frinton.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

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

Time: 6h–11h30

Walk details: Railwalks.

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.

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.

Time: 5h30–11h

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.