Best walks to Witham

Braintree Station to Witham Station

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.

17km.

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.

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

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Chelmsford Station to Witham Station

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).

20km. Gentle ascents.

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.

Lunch stop: Paper Mill Lock Tearooms.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route