Gipping Valley River Path - Stowmarket to Needham Market
Departure from Stowmarket (Suffolk)
An easy walk following Suffolk's River Gipping between Stowmarket and Needham Market.
The river Gipping forms the source to the mighty Orwell River. At Stowmarket it is no more than a babbling stream that winds its way through the Suffolk countryside. The path keeps to the riverside throughout with no difficult obstacles other than styles, making a pleasant stroll between these two places. With some fantastic pubs at either end it makes a good little pub crawl.
Gipping Valley Way - Needham Market to Ipswich
Departure from Needham Market (Suffolk)
A walk following Suffolk's River Gipping between Needham Market and Ipswich.
A riverside walk tracing the route of the River Gipping as it heads through Suffolk to join the tidal waters of the Orwell at Ipswich. A gentle ambling route that twists and turns through the countryside which presents a perfect summers walk.
This is a good walk for summer when the sun is shining and the gentle Gipping River trickles its way through the Suffolk countryside. There are old mills, there are little bridges and old locks which are no more than weirs these days presenting an interesting journey. It is a stereotypical English rural landscape. Admittedly the main A14 is never too far away so there is always the distant moan of traffic but it is easy to forget about this, even more so, I would guess, if one is a townie and used to such noises.
Great Bradley Circular
Departure from Great Bradley (Suffolk)
Discover the start of the river Stour, Constable's country
Two Colnes Circular
Departure from Earls Colne (Essex)
A walk from Earls Colne to Colne Engaine and return, via some unspoiled North Essex countryside. There are a couple of short sections on quiet lanes but for the most part it's fields and woods all the way. Sections of the walk run along the Colne Valley Path and the route never strays far from the River Colne.
Dullingham Circular
Departure from Dullingham (Cambridgeshire)
Discover the start of Constable's river Stour.
Round route through the gallops of Little Ditton
Departure from Woodditton (Cambridgeshire)
See where the racehorses train and enjoy the panorama of the Cambridgeshire countryside from some of it’s higher points.
Stetchworth Circular
Departure from Stetchworth (Cambridgeshire)
A lovely walk around the Cambridgeshire border.
Flatford Mill
Departure from Brantham (Suffolk)
A walk along the River Stour incorporating sections of the Stour Valley Path, the Essex Way and St Edmund's Way.
Flatford Mill is the idyllic English country scene encapsulated by John Constables renowned paintings including the instantly recognizable 'Haywain'. This circular route is an exceptional walk by all accounts and the perfect way to engross oneself in this landscape that sits on the Suffolk and Essex border.
Into the Valley of Wherstead
Departure from Wherstead (Suffolk)
The historic villages of Wherstead and Freston are great for exploring the unique farmed and estuary landscapes of the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB. The walks take in Freston Wood, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Wherstead Woodlands
Departure from Wherstead (Suffolk)
On the ‘Wherstead Woodlands’ walk, you can see more ancient woodland, the Stalls Valley, farmland and the villages of Wherstead and Freston.
Alton Water Reservoir
Departure from Stutton (Suffolk)
Located on the Shotley peninsular, the Alton Water Reservoir provides an easy walk around its water. A self contained circular route that needs little in the way of maps. Just keep the water on your right and keep walking! The mixed variety of landscapes of open meadow, woods and even the hills on the northern side of the reservoir provide a constant changing scenery throughout the walk. In all this is a great walk with some pleasing panoramas and ever changing views of the reservoir.
Across the Dam and Up the Creek
Departure from Stutton (Suffolk)
This walk gives fantastic views over Alton Water Park. The longer walk leads you to Holbrook Creek and passes through the pretty village of Stutton. A shorter walk visits a nature reserve and the Tattingstone Clifton Wonder, a building designed to deceive!
Wildlife and Wonder
Departure from Stutton (Suffolk)
This walk gives fantastic views over Alton Water Park. The longer walk leads you to Holbrook Creek and passes through the pretty village of Stutton. A shorter walk visits a nature reserve and the Tattingstone Clifton Wonder, a building designed to deceive!
Foxhall and Brookhill Wood
Departure from Foxhall (Suffolk)
Short circular walk around heaths and woodlands of Foxhall, Ipswich. A pleasant stroll around the heaths and woodlands around Foxhall, to the east of Ipswich. The walk is short but nonetheless a pleasant way to while a way an hour or two. Natural woodland, babbling stream and if you look very carefully you may even see what remains of Foxhalls All Saints Church
Erwarton, Church End & River Orwell from Pin Mill
Departure from Chelmondiston (Suffolk)
This circular walk through the countryside of Suffolk includes a section alongside the River Orwell. The route takes you inland passing Erwarton Hall and the fine church at Church End to the banks of the Orwell from where you can see Felixstowe Docks. The walk then heads north along the Orwell following the Stout and Orwell Walk.
Eye to Hoxne
Departure from Eye (Suffolk)
A walk around the Suffolk villages of Eye and Hoxne.
Hoxne is said to be where St Edmund was Martyred by the Viking invaders in the 9th century. The village is full of reminders of the gruesome event including the cross which marks the place of the oak tree his assailants tied him to, beat him, fired arrows at and eventually beheaded and the bridge he reputedly hid trying to escape his captors.
Stour Wood Stroll
Departure from Ramsey and Parkeston (Essex)
This walk takes in woodland, farmland, quiet meadows and the River Stour where saltmarsh and mudflats provide habitats for wildlife.
Woodland and River Ramble
Departure from Ramsey and Parkeston (Essex)
This walk takes in woodland, farmland, quiet meadows and the River Stour where saltmarsh and mudflats provide habitats for wildlife.
Terling Circular
Departure from Terling (Essex)
A countryside walk beginning and ending in the village of Terling. Nothing spectacular about the route but it has some nice views and pleasant countryside, passes an old windmill and a rare round tower church. The route follows the course of the River Ter in places, and there are quite a few springs along the way, so it can get muddy. There are a couple of woods with excellent displays of bluebells in the spring but it is a good walk for any time of year. Waymarking is generally excellent.
Details are given for a shorter walk of 4 miles that does not visit Great Leighs church.
Wicken Fen Nature Reserve
Departure from Wicken (Cambridgeshire)
Easy walk starting at Wicken Fen Nature Reserve parking. The walk is along the waterways.
Little Leighs Circular
Departure from Great and Little Leighs (Essex)
A circular walk in a comparatively unspoiled part of mid Essex, between Chelmsford and Braintree. It is particularly suited to being a winter walk as most of the route is on quiet country lanes, surfaced bridleways and grassy field paths, thus avoiding the worst of the Essex mud. It is a good walk for any time of year though, with fine views across open countryside and is, for the most part, devoid of traffic noise.
Reviewed and updated April 2024
Great Dunmow Town Trail
Departure from Great Dunmow (Essex)
A circular walk around the small Essex town of Great Dunmow.
With plenty of historic buildings, a fine 13th century church, some great pubs and a fantastic Indian Restaurant this provides any visitor a taste of this ancient town. The walk is simple and easy and one cannot visit Dunmow without discovering the interesting history of the Dunmow Fitch which is the main feature to this walk.
Two Tothams Pub
Departure from Great Totham (Essex)
Starting and ending in Great Totham, this walk visits The Swan in Little Totham - a fine, privately owned freehouse, built in the 16th century.
For those not wanting, or are unable, to visit the pub, an amended route is given.
Wickham Bishops Circular
Departure from Wickham Bishops (Essex)
An easy stroll in the countryside near Wickham Bishops, departing close to the redundant St Peter's church, passing beneath the last wooden railway viaduct in the country and then along the meandering banks of the River Blackwater. The return passes through woodland and has some excellent views across the Essex countryside. This is an all-seasons walk but is particularly good in spring and autumn.
Hatfield Peverel Circular
Departure from Hatfield Peverel (Essex)
A pleasant stroll in the Essex countryside along field paths, secluded lanes and a stretch of river bank. Along the way there is an 18th century former priory, a canal lock (and tearoom), the delightfully named World's End Cottage, a ford and the Parish Church of St. Andrew.
Another Hatfield Peverel Circular
Departure from Hatfield Peverel (Essex)
Pleasant stroll in the Essex countryside at Hatfield Peverel along field paths, secluded lanes and a quiet stretch of the river bank.
Tollesbury Wick Marshes from Tollesbury
Departure from Tollesbury (Essex)
An Essex walk that explores the salt marshes between the village of Tollesbury and the River Blackwater. Tollesbury has much of interest inclusing a bustling marina, restored sail lofts and a preserved lightship.
Maldon to Hoe Mill Circular
Departure from Maldon (Essex)
A circular walk from Maldon through farmland to Hoe Mill Lock, returning along the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation.
Woodham Walter Circular
Departure from Woodham Walter (Essex)
This walk, close to the ancient village of Woodham Walter, offers a nature reserve, arable fields, woodland and The Wilderness. The route is along bridleways and footpaths for the most part, with a couple of short sections on country lanes. There are only two cross-field paths so it's a good winter walk but, like any Essex hike, it can be muddy after rain.
More walks in Alpheton
Discover also walks in surrounding cities:
- Acton
- Alphamstone
- Assington
- Barrow
- Belchamp Otten
- Belchamp St. Paul
- Belchamp Walter
- Beyton
- Bildeston
- Borley
- Boxford
- Boxted
- Bradfield Combust with Stanningfield
- Bradfield St Clare
- Bradfield St George
- Brent Eleigh
- Brettenham
- Brockley
- Bulmer
- Bures St. Mary
- Bury St Edmunds
- Buxhall
- Castle Hedingham
- Cavendish
- Chedburgh
- Chelsworth
- Chevington
- Chilton
- Clare
- Cockfield
- Denham
- Denston
- Depden
- Drinkstone
- Edwardstone
- Elmswell
- Felsham
- Fornham All Saints
- Fornham St Martin
- Foxearth
- Gedding
- Gestingthorpe
- Glemsford
- Great Barton
- Great Cornard
- Great Henny
- Great Maplestead
- Great Waldingfield
- Great Whelnetham
- Groton
- Hargrave
- Hartest
- Hawkedon
- Hawstead
- Hessett
- Hitcham
- Horringer
- Hunston
- Ickworth
- Kersey
- Kettlebaston
- Lamarsh
- Lavenham
- Lawshall
- Leavenheath
- Lindsey
- Liston
- Little Cornard
- Little Henny
- Little Waldingfield
- Little Whelnetham
- Little Yeldham
- Long Melford
- Middleton
- Milden
- Monks Eleigh
- Nayland-with-Wissington
- Newton
- Norton
- Nowton
- Ovington
- Pentlow
- Polstead
- Poslingford
- Preston St. Mary
- Rattlesden
- Rede
- Risby
- Rushbrooke with Rougham
- Semer
- Shelland
- Shimpling
- Somerton
- Stansfield
- Stanstead
- Stoke-by-Nayland
- Sudbury
- The Saxhams
- Thorpe Morieux
- Thurston
- Tostock
- Twinstead
- West Suffolk
- Westley
- Whepstead
- Wickham St. Paul
- Woolpit