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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
More walks in Chilton
Discover also walks in surrounding cities:
- Acton
- Alphamstone
- Alpheton
- Assington
- Belchamp Otten
- Belchamp St. Paul
- Belchamp Walter
- Bildeston
- Borley
- Boxford
- Boxted
- Boxted
- Bradfield Combust with Stanningfield
- Bradfield St Clare
- Bradfield St George
- Braintree
- Brent Eleigh
- Brettenham
- Brockley
- Bulmer
- Bures Hamlet
- Bures St. Mary
- Buxhall
- Castle Hedingham
- Cavendish
- Chappel
- Chedburgh
- Chelsworth
- Cockfield
- Colne Engaine
- Depden
- Earls Colne
- Edwardstone
- Felsham
- Fordham
- Foxearth
- Gedding
- Gestingthorpe
- Glemsford
- Great Cornard
- Great Henny
- Great Horkesley
- Great Maplestead
- Great Waldingfield
- Great Whelnetham
- Greenstead Green and Halstead Rural
- Groton
- Halstead
- Hartest
- Hawkedon
- Hawstead
- Hitcham
- Kersey
- Kettlebaston
- Lamarsh
- Lavenham
- Lawshall
- Leavenheath
- Lindsey
- Liston
- Little Cornard
- Little Henny
- Little Horkesley
- Little Maplestead
- Little Waldingfield
- Little Yeldham
- Long Melford
- Middleton
- Milden
- Mile End
- Monks Eleigh
- Mount Bures
- Nayland-with-Wissington
- Newton
- Pebmarsh
- Pentlow
- Polstead
- Poslingford
- Preston St. Mary
- Rattlesden
- Rede
- Semer
- Shelley
- Shimpling
- Somerton
- Stansfield
- Stanstead
- Stoke-by-Nayland
- Sudbury
- Thorpe Morieux
- Twinstead
- Wakes Colne
- Wattisham
- West Bergholt
- Whepstead
- White Colne
- Wickham St. Paul
- Wormingford