Helions Bumpstead walks

Discover the start of the river Stour, Constable's country

Discover the start of Constable's river Stour.

An impressive Jacobean House, a colourful park and a cute pub are a few of the things you can discover during the Audley End Walk. Follow me in Essex for a walk through history, perfect for a stroll with friends, family and our four-legged companions.

See where the racehorses train and enjoy the panorama of the Cambridgeshire countryside from some of it’s higher points.

A lovely walk around the Cambridgeshire border.

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.

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.

A picturesque walk (public paths) along the famous river that gave its name to Cambridge. Enjoy seeing the rowers racing in their fragile boats, the cox shouting at them, and the coach biking along the path.

A point to point walk from Foxton Station to Shepreth Station with a nice woody interlude through the Wimbish Estate.

For those 3 easy walks, you will visit the 3 stations composing the Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton Community Rail Partnership.

From Foxton Railway Station you can take in the sights of Foxton - the Dovecot, Foxton Wood, St Laurence Church and the White Horse Pub.

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

You will enjoy the scenery south of Cambridge along the Cam river, and the picturesque village of Grantchester.

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.

A circular walk from Histon to Girton and beyond. Through woods, across fields and on a variety of tracks and roads.

Easy walk starting at Wicken Fen Nature Reserve parking. The walk is along the waterways.

A surprisingly rural walk on the outskirts of Cambridge, seeing the Histon and Oakington parish churches and an ancient oak. Occasional glimpses of guided buses hurtling along.

A largely rural walk through three villages near Cambridge with interesting churches. One section passes an old airfield being developed as the new town of Northstowe.

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.

Pleasant stroll in the Essex countryside at Hatfield Peverel along field paths, secluded lanes and a quiet stretch of the river bank.

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.

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.