Essex Way

Epping to Harwich 130km/81 miles

Pioneered by Ramblers and CPRE members, the trail strikes out across quiet countryside via Dedham Vale and Constable country to finish at the Stour estuary.

The unwaymarked 24km/15 mile Epping Forest Centenary Walk, created to celebrate the centenary of the Act of Parliament that saved the Forest for public enjoyment, connects Epping to Manor Park in east London.

The section between Stratford St Mary and Ramsey, with a link to Harwich International, is part of European path E2.

Connects with London LOOP (via Epping Forest Centenary Walk), Parkeston Quay Link Path (for ferry connection to Hoek van Holland and Deltapad LAW5-1 (E2/E9), Visserpad LAW5-2 (E9), Overloperpad 6-1), Stour Valley Path (East Anglia, E2),  Stour and Orwell Walk (see Suffolk Coast and Heaths Path, via Stour Valley Path or ferry Felixstowe - Harwich), Three Forests Way (via Epping Forest Centenary Walk)

Highway authorities
Essex Way: Essex
Centenary Walk: Essex, Newham, Redbridge, Waltham Forest

Parks and countryside Corporation of London Open Spaces

Tourist Information Centres

• Braintree 01476 550066
• Chelmsford 01245 283400
• Colchester 01206 282920
• Flatford (seasonal) 01206 299460
• Harwich 01255 506139
• Waltham Abbey 01992 652295

For a list of TICs in London click here. See also Epping Forest Information Centre below.

An accommodation list is also included in the guidebook below.

Public transport

• Epping is served by London Underground's Central Line, with regular trains to Stratford, Liverpool Street and Central London and numerous local buses, with regular bus services to Chipping Ongar.
• Buses between Epping and Chelmsford serve Chipping Ongar, Fyfield and Willingale. Buses from Chelmsford (trains to London, Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich) serve the areas of Good Easter, Pleshey and the Walthams. Infrequent buses serve the rural area between the Walthams and White Notley.
• White Notley has regular trains on the Great Eastern branch line between Braintree and Witham, with connections to London, Colchester, Harwich, Ipswich and Norwich.
• Coggeshall has regular buses to Braintree and Colchester (main line to London, Harwich, Ipswich, Norwich). There are also buses to Colchester from Great Tey, Fordstreet, Fordham, West Bergholt, Great Horkesley and Langham. Dedham has buses to Colchester and Manningtree.
• From Manningtree to Harwich the Way roughly parallels the railway line from London and Colchester, with stations at Wrabness (on the Way), Harwich International, Dovercourt and Harwich Town. Buses connect Mistley, Bradfield, Wrabness, Ramsey and Dovercourt with Manningtree and Harwich.
• Ferries connect Harwich with Felixstowe and Shotley (weekends only except in summer, Baines Boats, tel 0797 011 5382); Harwich International with Hoek van Holland (Stena Line: www.stenaline.co.uk); Harwich International with Cuxhaven and Ebsjerg (DFDS Seaways: www.dfdsseaways.co.uk).
• Much of the Centenary Walk is within easy reach of National Rails suburban services, Underground and buses. From High Beach southwards it falls within the London zonal fares system. Manor Park has regular buses into central London and trains to Stratford, Liverpool Street and Shenfield, with connections to Colchester, Southminster and Southend. Wanstead Park is on the North London Line between North Woolwich and Richmond.

For more on transport in London, click here.
For more on finding out about services and fares, click here. 

Landranger Maps 167, 168, 169, 177 (Centenary Walk)
Explorer Maps 174, 183, 184, 196, 197
The route is marked on the most recent editions of these maps.
Local street atlases may be more useful in built-up areas along the Centenary Walk. See Walking in London: Maps.

Publications