Essex Way (Dedham Vale - West)

This part of the Essex Way takes you through the nature area Dedham Vale. Dedham Vale is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the Essex-Suffolk border in east England.

The Essex Way is a waymarked long-distance footpath 81 miles (130 km) long, along footpaths and roads in Essex, England. The trail starts in Epping in the southwest, crosses Dedham Vale and Constable country to finish at the port of Harwich on the Stour estuary. It leads through ancient woodlands, open farmland, tree-lined river valleys and leafy green lanes, unveiling historic towns and villages along the way. The route is waymarked by Essex Way plaques and direction arrows. The original CPRE signs were dark green, but most of these have now been replaced with Essex County Council plaques depicting two poppies on a white background. These are attached to fingerposts, stiles, gates, footbridges and posts. The waymarks, together with the maps in the guidebook, make the walk easy to follow. The guidebook illustrates points of interest along the way and includes an accommodation guide for the whole route. The Essex Way crosses several other long-distance footpaths including St Peter's Way (a 45-mile/72 km walk from Chipping Ongar to Bradwell-on-Sea), the Three Forests Way (a 60-mile/97 km circular walk linking Epping, Hatfield and Hainhault forests), the Saffron Trail (a 71-mile/114 km walk from Southend-on-Sea to Saffron Walden) and the Essex Clayway (a 28-mile/45 km route linking the Essex Way at Coggeshall to St Peter's Way at Mundon).