Walks and Cycle Rides

Use our recommended local walks and cycle rides to get out into the countryside and discover some of its wildlife and scenery. The routes have a map and notes for you to follow and each one has a stated length, with places for refreshments suggested.

Walks

All suggested walks are designed for the part of the year when wildlife is active, roughly between late March and October. Wildlife is seasonal and what you might see will depend on the time of year. In winter most wildlife is absent, so the walk may still be enjoyable, but you will not see as much wildlife.

Wildlife Walk 1 - Widdington
Starting from Widdington TL538317. A walk of about three and a quarter miles through green lanes, ancient woodland and passing by summer wildflower meadows. OS Explorer Sheet 195.

Wildlife Walk 2 - Great Dunmow
Start Point New Street Car Park. Map ref. 629/218 Distance 3.75 miles. Allow 4 hours. The walk leads out of Great Dunmow to follow the Flitch Way through Dunmow Cutting, with its wildflowers and butterflies, returning through agricultural land and past woodland.

Wildlife Walk 3 - Peppers Green
Start Point at the layby on the A1060 at Salts Green TL621109. Distance 5 miles. Allow 4 hours. The walk leads through green lanes across the arable countryside, passing small woods and a group of lakes in the River Can valley, and finishing with a special roadside verge.

Wildlife Walk 4 - The Bardfield Oxlip
A walk just outside the boundary of Uttlesford to see the Oxlip and the countryside around Great Bardfield. OS Explorer Sheet 195. Starting from the centre of the village, a walk of about 3 and a half miles. OS Reference TL677305. Take the walk in April to see the Oxlip in flower.

Wildlife Walk 5 - Stansted Mountfitchet and the Aubrey Buxton nature reserve.
A walk of about four miles to see the countryside around Stansted, with a visit to the Essex Wildlife Trust Aubrey Buxton Nature Reserve. OS Explorer Sheet 195. Starting from the car park by the castle and railway in the centre of the village. OS Reference TL517249.

Wildlife Walk 6 - Bishops Stortford and the Rushy Mead nature reserve.
A walk of about four miles to see the River Stort and Essex Wildlife Trust Rushy Mead Nature Reserve.

Wildlife Walk 7 - Thaxted to the West Wood nature reserve.
A walk of about four miles to see the Essex Wildlife Trust West Wood Nature Reserve.

Wildlife Walk 8 - Stansted Mountfitchet to the Turners Spring nature reserve.
A walk of about three and a half miles to see the Essex Wildlife Trust Turners Spring Nature Reserve.

Cycle Rides

Three cycle rides that follow generally quieter lanes and take you on a tour past some of the special roadside verges. These are at their best from May to September when the wildflowers are in season. You may also see Butterflies like the Common Blue, a specialist of chalk loving vegetation.

Ride One - Special Roadside Verges
Wildflowers in the Spring Summer and Autumn. From Saffron Walden Via Littlebury, Duddenhoe End, Arkesden, Newport and back to Saffron Walden. 18 Miles, some hills.

Ride Two - Special Roadside Verges - Wildflowers in the Spring Summer and Autumn. From Arkesden via Duddenhoe End, Langley Upper Green, Clavering and back to Arkesden. 12 and a half miles, Gentle hills.

Ride Three - Great Dunmow and the Flitch Way - A route of about 13 miles from Great Dunmow, taking in part of the Flitch Way, a newly created nature area, a special roadside verge and an ancient woodland. Some off road sections.