Fifty years of the Essex Way and the celebrations have started… here are two walks for you to join

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Essex Way and, as the group behind the formation of the 81-mile walk, we are keen to play a big part in the celebrations.
The Essex Way was conceived via a competition funded by CPRE in 1972. The route was proposed by pupils at Chelmsford Technical High School and it has proved tremendously popular with walkers in the following half-century.
The Essex Way was conceived after a competition organised by the Campaign Some of the original dark-green CPRE Essex Way plaques still exist on the 81-mile route between Epping and Harwich but most have been superseded by county council plaques displaying two red poppies on a white disc.
CPRE Essex will be featuring the celebrations throughout the year, but we are not the only group rejoicing in this extraordinary walk and others will also be playing their part.
This week, for example, Colchester Ramblers are leading a walk on the Great Tey-Boxted church section on Wednesday (April 27), while the following day (Thursday 28) you can join the Tendring Ramblers walk on the Boxted church-Mistley Towers leg.
There will be further walks and events to be enjoyed over the coming months, so watch this space! In the meantime, visit the Colchester Ramblers website for details of Wednesday’s walk and the Tendring Ramblers website for more on the Thursday event.