Saffron Trail

[1] The Saffron Trail was conceived by David Hitchman in 2000, as a south-east to north-west route to complement the two west-to-east long-distance paths: the Essex Way and St Peter's Way.

[2] The trail starts at the pier in Southend-on-Sea (51°32′03″N 00°42′53″E / 51.53417°N 0.71472°E / 51.53417; 0.71472), in the south-east of the county, and goes north-west across urban and rural Essex.

[3] It goes through fields and woodland, over commons, alongside rivers, through historic villages, and some built-up areas and finishes at the church of St Mary in Saffron Walden (52°01′28″N 00°14′19″E / 52.02444°N 0.23861°E / 52.02444; 0.23861).

[4] The Saffron Trail passes through the following locations:[4] Southend Pier (start), Leigh-on-Sea, Hadleigh, Eastwood, Hockley, Hullbridge, Battlesbridge, Rettendon, East Hanningfield, Danbury, Chelmsford, Broomfield, Great Waltham, Howe Street, Littley Green, Felsted, Little Dunmow, Great Dunmow, Little Easton, Great Easton, Tilty, Chickney, Henham, Widdington, Newport, Wendens Ambo, Audley End station, Saffron Walden (finish).

[1] The Saffron Trail adjoins several long-distance paths:[1] Essex Way (an 81-mile (130 km) east to west walk from Epping to Harwich) intersects at Great Waltham; St Peter's Way (a 41-mile (66 km) east to west walk from Chipping Ongar to St Peter-on-the Wall at Bradwell-on-Sea) intersects at East Hanningfield; Harcamlow Way (a 141-mile (227 km) figure-of-eight walk from Harlow, Essex to Cambridge and back) intersects at Saffron Walden; Thames Estuary Path (a 29-mile (47 km) west to east walk from Tilbury Town station to Leigh-on-Sea station) intersects at Leigh-on-Sea;[5] Roach Valley Way (a 23-mile (37 km) circular walk around Rochford and the Crouch and Roach estuaries) intersects at Hockley.