The Essex Way
A Brief History
The Essex Way was conceived as the result of a competition funded by the Campaign to Protect Rural England in 1972, so it has recently celebrated it's 50th anniversary! It is a truly beautiful route and one that we think deserves a stand-alone, full distance ultra event.
Since 1989, the trail has hosted the popular Essex Way Relay event for club runners on the first Sunday of September. You can find out more about that here.
Although it is certain that many runners and walkers have completed the route in stages, our attempts to unearth the hardy folk who have completed it in one hit have yielded slim pickings.
The best indication of an historic fastest known time is that of Sean Ketteridge’s 13 hours and 58 minutes, set in 2010. In the Strava era, the FKT website currently has 3 entries: Ian Brazier and his time of 17 hours 24 minutes (unsupported), set in 2020. Cameron Humphries' EWU24 course record of 16 hours 11 minutes (supported) & Tim Whitcombe's EWU23 race winning time of 16 hours and 26 minutes (supported).
Further Reading
The Essex County Council guidebook of the route details much of the routes historic highlights and is available here
Read Peter Alymer’s lovely account of the route here
If you have an account of walking or running the route, please do get in touch and we'd be happy to add it here!
The plaque at Epping Tube Station
The plaque at Harwich High Lighthouse
