The Essex Way
A Brief History
The idea for the Essex Way trail was conceived following a competition funded by the Campaign to Protect Rural England in 1972.
Since 1989, the trail has hosted the popular inter-club Essex Way Relay event, held on the first Sunday of September. You can find out more about that here. It is a beautiful route and one that we think deserves a stand-alone, full distance ultra event.
​
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 a pre-Strava fastest known time is that of Sean Ketteridge’s 13 hours and 58 minutes, set in 2010.
In the Strava era, the FKT website lists Ian Brazier and his time of 17 hours 24 minutes as the fastest unsupported completion, set in 2020.
Dave Phillips' EWU25 course record of 12 hours 54 minutes holds the top FKT spot for a supported completion.​
​
​
​
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
