Stort Valley Way

The Stort Valley Way is 48.65 km long with only 299 m of climbing, so it is usually tackled as an easy two-day walk or in shorter day sections. Strong walkers can cover it in a long single day, but the route is better suited to a relaxed multi-day outing because the gradients are gentle rather than steep.

The Stort Valley Way is commonly described as a circuit based on Roydon in Essex, with a substantial stretch following the River Stort Navigation before looping through countryside around Harlow. The route also links places including Sawbridgeworth, Sheering, Matching, Magdalen Laver, and Epping Green, so there are several practical points to join it for shorter stages.

Yes. The Stort Valley Way is rated easy, and its 48.65 km distance is spread across just 299 m of elevation gain, which points to mostly gentle terrain rather than sustained climbing. The riverside sections along the Stort are especially approachable, making it a good option for newer long-distance walkers.

Yes. Rail access is one of the practical advantages of the Stort Valley Way, with Roydon and Bishop's Stortford both served by National Rail stations. That makes it straightforward to walk the route as a point-to-point day stage or to join the trail without needing to drive to the start.

The Stort Valley Way is generally suitable for walking with dogs, especially on the towpath and open countryside sections, but local controls apply in some places. In parts of nearby public open space around Bishop's Stortford, such as the Southern Country Park boardwalk, dogs must be kept on a lead, and dog waste must be cleared in East Herts.

The Stort Valley Way combines river navigation scenery with Essex and Hertfordshire countryside. Walkers can expect stretches beside the River Stort Navigation, water meadows near the valley floor, and rural villages including Sawbridgeworth, Sheering, Matching, Magdalen Laver, and Epping Green on the loop away from the river.