The Essex Way is a long distance path that traverses the county in a north-east direction from Epping to Harwich. The landscape is agricultural; field upon field upon field. The path follows old trackways or small verges alongside yellowing swathes of wheat that are yearning for their harvest one month hence.
Essex is not completely flat. There may not be the elevation of the downs or hills further west but the landscape undulates: gentle ups and downs that provide views. The other joy of these walks is the traverse from one village to the next: small self-contained, neat and old. The hiker will emerge from the hedge and enter a colourful world of flowers and old cottages: perhaps a welcoming pub and as centrepiece: the mediaeval church: much modernised. Next door: the war memorial, a simple cross or other device and a few names; often not enough to fill the space left for memorialisation.
At the end of the journey from Ongar to White Notley: a path that runs round Chelmsford and arcs towards Colchester, one realises that large swathes of the county are pretty and empty; the station at White Notley is a permission to travel machine and a shelter. Miss the train and wait fifty minutes for the next.
This is the only way to see Essex.