Built automatically from council rights of way records, traffic orders and OpenStreetMap data, and checked by Holloway. How we check it
Current status
No restriction we know of
The Essex Way is recorded as a Byway Open to All Traffic. We haven't found a Traffic Regulation Order or seasonal closure on it, but that doesn't guarantee there isn't one.
Check its status nowOpens a search for any current Traffic Regulation Order on The Essex Way, the same Legal Status Search as in the app. Status checked against our data on 13/11/2026.
Where it runs
The Essex Way in pink, with the lanes around it.
- AThe southwest end, near Shellow Bowells
- BThe northeast end, near Pleshey
Exact start points, GPX and navigation are in Premium.
Unlock →On the lane
Unridden. Nobody has ridden and graded this lane yet, so the difficulty is a best guess from OpenStreetMap surface data. Ridden it? Suggest a grade from its card in the app.
Holloway Premium
Ride The Essex Way with Holloway
- Navigate to either end in one tap, Google Maps takes you straight there
- Add it to a route with the lanes around it, joined by real roads
- Download the GPX of the whole lane, every section stitched together
- Live navigation with the lane on screen as you ride
£1 from every membership goes toward keeping lanes open.
Lanes nearby
The closest named lanes, measured from The Essex Way.
- Berners Roding Road0.4 km southwest · 2.3 km long›
- Coppice Lane0.5 km northeast · 2.5 km long›
- Blunts Chase1.0 km northeast · 0.2 km long
- Hayron's Lane / Essex Way1.7 km north · 0.5 km long
- Hayron's Lane1.7 km north · 0.8 km long
- Dunmow Lane2.7 km northeast · 2.2 km long›
Questions riders ask
Is The Essex Way open to motorcycles?
The Essex Way is recorded as a Byway Open to All Traffic, and we don't know of any current restriction on it. Legal status can change at short notice, so check signage and current Traffic Regulation Orders before you ride.
How long is The Essex Way?
About 5.5 km of mapped lane, in 9 sections with gaps between them. Its two ends are around 8.3 km apart in a straight line, so it isn’t one continuous lane.
Where does The Essex Way start and finish?
One end is near Shellow Bowells, at the southwest end, and the other is near Pleshey, at the northeast end. The map on this page shows both.
Find more lanes like this
Closures are marked on the free map, with a quick email sign-in, and free accounts can open 3 lane cards a day.
Open the map, free Every named lane in EssexLane data from OpenStreetMap contributors and council rights of way and highway records (public sector information under the Open Government Licence v3.0, and OS data © Crown copyright and database rights). Place names © OpenStreetMap contributors. Reference only: legal status changes, check signage and current Traffic Regulation Orders before riding. How we check this data.