The Essex Way Relay Race returns on Sunday 6 September 2026. The race covers the 82 miles of the Essex Way from Epping Station to Harwich Old Lighthouse in 10 stages. Entry is free for Essex running clubs.

TRR needs 10 runners to field a team, although we can enter more than one team. TRR also manages Stage 6 (Great Tey to West Bergholt), so help at both the start and finish would be appreciated.

Approximate Distances, Start Times & Postcodes

• Stage 1 Epping – Chipping Ongar 7.5 Miles 8am (CM16 4HW → CM5 9AR)
• Stage 2 Chipping Ongar – Good Easter 9.5 Miles 9am (CM5 9AR → CM1 4RT)
• Stage 3 Good Easter – Little Leighs 9.5 Miles 10.15am (CM1 4RT → CM3 1PQ)
• Stage 4 Little Leighs – Cressing 10.1 Miles 11.30am (CM3 1PQ → CM77 8PQ)
• Stage 5 Cressing – Great Tey 9.4 Miles 12.45pm (CM77 8PQ → CO6 1JS)
• Stage 6 Great Tey – West Bergholt 5.7 Miles 2pm (CO6 1JS → CO6 3DU)
• Stage 7 West Bergholt – Dedham 11.2 Miles 2.40pm (CO6 3DU → Dedham High Street)
• Stage 8 Dedham – Bradfield 8.0 Miles 4.15pm (Dedham High Street → CO11 2XB)
• Stage 9 Bradfield – Ramsey 5.7 Miles 5.15pm (CO11 2XB → CO12 5HH)
• Stage 10 Ramsey – Harwich 5.5 Miles 6pm (CO12 5HH → CO12 3NJ)

Note: please arrive at your stage start at least 15 minutes before the start time. 

New for 2026 – Leg Cut-off Times

To help volunteers and results recorders, each leg now has a cut-off time based on a pace of 13 minutes per mile. Results recorders may leave after the times shown below. If a runner arrives after the results recorder has left, their Team Manager should notify the race scorer so the result can still be recorded.

• Leg 1 – 09:40
• Leg 2 – 11:05
• Leg 3 – 12:20
• Leg 4 – 13:40
• Leg 5 – 14:50
• Leg 6 – 15:20
• Leg 7 – 16:50
• Leg 8 – 18:00
• Leg 9 – 18:30
• Leg 10 – 19:15

• Complete route in 10 stages pdf
• Stage 1 Epping Station to Chipping Ongar (pdf) – Maps OS map
• Stage 2 Chipping Ongar to Good Easter (pdf) – Maps OS map
• Stage 3 Good Easter to Little Leighs (pdf) – Maps OS map
• Stage 4 Little Leighs to Cressing Church (pdf) – Maps OS map
• Stage 5 Cressing Church to Great Tey (pdf) – Maps OS map
• Stage 6 Great Tey to West Bergholt (pdf) – Maps OS map
• Stage 7 West Bergholt to Dedham (pdf) – Maps OS map
• Stage 8 Dedham to Bradfield (pdf) – Maps OS map
• Stage 9 Bradfield to Ramsey (pdf) – Maps OS map
• Stage 10 Ramsey to Harwich (pdf) – Maps OS map