Wild days out in rural Essex Discover a different side to Essex. Escape to the countryside for wild days out. Lee Valley White Water Centre Cycling in Arkesden Dedham Vale Marsh Farm Animal Adventure Park www.visitessex.com/rural-escapes COME AND PLAY AT OUR HOUSE Go behind previously closed doors and see how Victorian children played and grew up, in the newly opened nursery. Saffron Walden, Essex NCG MKTG LONDON EAST E119 AUDLEY END ADVERT 216X105MM ANDREA LEE ADVERT PORT CMYK PORTRAIT BRONWEN AW 19.3.14 Contents Wild about EssEx 4 What’s so great about Essex? RuRal EscapEs to EssEx 5 Discover Essex’s great outdoors ouR pick of thE pictuREsquE 6 Our top picturesque towns and villages a n aRtist’s tRail in dEdham ValE 9 Explore Constable Country on foot or by bike GEt outdooRs and GEt actiVE 10 From breezy golf links to white water rafting bikE, boots oR stilEttos? 12 Uncover the real Essex on two feet or two wheels saddlE up 14 Get on your bike and discover a different side of Essex Wild about WildlifE 16 Come and meet the natives – from sandpipers to seals GoinG GREEn 17 Enjoy Essex’s green spaces – from country parks to farm attractions a tastE of histoRy 24 Visit historic treasures and garden gems a tastE of EssEx 27 The best of the county’s flavoursome fare thE GEtaWay not faR aWay 28 Take a break at one of Europe’s largest spas or hire your own island a GREat day out 29 Experience a range of fabulous events in the glorious Essex countryside p lan youR EscapE 30 Bike hire, tourist information and things to know before you go 3 saffron Walden Essex - uncover our true colours Wild about Essex Essex is famous for its celebrity culture, but what makes rural Essex special? Its climate Imperial Birds of Prey at Barleylands perhaps, one of the driest in Britain, home to over 20 vineyards including one of England’s oldest (New Hall Vineyards)? Or its villages – from one of England’s most photographed, Finchingfield, to Tiptree, hot contender for the largest, or Manningtree, the smallest town? Maybe its culinary delights: Maldon Sea Salt and Colchester oysters – not to mention Tiptree Jam? Or its architecture – 14,000 listed buildings, including the world’s oldest wooden church at Greensted and Britain’s tallest Tudor gatehouse at Layer Marney? How many other English counties can claim the longest coastline (none!) or beautiful countryside so close to the London Underground (Epping)? Or 31 Green Flags for their country parks and green spaces including England’s best picnic site in 2011 (Weald Country Park)? Or such rich wildlife - 87 Essex Wildlife Trust nature reserves and two nature parks and 9 RSPB sites including the largest conservation DID YOU project in Europe (Wallasea Island)? KNOW ? Or such two-wheeled excitement from the London 2012 Olympic According to the Mountain Biking events to the 2014 2014 Halifax survey, Tour de France tearing through the Uttlesford in Essex countryside? There really is nowhere was voted Britain’s like Essex. Come and experience most desirable rural Essex life! area to live. 4 Rural escapes to Essex Far away from the image of white stilettos and the cast of TOWIE DID YOU lies rural Essex. There are many KNOW ? reasons to be wild about Essex. Just a short distance from the capital, Team GB won yet worlds apart, over 70% of the Gold and Silver in county is classified as rural – a Canoe Slalom at peaceful patchwork of market towns, the London 2012 timbered villages and tiny hamlets Olympic Games at linked by country lanes where all is Lee Valley White quiet and slow. Water Centre. Escape for a while and capture some memorable moments. Potter in antique shops and tea rooms. Dip into farmers’ markets and taste local produce. Rest your bones over a relaxing pint. A walking and cycling paradise, Essex is also full of outdoor adventures from wind-whipped rambles through coastal country parks, teeming with wildlife, to gentle pedals through the rolling landscapes of Constable Country, peppered with distant church spires. Alternatively crank up the excitement with an Olympic circuit at the Lee Valley White Water Centre. Or step back in time at historic attractions from grand stately gems set in glorious gardens to half-timbered treasures and rustic mills. Many form the setting for outdoor events – the perfect excuse to blow away the cobwebs with an active day out in the fresh air. Surprisingly close to London A world apart north fambridge 5 our pick of the picturesque Experience village life for the day. Ramble through jumbled streets of half-timbered houses. Cycle past thatched cottages clustered around a village pond. Sift through treasures in tucked away antique shops and stop off for a picnic or a sinful cream tea. Essex’s picturesque towns and villages are the perfect havens to immerse yourself in a traditional way of life. Here’s our pick of the best: finchingfield One of the most photographed villages in England, appearing in films and TV programmes, it’s the perfect place to bring along a picnic and drink in the views. The combination of duck pond and village green presided over by colour- washed cottages, windmill and medieval church, lend this quintessentially English village an unbeatable series of vistas. thaxted Nestling in a fold of the north Essex countryside, its white-sailed windmill visible for miles around, this beautifully- preserved town, with its crooked timber-framed houses, is dominated by its magnificent cathedral-like church and exquisite Guildhall, reminders of Thaxted’s former important standing. coggeshall Once an important place in the trade of wool and lace-making, Coggeshall is a lovely ‘olde worlde' village with almost 300 listed buildings. While here, why not pay a visit to Paycocke’s House and Garden owned by the National Trust, once owned by a wealthy wool merchant or Grange Barn, one of Europe’s oldest timber-framed buildings. Explore Marks Hall Gardens and Arboretum or experience some of the best English wines at the West Street Vineyard. DID YOU KNOW ? Finchingfield is one of the most photographed villages in England. 6 finchingfield castle hedingham You can see Hedingham Castle for miles around, its sturdy Norman keep, the best-preserved in England, standing guard over the village. Climb the spiral staircase, soak up the atmosphere and stroll around the pretty village. Nearby is the Colne Valley Railway, Hedingham Castle where you can enjoy a ride on a steam train. saffron Walden Crammed with medieval houses, antique shops and galleries, Saffron Walden has lots to offer. Make sure you visit the restored Victorian Bridge End Garden, the Fry Art Gallery, Saffron Walden’s turf maze, the largest of its type in the world, and the magnificent Audley End House Thaxted and Gardens. Waltham abbey Countryside of quiet charm is on the doorstep of this ancient market town, just a stone’s throw from Epping Forest. The town is dominated by its once powerful abbey, founded by King Harold, who is reputedly buried here. The Abbey Gardens are a lovely place to stroll while, nearby, the previously top-secret Royal Gunpowder Mills make for a historic visit. 7 Advert:Layout 1 27/2/14 12:45 Page 1 VisitSaffron Walden Saffron Walden is a delightful medieval market town located in north-west Essex. It has a rich heritage of old buildings, including St Mary’s Church, the largest and one of the most beautiful parish churches in Essex, as well as a friendly, award-winning museum. Market days are Tuesday and Saturday. On the north side of town is Bridge End Garden, a newly restored Victorian garden of great charm, which contains a wonderful yew hedge maze and sunken Dutch Garden. Open free of charge. For further information about how to get here, places to visit, where to stay,local events and activities, contact: Saffron Walden Tourist Information Centre 1 Market Place, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB10 1HR Tel: 01799 524002 Email: [email protected] Web: www.visitsaffronwalden.gov.uk Whatever floats your boat – Essex has it all boathouse at dedham an artist’s trail in dedham Vale Straddling the Essex/Suffolk border, the gentle Dedham Vale is forever associated with the paintings of landscape artist John Constable. Known as Constable Country even in his lifetime, the scenes here have hardly changed in the 200 years since he painted them. Ramble along the River Stour from 16th-century Bridge Cottage, which houses an exhibition of Constable’s work, past Flatford Mill and Willy Lott’s House, which features in his most famous work, The Hay Wain, or hire a rowing boat and mess about on the water. Finish up in pretty Dedham, where you can drop in on the country home museum of 20th- century equestrian artist Sir Alfred Munnings and enjoy a drink or meal at The Sun Inn pub or afternoon cream tea at the Wilkin & Sons Essex Rose Tea House. DID YOU In addition to the signposted KNOW ? footpaths, the National Trust Today you can stand organise guided tours around beside Willy Lott’s Flatford. You can also download House in Flatford, suggested itineraries from on the site where www.visitessex.com/rural-escapes Constable painted his which include a day walking through most famous work, Constable Country plus details of the ‘The Hay Wain’. 69-mile Painter’s Trail cycle route. 9 Get outdoors and get active Open your eyes to a world of outdoor experiences in Essex. Fancy a ‘drive’ out? Choose from over 60 golf courses up and down the county, from challenging links courses caressed by sea breezes to inland gems with sweeping countryside views.