Essex is often thought of as an urban county (the Dartford Tunnel, Bluewater etc). But actually most of it is pretty villages with windmills and cottages, and it also features (after Devon), England’s longest coastline.
Home to coastal resorts like Frinton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze, enjoy walks on quiet sandy beaches, with the fresh sea breeze. Or go inland to find natural reserves like Cudmore Grove on Mersea Island, where ancient oak woodlands meet salt marshes, and migrating birds soar in the sky.
Southend-on-Sea is a popular seaside resort, known for being home to the world’s longest seaside pier. Nearby Belfairs Wood offers peaceful walks amid towering trees. Or pop in for a pint at one of the quaint pubs in nearby villages. Abberton Resevoir is a haven for birdwatchers.
Epping Forest: A Green Oasis
Nestled in Essex, Epping Forest is a historic woodland of over 2400 hectares, which has been a refreshing retreat to visitors for centuries. It has over 50km of paths for nature walks, and also home to many birds, from woodpeckers to sparrowhawks, You’ll also notice cheeky squirrels, fluttering butterflies, diligent ants and may even catch a glimpse of wild deer.
Quaint Villages of Essex
Essex is home to many quaint villages like Saffron Walden (above) that offer a glimpse into a slower, more charming way of life. The postcard chocolate-box village of Finchingfield features pastel house with thatched roofs. It has historic architecture, a windmill and a medieval church, and is often called the perfect example of the English village.
Layer de La Haye is another historic village, near Colchester. Nearby is Blackwater Estuary, for peaceful works and birdwatching. The village of Thaxted has a stunning church, and an annual Morris dancing festival!
Or for more rural areas, Wallasea Island is a Nature Reserve with six walking trails. This is a newly created saltmarsh with mudflats and lagoons, for people to enjoy glimpsing short-eared owls and marsh harriers, and watch over the river to find common seals. The three million tons of soil were brought here by ship, from the tunnels excavated to make the Elizabethan Line for London’s underground.
Pastel Beach Huts on Mersea Island
Mersea Island is a surprising find. This looks like a little Floridian seaside paradise, yet is just 9 miles from Colchester! The island is 7 square miles and has a population of around 7000 people who live on England’s most easterly island with humans! There is a wheelchair-friendly foot ferry, that can cut the journey from Brightingsea by half.
The island gets cut off twice a day at high tide, so always look at the correct times to cross the causeway. Don’t cross if the road is covered, or emergency services have to rescue you. The council says to keep away, unless you have a ‘James Bond car’ or are Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!
Brightlingsea is a pretty town on the Essex coast that is home to many beach huts. It has however lost its train station 60 years ago, which has never returned. Between Colchester and Clacton-on-sea, it’s surrounded by sea with just one road, leading many to say that it’s kind of like an island too. Even though it isn’t. Though apparently it was a few hundred years ago.
