Essex Off The Beaten Path

  Navigation of the only bridge a bit of a...
by PeterVancouver
 
  • Navigation of the only bridge a bit of a problem !
      Navigation of the only bridge a bit of a...
    by PeterVancouver
  • Now we are underway, only the cows watching
      Now we are underway, only the cows...
    by PeterVancouver
  • Riverside Walk Signage
      Riverside Walk Signage
    by johngayton
  • The Industrial Estate
      The Industrial Estate
    by johngayton
  • Towards The Docks
      Towards The Docks
    by johngayton
 

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Castle Hedingham

by alucas

Castle Hedingham is a small village in the north of Essex, and, naturally, it has a castle. Not just a castle, but a fine Norman keep, on the top of a hill. It is in private ownership, but is open to the public every Sunday from April to September, plus some other days during the week at certain times in the summer - check their website for details.The castle was built by the son of one of William the Conquerors knights in the 12th Century, and is still owned by a descendant after all these years. The de Vere family were high up in royal circles, and several English monarchs stayed at the castle.In its heyday, the castle would have been much larger, but only the keep survives today. The adjoining country house was completed in 1718, and is used for weddings and corporate functions.

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Terling - a quiet little village.

by alucas

Terling is a small village just north-east of Chelmsford. Close to the cluster of houses lies Terling Place, home of the Stutt family for over 300 years. The Strutts have the family title of Baron Rayleigh of Terling Place. The most famous Lord Rayleigh was John William Strutt, the third Baron who was an eminent scientist, and won the Nobel Prize in 1904 for his discovery of Argon. Terling Place is only visible from the road to the east, and remains in the hands of the Strutt family. It is not open to the public. The church and green lie just to the north of the house. The church has a rather plain interior, but houses a number of monuments to the Strutts, and has a separate entrance and gate leading to the house.

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Layer Marney Towers

by alucas

This stunning piece of Tudor architecture is really only the gatehouse to what would have been an immense Tudor house but for the untimely death of the Lord and also his son two years later. The towers soar 80 feet (eight storeys), and you can climb to the top of one of them. The remainder of the house is not open, but there is a long gallery which is used for wedding receptions and other functions. There is also a rare breeds farm and the church is next door.I have included a picture of a model of what the house might have looked like if it had ever been completed.Entry is £ 3.50 for adults.

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Gentile Dovercourt

by alucas

Dovercourt is definitely a "gentile" seaside town. You won't find much in the way of cafes or amusement arcades - as you can see in the picture - just a very good beach and plenty of open spaces. People retire to Dovercourt. People go for walks, along the beach with the dog, or along the front. The shops are a couple of streets inland, enough shops to get by, nothing to shout about.

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Walk the sea walls

by alucas

The Essex coastline is not particularly inspiring, but when the tide is in and the sun is out it can be very pleasant walking along the sea walls along the estuary of the River Blackwater. In the summer there is always something to watch with dinghy races held at the numerous sailing clubs. In the quieter areas and in the marshy areas behind the seawall there is plenty for the birdwatcher to see .

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Hanningfield Reservoir

by Gili_S

This is a nature reserve I visited on my free time, not that lakes are rare for someone coming from Finland, but it was nice visiting here and see how things are in England, it was just a short visit this time, I’ll be back.

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Farming Everywhere!

by Bwana_Brown

I was really surprised at the scale of the farming operations throughout our trip. Essex was no exception, with huge open fields just starting to spring to life wherever we went. However, most of these fields were very pleasing to look at because they covered rolling hills interspersed with thickets of trees. This scene was taken from seconday road B1039 near Wendens Ambo as we headed due west to find lodgings in Banbury, Oxfordshire. This was in the early afternoon and the temperature of 7 C was typical of what we had experienced to that point in the trip - damned balmy for a Canadian in February!

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Tilbury Fort

by Ash59

Tilbury Fort lies on the north bank of the Thames and was constructed in the latter quarter of the 17th century, replacing a small fort or blockhouse built during the reign of Henry VIII (c1539), to protect the approaches to the Thames, and London, from enemy shipping. It Fort is the best preserved example of 17th century military engineering in England and is preserved and run by English Heritage.You can view more photos and information about this place on my Tilbury Fort page (www.virtualtourist.com/m/24c4e/4a434/)

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A green retreat in Thurrock.

by worldkiwi

Not far from the where I worked in Essex was the delightful Langdon Hills Country Park. Some colleagues took me up here in spring one day and it was a world away from the suburbs all around. There are trails through combined woodland and fields and views over the surrounding rolling lowlands. You can access the park from the Laindon Station (railway) which links to London, Fenchurch Street. Otherwise, by road from the A13 and through Basildon.

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Maldon and the Blackwater River.

by worldkiwi

Maldon is a picturesque town alongside the Blackwater River, about 15-20 minutes drive from the county capital - Chelmsford.A walk around the town must include a stroll along the river front, where some well known sailing barges, once a common sight on Essex waterways, are moored.Maldon is not served by train, so you must have a car to get there. It is east of Chelmsford on the A414.

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Unique Places in Essex

Top 3 Hotels in Essex

George Hotel of Colchester  Colchester

 1 Review and 102 Opinions  An ideal hotel for people interested in history as it is well over 500 years old. The 47 bedrooms... 

 Hotels in Colchester

Roslin Beach Hotel  Southend-on-Sea

 1 Review and 182 Opinions  A warm and friendly welcome in this family run hotel,situated on the Sea Front at Thorpe Bay.It... 

 Hotels in Southend-on-Sea

Down Hall Country House Hotel  Stansted

 2 Reviews and 219 Opinions  This hotel seemed to have it all, all the facilities, two restaurants and conference facilities.... 

 Hotels in Stansted

192 Hotels in Essex
 
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Reviews and photos of Essex attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Essex sightseeing.

Experience Essex
Off The Beaten Path: Cities in Essex
  1. Southend-on-Sea Off The Beaten Path
  2. Colchester Off The Beaten Path
  3. Clacton-on-Sea Off The Beaten Path
  4. Stansted Off The Beaten Path
  5. Brentwood Off The Beaten Path
  6. Harwich Off The Beaten Path
  7. Coggeshall Off The Beaten Path
  8. Chelmsford Off The Beaten Path
  9. Basildon Off The Beaten Path
  10. Frinton-on-Sea Off The Beaten Path
  11. Goldhanger Off The Beaten Path

More Cities in Essex

 

Questions and Answers

Stevebanker profile photo

Q:  Does anybody know if there is a bus service that takes passengers from home to Stansted Airport ? There is one for Gatwick (the... 

hexelein profile photo

A: Isn't the Gatwick Express the train between London and Gatwick? Anyway, there are some buses from Stansted to Essex, see... 

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