Caravan County: Essex
Throughout Essex there are many great attractions to visit and, whatever your interests, you can be sure of many enjoyable days out.
For many of those who have discovered our ‘Hidden Treasures’ it is the surviving heritage which proves the biggest attraction. Traces of medieval times can be found in delightful small towns such as Saffron Walden, Coggeshall and Thaxted. Medieval industries such as weaving and saffron growing created great wealth and this led to the construction of beautiful houses and fine churches. Close to the European mainland, Essex has been influenced by different cultures and historical events. The Normans left their mark with castles at Colchester, Castle Hedingham and Stansted, while the Romans made Colchester their capital.
With its long coastline, Essex has a strong maritime tradition. The resorts of Southend, Clacton, Frinton, Walton and Dovercourt offer all the traditional fun of the seaside. Southend has established a reputation for an exciting calendar of events to supplement family attractions such as the ‘Sealife Centre’ and ‘Adventure Island’. In Clacton and the other ‘Sunshine Coast Resorts’ the emphasis is on traditional family entertainment. Both Clacton and Southend are famous for their parks and gardens and offer colourful displays in the summer.
However, less well known is the quieter side of the coast where ports such as Harwich and Maldon have great character and historical interest. Coastal towns including Burnham-on-Crouch and Brightlingsea thrive on yachting during the summer season. Away from the towns much of the coast is remote and undisturbed and of great importance for nature conservation.
Inland, ancient woodlands such as Epping and Hatfield Forest add interest to a landscape characterised by thatched cottages, timber framed farmhouses and the unmistakable outline of windmills.
There are some lovely country houses with beautiful gardens such as Audley End House, Ingatestone Hall and Layer Marney Tower. Essex remains a rural county with much of the land still in agricultural production. The rolling countryside is typified by wheatfields dotted with poppies.
Rural events and traditions continue in many parts of the county. Annually the ‘Essex Festival of the Countryside’ brings together some of the most interesting. Amongst the events featured are traditional fêtes, village gardens open, steam engine rallies and concerts.
So do have a look through the many different attractions on offer and start planning your day out or indeed a weekend away in Essex.
A full list of highlights is available on the real essex website. There is a wealth of information about Essex on the internet, and if you haven’t got access to the internet, you can try calling the Tourist Information office. There are many caravan parks situated along the coastline of Essex and further inland in rural locations. As with many places in the UK many of the caravan parks in Essex are situated in conservation areas or right by the beach.
Check out www.realessex.co.uk for more information.