Places to visit while staying at a holiday cottage in Essex
There's far more to Essex than white stilettos and budget airports. Its juxtaposition
of green fields and easy access to the capital may make it a haven for low rent
celebrities; but beyond the Big Brother hopefuls lies unexpectedly beautiful scenery and
oodles of potential family fun.
Essex is a county of contrasts. Sea, rolling hillsides and enough urban areas to soothe
the countryphobe's stay – they're all there, in buckets. If you're after a tan and
don't fancy the fake stuff on ample display, head straight for the Sunshine Coast and
Clacton-on-Sea's pier. Not to be outdone is Southend-on-Sea – as the name suggests,
it's also on the coast. The largest town in Essex, Southend boasts seven miles of beaches
and the world's longest pier. At Leigh-on-Sea, meanwhile, you can watch fishermen bring in
their daily catch – if you can get up in time.
If you're looking to get closer to nature, your best bet is to head inland to southern
Essex and the Lee Valley Country Park area. Its position just off the M25 isn't the most
auspicious; but cast your prejudices aside and you'll be in for a treat. The park runs
most of the way across Essex (it goes from Ware, Hertfordshire, to East London), and it's
a modern Eden – think rabbits leaping about in the dragonfly reserve at Waltham
Abbey, and a whole host of ducks to feed by the river in the Harlow direction.
But as the name suggests, there's more to Waltham Abbey than wildlife – nobody
could fail to be impressed by the magnificent Abbey which dominates the town. Its
multicoloured walls were supposedly built by King Harold – he of battle of Hastings
fame – in return for being cured of a disease by a miraculous cross held at the
abbey. The cross has since disappeared, but Harold is apparently buried there. Waltham
Abbey was one of the top spots for medieval pilgrimage and it has its fair share of
visitors now, trundling about the acres of beautifully tended abbey grounds.
Fifteen minutes away from Waltham Abbey – make sure you take the staggeringly
beautiful road along the Crooked Mile, as the countryside around Nazeing could give
Tuscany a run for its money – lies one of Essex's best known towns. Much-maligned
Harlow may have the dubious accolade of housing the UK's first tower block, but look
beyond the velour tracksuits and you'll find it houses a magnificent collection of modern
art, including sculptures by Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth and Elizabeth Frink. If you're
really feeling the artistic vibe, there's a sculpture trail of 66 statues representing
such diverse figures as Buster Keaton, a runaway rotavator and a pair of legs.
Alternatively, there's a branch of just about every high street shop you might need; and
the new town planning means everywhere's in easy reach.
Clacton-on-Sea is Brighton with a nicer coast. Founded in 1871 as a resort, its
facilities range from arcades and the pier to an airfield. Its theatre is one of the few
remaining in the country to put on an old-style summer show, and it's the birthplace of
singer Sade. The fact that it used to house one of the oldest Butlins sites is simply the
icing on the cake.
If you're more attracted to tradition, head north to Saffron Walden – a beautiful
town that typifies the timber-framed buildings across Essex; or try Great Dunmow, which
combines old-style beauty with being on the doorstep of Stansted airport. There really is
more to Essex than meets the eye.
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