Jane’s guidebook
Local Places to Visit
Steeped in history .... worth a visit. Does have a cafe but not always open, check web site. Not huge grounds but building is fabulous.
Layer Marney
Steeped in history .... worth a visit. Does have a cafe but not always open, check web site. Not huge grounds but building is fabulous.
Famous Tiptree Jam and its factory and museum are only 5 miles away. Fabulous cafe, offering gorgeous afternoon teas and shop.
Other Wilkins Tea Rooms dotted abou ...
18 locals recommend
Tiptree Tea Room, Museum and Jam Shop
Factory HillFamous Tiptree Jam and its factory and museum are only 5 miles away. Fabulous cafe, offering gorgeous afternoon teas and shop.
Other Wilkins Tea Rooms dotted abou ...
A renowned and highly rated garden centre. With s vast range of plants and garden related items. Gifts, books, clothes, pictures etc usual items expected. Cafe. Very wheelchair friendly. Toilets and a huge car park.
Sadly .... the downside is ... you usually end up buying lots!!!!
8 locals recommend
Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree
A renowned and highly rated garden centre. With s vast range of plants and garden related items. Gifts, books, clothes, pictures etc usual items expected. Cafe. Very wheelchair friendly. Toilets and a huge car park.
Sadly .... the downside is ... you usually end up buying lots!!!!
Wonderful visitors information centre with cafe. Seating overlooks small area of water for enjoying visting birds. Binoculars available to use and buy. Shop. Lovely walks with bird hides around huge reservoir. Wheelchair friendly.
14 locals recommend
Abberton Reservoir
Wonderful visitors information centre with cafe. Seating overlooks small area of water for enjoying visting birds. Binoculars available to use and buy. Shop. Lovely walks with bird hides around huge reservoir. Wheelchair friendly.
Perfect for country walks, picnics and finding out about John Constable and to see the actual spot of "The Haywain" (original held in The National Gallery) Cafe by the river Stour with rowing boats to hire or boat trips. Gift shop. Dedham village is pretty too with cafes and a few shops.
Milsoms restaurant.... perfect location on the river ... to end your day in Cobstable Country.
19 locals recommend
Flatford and Constable Country
Perfect for country walks, picnics and finding out about John Constable and to see the actual spot of "The Haywain" (original held in The National Gallery) Cafe by the river Stour with rowing boats to hire or boat trips. Gift shop. Dedham village is pretty too with cafes and a few shops.
Milsoms restaurant.... perfect location on the river ... to end your day in Cobstable Country.
Lovely small historic town. Interesting shops and many places to eat or just have a coffee. Worth taking a walk down to the Quay to see the famous Maldon Barges and sit and watch the world go by.
The Barge tea room is a great cafe .. it is an original barge which has been beautifully converted ... serving breakfasts to afternoon teas!!!
27 locals recommend
Maldon
Lovely small historic town. Interesting shops and many places to eat or just have a coffee. Worth taking a walk down to the Quay to see the famous Maldon Barges and sit and watch the world go by.
The Barge tea room is a great cafe .. it is an original barge which has been beautifully converted ... serving breakfasts to afternoon teas!!!
Enjoy a morning or afternoon or all day cruise on board a beautiful Maldon Barge .... a must do!!
7 locals recommend
Topsail Charters Ltd
The HytheEnjoy a morning or afternoon or all day cruise on board a beautiful Maldon Barge .... a must do!!
Ancient barns of huge architectural intetest. Lovely grounds (not overly large). Wilkins Jam Cafė there too.
8 locals recommend
Cressing Temple Barns
Witham RoadAncient barns of huge architectural intetest. Lovely grounds (not overly large). Wilkins Jam Cafė there too.
A pretty small town with a good selection of shops. Punctuated with cafes and eateries. Maldon Quay is worth visiting too with places to eat and drink while watching the world go by. Also take a trip on a beautful barge ... and enjoy the Blackwater.
27 locals recommend
Maldon
A pretty small town with a good selection of shops. Punctuated with cafes and eateries. Maldon Quay is worth visiting too with places to eat and drink while watching the world go by. Also take a trip on a beautful barge ... and enjoy the Blackwater.
Mersea Island ... has a West and East area that is so different. West offers cafes, shops, restaurants, famous Fish Bars, beach huts ... East is more rural with Cudmore Grove giving a space to park easily and walk to the sea. There are two cafes, a Vineyard and camp sites. Both need to be enjoyed.
41 locals recommend
Mersea Island
Mersea Island ... has a West and East area that is so different. West offers cafes, shops, restaurants, famous Fish Bars, beach huts ... East is more rural with Cudmore Grove giving a space to park easily and walk to the sea. There are two cafes, a Vineyard and camp sites. Both need to be enjoyed.
The View (a Wilkins Jam cafè) has a stunning location ..... sitting on the sea/Blackwater Estuary edge .... whether tide is in or out loads to just sit, watch and relax. AND of course enjoy fabulous food. Ranging breakfasts to afternoon tea. NB ... if you fancy the full blown afternoon tea experience they need 24hrs notice!! .... but worth it, you can bring home what you can't eat too!!
Osea View Café Bar
Goldhanger RoadThe View (a Wilkins Jam cafè) has a stunning location ..... sitting on the sea/Blackwater Estuary edge .... whether tide is in or out loads to just sit, watch and relax. AND of course enjoy fabulous food. Ranging breakfasts to afternoon tea. NB ... if you fancy the full blown afternoon tea experience they need 24hrs notice!! .... but worth it, you can bring home what you can't eat too!!
Gardens
RHS Garden Hyde Hall
Creephedge LaneBeautiful gardens, plants for sale, restaurant and shop.
Beth Chatto's Plants & Gardens
Clacton RoadFood Scene
This is a lovely restaurant and it has a fabulous reputation locally. Not the cheapest but what is on offer makes it rather special.
9 locals recommend
Blue Strawberry Bistrot
The StreetThis is a lovely restaurant and it has a fabulous reputation locally. Not the cheapest but what is on offer makes it rather special.
Our local!!! .. please do try The Swan, Phil, landlord, will make you welcome whether its for a glass of wine or a meal. Good menu for lunches and evenings .. but do check before as not sure if food available every night.
Phil has worked hard to make everything "covid friendly" .... lovely big garden at the back as well as the one in the front.
Often has pub quiz, live music, Morris Dancers and "foody nights"
The Swan
School RoadOur local!!! .. please do try The Swan, Phil, landlord, will make you welcome whether its for a glass of wine or a meal. Good menu for lunches and evenings .. but do check before as not sure if food available every night.
Phil has worked hard to make everything "covid friendly" .... lovely big garden at the back as well as the one in the front.
Often has pub quiz, live music, Morris Dancers and "foody nights"
Food Scene
If you like Turkish food ... this is a must. Fairly new to Maldon but making an impact ...... reasonably priced too.
As the restaurant is in the High Street .... you could take a stroll to the sea and "watch the world go by"
7 locals recommend
SARK RESTAURANT
102 High StreetIf you like Turkish food ... this is a must. Fairly new to Maldon but making an impact ...... reasonably priced too.
As the restaurant is in the High Street .... you could take a stroll to the sea and "watch the world go by"
Sightseeing
Not been here for a couple of years but ... steeped in history .. and if thats your "thing" it very good. Museum is full if interesting facts.
Colchester is an extremely old town with much history. First recorded Roman town, I believe. Sadly much tarnished now with modern all glass shop fronts ..... but look up. The architecture is fantastic. Elde Lane is a very old street ... worth finding.
See if you can find the Trinity Tea Rooms too ... once the home of Queen Elizabeth's 1st "physician"
Many carparks, eateries, shops, galleries, etc
80 locals recommend
The Castle Museum
Castle ParkNot been here for a couple of years but ... steeped in history .. and if thats your "thing" it very good. Museum is full if interesting facts.
Colchester is an extremely old town with much history. First recorded Roman town, I believe. Sadly much tarnished now with modern all glass shop fronts ..... but look up. The architecture is fantastic. Elde Lane is a very old street ... worth finding.
See if you can find the Trinity Tea Rooms too ... once the home of Queen Elizabeth's 1st "physician"
Many carparks, eateries, shops, galleries, etc
Traveler advice
What to pack
Bring suitable walking shoes lots of lovely walks.
Several short walks from Little Chilterns.
What to pack
Mersea and Constable Country
Bring paints, sketch book and Camera!!! Binoculars for birdwatching ... especially on the Blackwater Estuary.