This is a challenge guys :) Essex

[hethmar]

OH and I have a couple of nights in March that we would like to check out the Essex coast - dont know why! but now and then you see pretty Essex villages on tv and think there must be places worth visiting.

NOT Southend or the big towns, thanks There must be some hidden gems down there near sea and open country and places to take our dogs for a mooch.

Any suggestions please if you know the Essex coast.

[hethmar]

Oh, no one has a suggestion?

Does anyone know what Maldon is like please

[shykins]

Maldon is nice. has long high street, the promenade park with its thames barges and long river walks.

if you go to maldon you are within reach of burnham on crouch and the dengie marshes. burnham is a smaller version of maldon with LOTS of countryside. the dengie is remote but lovely, mind you i am biased lol

hope that helps. google for more info and pics. or ask here

[joerugby]

Burnham is nice. Try the White Hart

[nickj]

you're right , it is a challenge , as the others have said burnham is fine as is maldon , mersea island is nice and so is jaywick , however as an essex man , i prefer suffolk - yuou've got aldebrough and southwold , woodbridge ,orford warblerswick etc which are much nicer than the essex coast

[hethmar]

Yes, we visit those quite a lot - we just thought it was time we saw if Essex had anywhere interesting to stay. Im sure it must have

[newgirly]

Sorry but I have to but in and comment- I would avoid jaywick as I've driven through it and it looks like a war zone.

[Tuesday Tenor]

I once stayed for a week in Manningtree as a base for exploring the Stour Valley, Constable Country etc.
http://www.visit-manningtree.co.uk/

As a small town it has plenty of shops and eating places, but is also easy to explore from:
-- By car - easy to get to beach places like Frinton, Walton; historic places like Colchester, the old port area of Harwich, and the old cloth-making villages of South Suffolk (Lavenham etc.).
-- On foot (we walked to Flatford Mill 5 miles along the Essex Way [?forget exact name] and got taxi back. Had hoped to get bus, but only ran at height of summer! Also nice walks in other directions.
-- By train, as on rail line.

The place we stayed at doesn't seem to still be available - can't find it online. Probably too small for dogs (plural!) anyway.

There are probably prettier places, but we found Manningtree very convenient. Worth considering ....

[Tuesday Tenor]

1) Actually, Flatford Mill was much closer than 5 miles. I remember now, we went further on to Dedham (as that, supposedly, was where to catch the bus back!).

2) As someone else stated, South Suffolk is probably prettier, and there seem to be more cottages available than in Essex..

This one is further inland than you originally wanted (Rattlesden) but does short breaks. Good reviews from dog-owners. Oddly, it says pets 0, which is why I struggled to find it a second time! You'd have to check they still welcome pets. Plenty of others on the same site, though not all will do short breaks.

http://www.cottages4you.co.uk/cottag...-cottage-25023

[jack_pott]

You're right it's a bit of a challenge, Essex is not exactly the premier tourist destination. As a local I try to get out where it's less flat, but there are some nice spots.

Maldon and Burnahm are attractive, if you're visiting Maldon it's worth going round the other side of the estuary to Heybridge Basin. There are a couple of pubs by an attractive lock where the canal joins the river.

If you like to walk, the sea wall is about the only place in Essex you can go any distance without crossing roads or being tramelled between fields of crops. You can do a circuit of Mersea on the seawall (~12m), and it's all walkable between Fambridge and Salcott. St Peters on the Wall at Bradwell is one of the oldest churches in Britain. Harwich is not particularly pretty, but it has the Redoubt, the Treadwheel Crane, a radio & TV museum, and the Electric Palace. Without wishing to be uncharitable, Jaywick holds the distiction of being one of the most economically depressed areas in the country.

If you're travelling any distance to get here, it might be worth venturing inland too. Finchingfield is picturesque, as are Coggeshall and Thaxted, with lots of timbered buildings. There are windmills at Braintree, Finchingfield and Thaxted, and Castles at Colchester and Hedingham. Saffron Walden is attractive, with Audley End nearby.

The towpath between Maldon and Chelmsford is a pleasant walk, especially by Paper Mill Lock. Just up the hill from the Lock there's a nice village and Country Park at Danbury. At Kelvedon Hatch there's an old cold war nuclear attack bunker which is now open to the public.

Not in March, but Maldon is worth a visit to see the Blackwater Sailing Barge Match, it's on June 1st next year. It starts and finishes by the pier on Osea Island, so if you want to see them under sail you will need a vantage point out on the seawall somewhere (or on a boat), but you can watch them returning to the quay afterwards from the prom in the park. The quayside is be teeming with barges during match weekend.

[Turkishdreamer]

Originally Posted by jack_pott

You're right it's a bit of a challenge, Essex is not exactly the premier tourist destination. As a local I try to get out where it's less flat, but there are some nice spots.

Maldon and Burnahm are attractive, if you're visiting Maldon it's worth going round the other side of the estuary to Heybridge Basin. There are a couple of pubs by an attractive lock where the canal joins the river.

If you like to walk, the sea wall is about the only place in Essex you can go any distance without crossing roads or being tramelled between fields of crops. You can do a circuit of Mersea on the seawall (~12m), and it's all walkable between Fambridge and Salcott. St Peters on the Wall at Bradwell is one of the oldest churches in Britain. Harwich is not particularly pretty, but it has the Redoubt, the Treadwheel Crane, a radio & TV museum, and the Electric Palace. Without wishing to be uncharitable, Jaywick holds the distiction of being one of the most economically depressed areas in the country.

If you're travelling any distance to get here, it might be worth venturing inland too. Finchingfield is picturesque, as are Coggeshall and Thaxted, with lots of timbered buildings. There are windmills at Braintree, Finchingfield and Thaxted, and Castles at Colchester and Hedingham. Saffron Walden is attractive, with Audley End nearby.

The towpath between Maldon and Chelmsford is a pleasant walk, especially by Paper Mill Lock. Just up the hill from the Lock there's a nice village and Country Park at Danbury. At Kelvedon Hatch there's an old cold war nuclear attack bunker which is now open to the public.

.

Being an 'Essex Girl', I have to agree with the above and add the following - A visit to Tiptree should be included, The Wilkins Jam Factory hosts a fab Tearoom, Shop and free entry to the Museum. If then heading through to Colchester go via Layer Marney Tower.

[flea72]

Mersea island is great for dog walking. Would avoid clacton, Walton, jaywick areas as already advised. Maldon, burnham, heybridge also have nice places that are dog friendly.

[sunshinetours]

Don't dismiss Southend either - for those who haven't been recently the seafront and "Golden mile" have been done up a lot. Some great places to eat and wander or cycle along on the cycle path

Not everyone looks like a TOWIE extra innit....

Saying all that I love north Essex and south Suffolk area and plenty of ideas above

If travelling down/up the A12 to get there do stop off at the Food Company near Marks Tey for a special picnic lunch. Outside F&M you will struggle to find a better selection of higher end food products