Walking in February 2015

February has been quite chilly but I still found a fair bit of blue sky while out walking in Essex mostly.

Turvey, Bedfordshire

14th century wall painting

Turvey may be on the border with Buckinghamshire but it is in the heart of Midsomer. I was half expecting to stumble on a film crew as it is very picturesque village.

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Chipping Ongar, Essex

Log Church, Greensted

Chipping Ongar is a small market town about 20 minutes drive from the Harlow turnoff on the M11. Parking by the library in free at weekends and there are cafes and toilets nearby. The Millennium walk highlights its historic interesting building and the wonderful Log Church at Greensted is about 20 minutes walk along the Essex Way.
Other attractions include the Epping Ongar railway and the Secret Nuclear Bunker.
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Colchester, Essex

Colchester Castle

Colchester is allegedly the oldest town in Britain and home of Essex's most popular tourist attraction (Colchester Castle). Camulodunum was the capital of Roman Britain and the town abounds with Roman remains. The castle keep is the largest in Britain, very well preserved and contains a lot of recycled Roman masonry. This walk links the town and country parks, both excellent in their different ways. Lots of things to see and do, museums, art galleries, old buildings, historic port area and zoo.

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City of London

Photos from a short circular walk from Blackfriars Station on a cold, sunny Sunday afternoon.

Mersea Island, Essex

Beach huts on Mersea Island

Mersea Island is an Essex holiday playground about 10 miles south east of Colchester. It's a rather old fashioned place with beach huts and caravan sites and not a lot to do except enjoy the beach. It's good for walking with a footpath running around the whole coastline. Cudmore Grove Country Park is at the east end of the island, good for picnics, bird watching and beach walks. West Mersea is famous for sea food, you can enjoy oysters at the Company Shed.

Great Bardfield and Finchingfield, Essex

Finchingfield

Great Bardfield and Finchingfield are two delightful villages in North Essex a couple of miles apart. Finchingfield is the best known and featured in last years Tour de France. Both have pubs, restaurants and cafes and make excellent stops for tea and a wander.
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RSPB Sandy, Bedfordshire

The Swiss Chalet, Gatehouse of the Lodge

The Lodge at Sandy in Bedfordshire is the headquarters of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Apparently the house was going cheap in 1961 and they bought it for a song. There are nature trails through heath and woodlands on the Greensand Ridge. The Lodge itself has a fine formal garden and one of the largest Redwood trees in Bedfordshire.

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