Essex; a Holiday to Suit All Tastes

(Sat Jul 17th, 2010, by Tim Capper)

Nature lovers will appreciate Epping Forest; this former Royal Forest provides 2,476 hectares of hiking among ancient trees, exploring grasslands and heaths, and investigating rivers, ponds and bogs. Architecture, historical sites and parks and gardens are more of the attractions that greet visitors in Essex.

Visit Audley End House and Gardens for a look at one of the most impressive Jacobean house in all of England. Audley House began as a Benedictine Monastery and then was granted to Sir Thomas Audley by Henry VII in 1538. The parkland was created by Capability Brown and often hosts open air concerts. It is divided by the River Cam and opens to a main road "which follows the route of a Roman Road". Explore the house beginning with the beautiful Great Hall. This has a Jacobean oak screen carved with masks and half figures which was used to hide the servants from the gentry. See the sea monsters and the dolphins on the ceiling of the saloon, magnificent ornamented fan vaulting in the private chapel and the State Bed, from the late 18th century, in one of the many featured bedrooms. Save some time to visit the gardens, the stables and the organic kitchen that is still used today. The Colchester Zoo, one of Europe's finest, will be a hit with children and adults alike. Set on sixty acres of parkland, the Colchester Zoo is home to more than 260 species and has several play areas as well as 2 road trains. Visit the UK's first baby white rhino born from artificial insemination at the Kingdom of the Wild, walk across to Spirit of Africa to see the elephants and see Tiger Taiga's Amur tigers. Trek through Orangutan Forest, Ussuri Falls for leopards and Playa Patagonia for sea lions. Travel from falcons to penguins to wallabies at the Colchester Zoo.

Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy trekking or bicycling through the rolling landscape that Essex offers. Travel country lanes, hidden paths and public footpaths passing rivers, streams and beautiful scenery. Essex has designed five cycling and five walking paths which allow visitors to see Essex close up. Explore salt marshes, a maritime harbour, oyster beds, vineyards, medieval markets, picturesque villages, cultural sites and riverside trails. Maps are available from the Essex Tourism Board. Essex hotales come in a wide variety and offer a medley of amenities to suit all tastes. Milsom Hotels offer several properties in and around Essex with amenities such as day spas, swimming pools, restaurants and tennis courts. Hotel rooms are stylishly decorated and feature, among other things, televisions, mini bars and WiFi. Enjoy the attractions that Essex has to offer during the day and come home to relax in comfort and luxury at night a Milsom Hotel.