Top of the World in Essex

Carol and Correne from the Visit Essex Team, are visiting some of Essex’s tallest places in the county throughout 2017. 'Top of the World' in Essex will showcase a different destination each month and capture images of our beautiful coastline, countryside, towns and villages from 'on high' - challenging perceptions of our wonderful county.

See below the destinations and attractions visited so far.

In Saffron Walden we were privileged to be able to climb up to the top of St Mary’s Church – the largest in Essex. The views were amazing over the surrounding town and countryside, including the Golf Course! Granted a charter in 1141, Saffron Walden’s local market can still be found in the town square on a Tuesday and Saturday, and is well worth a visit.

A sunny day at Southend-on-Sea provided us with magnificent views over the Thames estuary, beaches and Lagoon, where we stood at the very top of the Cliff's Pavilion (see pic with flagpole!). And also from the top of the Park Inn Palace Hotel, with stunning views over Southend pier (the longest pleasure pier in the World at 1.3 miles) and Adventure Island fun park. Wonderful!

In the Braintree district we visited Hedingham Castle – again magnificent views from the top of the Castle despite the rain! Hedingham is a fantastic example of a Norman Keep. The closest town is Halstead ideal for a spot of shopping, and we found a lovely little coffee shop called The Little Book Café.

Our first stop on the Essex Sunshine Coast was to the top of the Naze Tower which afforded stunning views over our wonderful coastline and the backwaters of Walton-on-the-Naze (despite the fact it wasn’t a perfectly clear day due to the cold and misty weather!). Enjoy the amazing paintings by local artists as you ascend and descend - great coffee and cake too once you're down!

Clacton Pier is celebrating 140 years this year, and so we decided to make a trip to the top of the Helter Skelter! Again stunning views of the new sea defence, beaches and coastline up to Holland-on-Sea to the East and Jaywick and the Martello towers to the West.

Amazing what you can see from the top of Brentwood Town Hall - the whole outline of the City of London, plus the Shard and Canary Wharf!  Brentwood is actually only 27 miles away from the City (Liverpool Street), which makes it very accessible from/to Essex.  Ingatestone Hall, a 15th century Tudor mansion house set in a beautiful rural landscape, was built by the Petre family and is still owned and lived in by its  decendants today - we were privaleged to be able to go to the very top!   (Credit images Susie Scofield).

We do hope you will enjoy some of the images taken (we have more if you’d like to see them!), and if you have any images from high vantage points in Essex, please do share them with us using @VisitEssex #TOTWEssex on social media - thank you. 

Next stop - Maldon!