Along the River Valley to Earls Colne

Is this the loveliest valley in all Essex? Judge for yourself as you follow the meandering River Colne and visit the delightful village of Earls Colne where the de Vere family, Earls of Oxford and one of the greatest families in English history, left their name. Here you will find a lovely view from the split-timber seating beside St Andrew's Church, with its tower visible for miles around; a nature reserve along a disused railway track, which has been cut back allowing wildlife to flourish, and the ancient woodlands of Chalkney Woods.

The Colne Valley Railway opened in 1860 and soon brought prosperity to the valley. Earls Colne, one of the stations on the line, was built by the Hunt family who developed the Atlas Works, which produced farming equipment until it closed in 1988. The line was used to import raw materials and to despatch the finished product, but since its closure in 1965 the track side vegetation has become a rich habitat for wildlife, with plenty of trees and shrubs providing heavy shade. As you walk along the disused track you will see evidence of coppicing which allows light to reach the ground, which in turn allows wildlife such as butterflies and other insects to proliferate.

Chalkney Wood dates back to 1605 when it was owned by the de Vere family. This walk takes you through the woods where conifers are gradually being replaced with traditional species to regenerate the woodland. You'll also see, near the kennels, an 18th-century watermill which last worked in the 1930s and is now a private residence. In the Alder Valley are the remains of conifer plantations established in the 1960s, but today the area supports more moss and liverworts than any other wood in East Anglia. You'll also pass close to the Wool Track, believed to be an ancient Roman road linking Colchester and Cambridge, and come across a prominent bank which enclosed the woods as a swine park where pigs would feed on acorns amongst the coppice.

Brickfields and Long Meadow Nature Reserve, bordered by woodland of oak, ash and hawthorn, has plenty of boggy areas and wet grassland. It is small, but has plenty of insect life. The ponds, surrounded by acacia and rhododendron, are home to newts, frogs and dragonflies. A major feature of the area is the anthills, which house huge colonies of yellow ants. Long Meadow, used for grazing, is free of fertilisers and pesticides, and as a result supports plenty of wildlife and a variety of grasses such as yarrow and birds trefoil. Near by you should also find a rare surviving elm tree.

Where to eat and drink

A good selection of eateries can be found in the High Street. Choose from the Colne Valley Tandoori restaurant which serves an 'eat-as-much-as-you-like' buffet on Sunday evenings or relax with your tired dog in the garden of the Castle pub. In Colneford Road you can enjoy a meal and drink at the Platypus Creek restaurant by the River Colne.

What to look for

The de Veres were great crusaders and were associated with a legendary silver star which was won outside the walls of Antioch on their first crusade. The family left their mark in the form of a star on buildings in this area of Essex, leaving no one in any doubt as to who owned and constructed them. One of these buildings is the unique star-studded tower of St Andrew's Church.

While you're there

If you're driving, head up to the East Anglian Railway Museum at Chappel Station to view a fine collection of goods and passenger rolling stock. Railway enthusiasts and children alike will love the interactive signal boxes and video displays in this working museum which covers a century of railway engineering in East Anglia.