Shortgrove Park

The Essex countryside around Saffron Walden doesn't announce itself loudly, but Shortgrove Park is worth stopping for if you're exploring the area. It's a working nature reserve that gives you a proper sense of what the landscape looks like when it's left to do its thing - woodland, open grassland, the kind of place where you actually notice birdsong because there's not much else competing for your attention.

You're looking at a mix of habitats here. There are woodland paths that wind through older trees, and if you time it right, you'll catch glimpses of the species the reserve was set up to protect. It's not a manicured park with signposted loops and a visitor centre - it's more intimate than that. Walkers and nature enthusiasts will get the most from it. If your kids are the type who like hunting for wildlife rather than following a theme, they'll be engaged. If they need a playground and an ice cream van, look elsewhere.

The reserve works well as a break in a longer Essex ramble, especially if you're based at one of the nearby glamping spots like Hidden Gem or Dairymeade Farm. Both are within easy reach and excellent for a relaxing base - particularly if you want something more comfortable than a standard campsite. Allow a couple of hours if you want to actually explore the paths rather than just poking around for twenty minutes.

It's a proper Essex secret, honestly. Not flashy, but if you care about woods and wildlife, well worth the detour from Saffron Walden.