Best drives in Essex?

[Haltamer]

To take some inspiration from the Kentish thread; What about roads north of the river?

Personally, I'm in Rainham, so access to the A13 & M25 Is good - Does anyone have reccomendations on good areas within reasonable reach - I'm happy for it to be a daylong, or afternoon long affair!

I've found that there is some nice driving to be had on the Bradwell peninsula, and around hanningfield, but this area is all rather contained by residential areas, villages et al - I think I could perhaps profit by going slightly further North?

All routes considered

[Jaguar steve]

You need to get north of the A120 and out of the Essex Badlands. It's a whole different world up here to the rest of the county.

Harwich - Manningtree - Dedham - Boxtead - Bures - Sudbury.

Sudbury - Great Yeldham - Finchingfield - Great Bardfield - Stebbing - Great Dunmow - Thaxtead.

In Suffolk.

Clare - Cavendish - Long Melford.

Ipswich - Shotley - Manningtree.

All the Suffolk ANOB coast and lanes between Felixstowe and Southwold

Loads of engaging roads and pretty villages just north of Braintree and around the Belchamps too.

[DS129]

I'll second that ( I live in North Essex ).
Try Halstead to Sudbury,A131 or Haverhill to Bury St Eds A143 with a good café near Stradishall. Any of the roads in and out of Finchingfield.
Take it easy through villages, let's not spoil it.

[Haltamer]

I'll have to go and have a look around tommorow, Thanks for the tips.

Certainly agree Re. pace through the villages; It only serves to get additional enforcment / extended speed limits - Not that that seems to stop the 40 everywhere brigade

[StevieBee]

The drive out to Bradwell on Sea isn't too shabby. Head for the Power Station and there's a road that forms part of the old WW2 airfield that's accessible.

Then head down to Burnham and back via the Burnham Bends.

[Haltamer]

Quite enjoy traipsing around the old taxiways - It's a decent night-sky spot, too (As good as can be found this close to London), as aside the glow from the nuclear power station, it's mostly pitch black.

[TCEvo]

StevieBee said:

The drive out to Bradwell on Sea isn't too shabby. Head for the Power Station and there's a road that forms part of the old WW2 airfield that's accessible.

Then head down to Burnham and back via the Burnham Bends.

Pausing for a photo with the mossie of course.

[roscobbc]

If you're in Rainham a simple run for you would be Gallows Corner - Straight Road - Havering Atte Bower - Lambourne End - Chipping Ongar then road to Great Dunmow - Thaxted (perhaps stopping off at P & A Wood) - then Saffron Walden.

[Haltamer]

roscobbc said:

If you're in Rainham a simple run for you would be Gallows Corner - Straight Road - Havering Atte Bower - Lambourne End - Chipping Ongar then road to Great Dunmow - Thaxted (perhaps stopping off at P & A Wood) - then Saffron Walden.

That's a bit of a wildcard; I usually opt for east - away from London / civilisation ASAP!

I'll have to have a run up at some point.

[rubystone]

Haltamer said:

That's a bit of a wildcard; I usually opt for east - away from London / civilisation ASAP!

I'll have to have a run up at some point.

Right thing to do. Try that route on a weekend and you’ll not get above 40 on national speed limits...A414 solid, even the 1060 can be slow.

Check out the B1057. Drive that in both directions all day - 30 through Cornish Hall End...but don’t tell anyone I told you about it, ok....

[roscobbc]

roscobbc said:

If you're in Rainham a simple run for you would be Gallows Corner - Straight Road - Havering Atte Bower - Lambourne End - Chipping Ongar then road to Great Dunmow - Thaxted (perhaps stopping off at P & A Wood) - then Saffron Walden.

Read as B175 thru' to B184 takes you from north of Romford right through to Saffron Walden - for return journey head towards Haverhill then Steeple Bumpstead and link up with other road suggested.

[Haltamer]

rubystone said:

Check out the B1057. Drive that in both directions all day - 30 through Cornish Hall End...but don’t tell anyone I told you about it, ok....

I've had a quick look on google maps; I'll see you as soon as I next have time to go for a drive

How's the Horse & Groom? The carvery looks decent

[DS129]

Horse & Groom really good, well worth a visit.

[Paul 8v]

Haltamer said:

Quite enjoy traipsing around the old taxiways - It's a decent night-sky spot, too (As good as can be found this close to London), as aside the glow from the nuclear power station, it's mostly pitch black.

How much of the old airfield can you get around now? My mates and I used to drive around there when we were younger but it got blocked off I seem to remember?

[rix]

I'm just south of Stansted, and know the 1060 well which has a reasonable flow but broken up with lots of 30s and 40s. Have very little knowledge of the roads north of the A120, but have a trip up to colchester at the weekend. Any decent alternatives to the standard a120/a12 combo?!

[Haltamer]

Paul 8v said:

How much of the old airfield can you get around now? My mates and I used to drive around there when we were younger but it got blocked off I seem to remember?

Red line shows the areas that are blocked / private going from the memorial - I haven't been too far up the road towards the power station, as having been there once at night and twice in the day, all with other people I'd rather not get flagged as a possible nuclear terrorist

[Haltamer]

rix said:

I'm just south of Stansted, and know the 1060 well which has a reasonable flow but broken up with lots of 30s and 40s. Have very little knowledge of the roads north of the A120, but have a trip up to colchester at the weekend. Any decent alternatives to the standard a120/a12 combo?!

What about the B184? Nice overtaking straight, just looking at the map

[Paul 8v]

Haltamer said:

Paul 8v said:

How much of the old airfield can you get around now? My mates and I used to drive around there when we were younger but it got blocked off I seem to remember?

Red line shows the areas that are blocked / private going from the memorial - I haven't been too far up the road towards the power station, as having been there once at night and twice in the day, all with other people I'd rather not get flagged as a possible nuclear terrorist

Ah thanks for that. I'll have to have a look, I sometimes take the kids up to the beach near St Peters on the wall (as it's about the quietest beach you'll find) so I'll have a look next time we go. I thought it was totally blocked so I'm glad you can still get to some of it. We used to go on the main runway section and muck about in a grotty old Nova, that was about 18 years ago. I imagine it's rusted to pieces now :-D

[Haltamer]

Looking at streetview https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.7337793,0.897494...
It would seem that the runway is still open; Anyone for a dragrace?

[Paul 8v]

Haltamer said:

Looking at streetview https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.7337793,0.897494...
It would seem that the runway is still open; Anyone for a dragrace?

I seem to remember it was quite dilapidated, maybe a drag race in a defender :-D