Tiptree Walks
This large village is located near Colchester in Essex. This walk explores the Tiptree Heath Nature Reserve before heading to the woodland and countryside to the east of the settlement.
The walk starts from the car park at Tiptree Heath. There's some nice footpaths across the heath with interesting flora and fauna to look out for on the way. After exploring the heath you head north east to Tiptree Quarry before passing through the town. The route then heads to the Rampart, a scheduled ancient monument with some unusual gnarled trees. Around here you can also pick up some woodland trails through the adjacent Pods Wood.
The village includes a small park at Grove Road Lake, just to the north of the centre, off Church Road. It's a pretty place for a short stroll in the area.
Postcode
CO5 0PT - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsTiptree Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Tiptree Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Tiptree OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Tiptree Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Walks near Tiptree
- Colchester - A circular riverside walk around the centre of Colchester, visiting Colchester Castle and the River Colne
- Abberton Reservoir - This is a circular cycle ride on the quiet roads and country lanes surrounding this large reservoir near Colchester, Essex
- Goldhanger - This Essex based village has some lovely river and country trails to try
- Blackwater Estuary - Enjoy a walk along the lovely Blackwater Estuary from Maldon to Tollesbury
- Maldon - This pretty Essex town has a series of delightful waterside footpaths to try
- Witham River Walk - This nice waterside stroll follows the River Brain through the Essex town of Witham
- Mersea Island - Explore the coastline of the most easterly inhabited island in the United Kingdom island on this circular walk near Colchester
- High Woods Country Park - This country park in Colchester includes woodland, open spaces, ponds, a lake and wildflower meadows
- Terling - This pretty Essex village has many picturesque features including a ford on the River Ter, an old windmill, a cricket pitch and cottages around Church Green.
- Ardleigh Reservoir - This reservoir near Colchester has a nice country lane running along its northern side
- Wickham Bishops - This Essex based village includes some pleasant river trails, an unusual old wooden railway viaduct and a noteworthy ancient church.
Pubs/Cafes
The Ship Inn is a good choice for some post walk refreshment. They serve good quality food which you can enjoy in the lovely conservatory area or the pretty garden. You can find them at 152 Maldon Rd, TCO5 0PQ.
Dog Walking
The heath is a lovely place for dog walking so you'll probably see other owners on your visit. The woods at the eastern end of the route are also ideal for dog walking. The Ship mentioned above is dog friendly too.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
A few miles to the east you'll find the expansive Abberton Reservoir. The reservoir is excellent for bird watching with thousands of wildlfowl to look out for on the water. Near here you'll also find Mersea Island. The round the island circular walk visits a number of nice beaches and the pretty Cudmore Grove Country Park.
On the northern side of Colchester there's High Woods Country Park. There's some pleasant cycling and walking trails with a lake, woodland trails and a visitor centre as well.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Essex Walks page.
Photos
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West End Road, Tiptree Heath
This is Tiptree Heath is an SSSI and registered common when the photo was taken it was managed by Tiptree Parish Council. Now management has passed to Essex Wildlife Trust and the Friends of Tiptree Heath. It is an important wildlife area for both plants and animals. The 25-hectare heath is the largest surviving fragment of heathland in Essex and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Noteable flora found on the heath include Cross-leaved Heather (Erica tetralix), Bell Heather (Erica cinerea) and Ling or Common Heather (Calluna). To help maintain the heath, Dexter cattle are grazed there during the summer and a herd of 8 hardy Exmoor ponies throughout the year.
Messing Maypole Mill, a Grade II* listed tower mill, and the preserves company Wilkin & Sons, whose products use the village name as part of their brand, are located in the village.
Beech tree roots at The Ramparts. These are enough to make one believe in hobbit traps. The ancient ditch is a scheduled monument worth visiting for its secretive atmosphere. Apart from legendary associations with Boudica's defeat by the Romans, I have not discovered much factual detail about the site on the internet.
Track to The Rampart east of Pods Wood
In Pods Wood. There are more conifers towards the eastern side of the wood, here seen growing from a woodland floor dominated by bracken.
War memorial and police station. On the corner of Church Road (B1023) and Chapel Road.
Small park at Grove Lake, Tiptree