Punt, climb, dive and swing
Head to Cambridge to punt on the River Cam and climb the tower at St. Mary’s. For the golfer, Saffron Walden boasts a truly marvelous Golf Course as does Gog Magog in Cambridge. Visit Europe’s largest Imperial War Museum at Duxford. Kids can meet the lemurs and lions at Linton Zoo, or visit the Steam Engines at Colne Valley Railway or dive deep at the medieval Royston Cave.
Country kids
Meet the snow leopards, lemurs and lions at Linton Zoo. Steam along the Colne Valley Railway with its fully reconstructed station, signal box and railway yard. Enjoy a day at Audley End House by bribing the kids with the mini-steam train. Or catch a flick at cinemas at Cambridge, Saffron Walden and Haverhill.
Find ancient rare-breed pigs, working horses and goats at Wimpole Home Farm. Or meet more than 200 animals, including sheep, goats, ducks, chickens, and pigs at Daisy May’s, both a rescue centre and working farm. Decorate your own pots at Glazed Creations. Or burn off some energy at the Spotted Giraffe play centre.
Ancient colleges and churches might be off young ones’ radars, but a self-guided Cambridge Treasure Hunt Trail could be just the thing. Follow the clues set from information found on plaques, signs and buildings. Or visit the largest-known privately owned toy museum in Europe at The House on the Hill.
Walk the East Town Countryside Park and watch out for lizards, or experience the feel of a medieval hunting trip at Hatfield Forest, where ancient trees stand like giant living sculptures. Or dive deep into the 13th century at Royston Cave, a man-made cavern in the shape of a beehive with an extensive range of medieval wall carvings.
For the grown ups
Let’s start with Cambridge. Cambridge? We’re in Essex, right? True, but due to the quirk of the county borders, a punt on the Cam is just half an hour away. That and a picnic on the Backs, a tour of the Fitzwilliam Museum or King’s College Chapel, a walk over the Mathematical Bridge and a climb to the tower at St Mary’s Church.
Stay in Cambridge to rid the skies of pesky clay pigeons at Westside Farm or Long Acres. Or shoot for the pin at Cambridge Lakes or Gog Magog. Stay nearer home and play one of the finest parkland courses in the country at Saffron Walden. Or fish for tench, roach and carp at Rum Bridge.
Hire bikes from Newdales and ride the gently rolling landscape or head back to Cambridge to rent from City Cycle Hire. Switch to four legs and ride horses from Hallingbury Hall. Or stick to Shanks’ pony and walk the Dick Turpin Way from the door. Up the ante with Go Ape and paintballing at Thetford Forest, or kayaking at Lee Valley.
See Europe’s largest air museum at Duxford War Museum. Bring Victorian stories to life at Audley End House. Sample award-winning wines at Chilford Hall or small-batch crafted beers at Wylde Sky at Linton. Back a nag at Newmarket or see the trials at Horseheath. Missing the bright lights? London’s just an hour away.
