Weekend break in Essex: 48 hours breaking away from the crowds
The year of the Great British staycation really is in full swing as our next UK escape took us on a weekend break in Essex.
We’re quite well acquainted with this part of South East England as when we lived in East London, Essex was a great place to get our sea and nature fix. In fact for lots of Londoners, Essex is a beautiful place to escape the everyday and via train the journey is a lot closer than you think.
We recently teamed up with Visit Essex to embark on a fun 48 hours exploring, from cider and wine tasting to a secluded lakeside cabin, there was plenty of fun to be had and all less than 2 hours by car from London! If you have any preconceptions of what you think Essex is like, then after seeing our dreamy getaway it’s highly likely you’ll think about Essex in a very different way.
Day 1: Where to stay in Essex
Our 2 day British staycation began with checking in to the Kingfisher’s Rest; we have to say we were a little bit blown away with this secluded lakeside cabin as it really was beautiful.
Based on Teybrook Farm - a 5th generation organic family farm - the cabin is owned by Browning Bros. Created by two brothers their focus is to deliver unique experiences; from wild weddings and secret escapes such as this cabin, to glamping and team building events - time spent here is the perfect way to break away from the crowds and enjoy some downtime.
There was plenty of space for our car and it was dog friendly accommodation too, something we now hunt for since becoming puppy parents! FYI: there is an extra fee for four legged friends and you just need to give them a heads up if a furry mate is joining the staycation.
The facilities at Kingfisher’s Rest
Outside the cabin blended in with it’s landscape, the grooved wood and striking black windows just sat so naturally amongst the forest. There was also a BBQ, a picnic bench to enjoy food and drinks at and a hot tub which overlooks the lake. The cabin is so secluded you can only hear the sounds of trees swaying in the wind and ducks frolicking in the lake - it really is idyllic.
Main facilities include…
One bedroom with king-size bed
Bathtub overlooking the lake
Sofa bed and chair bed
Free WiFi
Open plan kitchen and living area, Smart TV included
Fully equipped kitchen with electric oven and hob, and fridge
Hot tub and sauna
Amenities: off-road parking, bed linen, towels, hair dryer and AC
We spent the evening sat on the decking with wine and nibbles enjoying the peace and quiet before making dinner and sitting in front of the fire ready to watch a film.
Whatever the season, this is a wonderfully romantic getaway, it has everything you need so just pack some good food and tasty wine and you won’t need to leave the comfort of this beautiful cabin in Essex nature.
Day 2: Fun activities to do in Essex
We woke from a wonderful night’s sleep to the sun shining and enjoyed croissants and coffee on the decking before heading out to our first activity.
We drove a mere 10 minutes down the road to Rayleigh Orchard, Tumblers Green in Braintree, Essex to experience something we have never done before… Cider tasting!
The Big Bear Cider Mill was born back in 2015 and is a thriving orchard with over 20 different varieties of trees. The sustainable cider is hand-crafted at the Rayleigh Orchard and the Big Bear Cider is made from 100% apple juice, is naturally vegan and naturally gluten free. There is absolutely no nasties - they don’t use pesticide and encourage birds, insects and wildlife to naturally propagate and protect the trees and apples.
We spent the late morning sipping on their famous Essex Gold cider, whilst nibbling on a mouthwatering cheese board and learning about the sustainable cider-making process and how the business was born.
We decided that it would make a great hen or stag do activity or just part of a fun weekend with friends - you can book a cider tasting and tour HERE.
Next up was yet another alcohol-related activity (fine by us!) as we drove a further 20 minutes into Halstead where we visited a modern, boutique vineyard named Tuffon Hall.
The vineyard is a family affair owned and run by Angus and Pod Crowther, here they produce deliciously elegant and award-winning wines of the highest standard, all farmed on 4th generation farmland.
They introduced vines and award-winning wines to the farm in 2011, which set new precedent to the farmland for many generations to come as well as gather a handful of accolades from the industry…
First up we enjoyed a tour of the vines - the weather was perfect so we strolled up and down the vineyards learning the processes and hearing all about how they went from farmland to vines! We then enjoyed a tasting of their famous white wine, Bacchus sat on the patio at their beautifully converted 16th century barn.
There were also a few other groups but not on wine tasting, they were planning their wedding… getting married in a UK vineyard and then dancing the night away in a barn, how cool is that!
Our 48 hours in Essex were a superb combination of relaxing and fun, the trip’s highlight had to be the accommodation; the beautiful snug at Teybrook Farm was the ideal getaway and yet again confirms that the great British countryside really is a glorious way to escape from the everyday.
If Essex has never been on your UK staycation list then it should be… for the perfect combination of modern living and village life plus contemporary art, historic treasures, coastal delights and beautiful countryside, then Essex really does have it all.
So if you’re thinking of booking a weekend break in Essex then head on over to Visit Essex and begin planning your exciting Essex escape today.
*PR trip collaboration with Visit Essex - all views and love for Essex are our own.