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Pleshey Castle and town enclosure

12 ha

📷 PAUL FARMER · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

BirdsAncientHeritage
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome12 ha

Getting here

51.80463, 0.41356

Open directionsv
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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

▾
  • 🐦89+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Chaffinch and Blue Tit
  • ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
  • 🛝Playground 160m away — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site

Best for

14 activities

Bird watching

Very strong match

Free

Birds — Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Wren +86 more · last seen 2025; Ancient woodland — owls, woodpeckers, warblers

Ancient woodland

Very strong match

Free

Ancient woodland — continuous woodland since before 1600

Heritage

Very strong match

Free

Grade I listed building: PLESHEY CASTLE BRIDGE; Historic site with public access

Wildlife

Strong match

Free

Birds — Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Wren +86 more · last seen 2025; Deciduous woodland priority habitat

Bluebell walks

Strong match

Free

Ancient woodland — native bluebell habitat

Insect spotting

Strong match

Free

Insects — Meadow Brown, 7-spot Ladybird, Large White +48 more · last seen 2025; Traditional orchard — specialist orchard insects and lichens

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

▾

2 signed routes nearby · 30 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Centenary CircleWalking route34 km▾
Named routeLength 34 kmRound tripRegional walking route
Essex Way (Epping to Stratford St Mary)Walking route▾
Named routeRegional walking route
Butterfly Pathpublic footpath · 324 m▾
Public pathpublic footpathLength 324 mSurface pavedPath type: service
Butterfly Pathpublic footpath · 177 m▾
Public pathpublic footpathLength 177 mSurface pavedPath type: service
Pleshey FP35public footpath · 574 m▾
Public pathpublic footpathLength 574 mPath type: footway
🚴

Cycling

▾

12 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Regional Route 50Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 50Regional cycle route
Great Waltham to City Centre Cycle RouteCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
N/ACycling route4.5 km▾
Named routeRef 50Length 4.5 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
N/ACycling route20 m▾
Named routeRef 50Length 20 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
N/ACycling route2.4 km▾
Named routeRef 50Length 2.4 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
N/ACycling route22 m▾
Named routeRef 50Length 22 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
🐴

Horse riding

▾

7 public paths nearby

Public paths
Butterfly Pathbridleway · 328 m▾
Public pathbridlewayLength 328 mSurface pavedPath type: service
Pleshey Bridleway 20bridleway · 739 m▾
Public pathbridlewayLength 739 mSurface dirtPath type: bridleway
BR20bridleway · 533 m▾
Public pathbridlewayLength 533 mSurface gravelPath type: bridleway
Water Lane FP41bridleway · 946 m▾
Public pathbridlewayLength 946 mSurface grassPath type: bridleway
FP14bridleway · 230 m▾
Public pathbridlewayLength 230 mPath type: bridleway

Wildlife to spot

Photos

22 photos from nearby open sources

▾
Motte, Pleshey Castle, Essex

📷 PAUL FARMER · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Motte, Pleshey Castle, Essex

1 / 22

Facilities

🅿️

Parking

1 nearby · 385m

🛝

Playground

160m away

✓ Public accessFree entry🐶 Dogs

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome

Weather for this location

Next 14 days

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

✦LANGLEYSHistoric site3.5 km→✦The CollegeHistoric site300 m→🌱Deer ParkUrban park3.4 km→✦Pleshey CastleHistoric site100 m→✦Roman villa 450m west of Bury FarmHistoric site1.4 km→✦Roman villa 200m east of HowlettsHistoric site3.7 km→