Nazeing: Circular Walk, Nature and History

Nazeing brings together themes that can shape your trip planning in different ways: the Nazeing Country Walk runs along the edge of Nazeingwood Common, while Nazeing Triangle LNR is one of the local nature reserves in Epping Forest District. There is also a Second World War decoy site, Nazeing Park, and medieval settlements and field patterns as landscape features. If you are looking for a hotel in Nazeing, you can first consider whether nature, architecture or history should be the focus of your stay.

Nature and Walking

The Nazeing Country Walk is a circular route along old trackways and footpaths at the edge of Nazeingwood Common. As a circular route, it forms a complete loop; check the conditions of the paths locally before setting off. Nazeing Triangle LNR is one of the ten local nature reserves in Epping Forest District. The nature themes differ: the walk focuses on the route, while the Triangle is notable for its designation as a local nature reserve.

Wartime and Architectural History

The Nazeing Second World War decoy site is a Scheduled Monument. During the day it served as a “K” site and at night as a “Q” site; it was equipped with dummy Hurricanes. The distinction between day and night use and the dummy aircraft are two aspects of its history. This combination offers travellers interested in the Second World War a specific historical focus.

Nazeing Park was built by J. Lewis in 1797 and extensively remodelled around 1814. These dates mark its construction and a later, substantial alteration. The building features a centrally placed, recessed entrance portico with a balustrade and Ionic columns. A portico is a columned entrance porch; “Ionic” refers to an order of columns. These specific features help explain the entrance’s design and the building’s history.

Historic Landscape and Church Access

Nazeing is part of a conservation area with medieval settlements and medieval field patterns, which are considered important landscape features. Field patterns refer to the division of the landscape into individual plots. The historical perspective therefore extends beyond individual buildings to include the arrangement of settlements and the landscape.

For people with mobility impairments, All Saints Church is accessible via a step-free rear door; please contact the church in advance. The planning advice concerns different matters: check the conditions of the paths locally before walking the Country Walk, and contact the church in advance.

Historical Periods to Guide Your Trip Planning

The historical themes span different periods: the settlement and field-pattern features date back to the Middle Ages, Nazeing Park was built in 1797 and extensively remodelled around 1814, and the decoy site dates from the Second World War. If you are looking for a hotel in Nazeing, you can use these periods to guide your choice of focus—landscape history, architecture or military history.

Discover more destinations: Tiptree, Saint Osyth, St Lawrence, Billericay, Great Dunmow, Chelmsford, Canvey Island, West Mersea

For the main travel overview: Essex.