Danbury Commons & Blakes Wood

Danbury Commons and Blakes Wood cover 214 acres of heath, gorse and coppice on Danbury ridge, at 107 metres one of the highest points in Essex, and form the county's second largest area of common land. For centuries commoners grazed animals and cut scrub here, keeping the heath open, and the National Trust now mimics that grazing by tractor; the ridge between the Crouch and Blackwater estuaries also served as an army camp from the Napoleonic Wars to the two World Wars. Blakes Wood, a separate 100-acre ancient woodland of streams, valleys, oaks, chestnuts and coppiced hornbeam, has one of the best bluebell displays in the area, and across the sites live adders, dormice and nightingales in spring. Two Trust trails start from the Armoury car park: an easy 1.5-mile walk to Lingwood Common and a moderate 3.5-mile circuit on to Blakes Wood, and dogs are allowed everywhere under close control because of the adders. Reviewers value the peace of the woods and the bluebells. Tips from visitors: the paths are steep in places and muddy in winter, so wear wellies, some trails are shared with mountain bikers, and there are no facilities on site.