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Essex

Essex

The Top 20 Natural Monuments in Essex

Essex’s landscape is a beautiful place to explore — something that you can best experience by visiting one of our 20

beautiful natural monuments in Essex. To help you find the one for, you can see all the details you need to explore the best natural monuments, and better plan your next outdoor adventure!

Last updated: December 15, 2025

Hatfield Forest Lake

Highlight • Lake

Hatfield Forest is an ancient royal hunting forest, and considered to be one of the best-preserved medieval forests in the world. In the past, deer were kept in the forest …

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Grimston's Oak (The Monarch of the Forest)

Highlight • Natural Monument

Also known as 'The Monarch of the Forest', Grimston's Oak is estimated to be around 350 years old. It is named after a cricketer, Robert Grimston who played in the …

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Ambresbury Banks — Iron Age hillfort

Highlight • Forest

An Iron Age hillfort once stood here, in the northern reaches of Epping Forest. The earthworks are still clearly visible and would have protected an area of 11 acres (4.5 …

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The Deer Sanctuary, Epping Forest

Highlight • Forest

It's often possible to spot the Deer Sanctuary's fallow deer inhabitants from the trails in this part of Epping Forest. Once a Royal hunting forest, Epping has had a long …

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Gernon Bushes Nature Reserve

Highlight • Forest

Gernon Bushes Nature Reserve is a pocket of ancient woodland that is home to many rare marsh plants and flowers. It is the last remnant of the old Coopersale Common …

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Loughton Camp Iron Age Hill Fort

Highlight • Historical Site

An Iron Age hill fort and camp now within Epping Forest. It would have been busier here in around 500BCE when the camp was inhabited. The earth works which are …

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Dead Oak Tree on Oak Trail (Epping Forest)

Highlight • Viewpoint

The Oak Trail starts and ends by Theydon Bois station and loops through Bell Common and Birch Wood. With varying terrain, it's a moderately challenging walk that's clearly signposted the whole way round.

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Bluebells in Chalkney Woods

Highlight • Natural Monument

Small car park so arrive early at peak times
Bluebells are spectacular at the end of April/early May
Gets very muddy during periods of rain or in the winter, so come prepared

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Beeleigh Weir

Highlight • Natural Monument

Can be muddy in winter when walking to the further falls

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Chipping Ongar Castle Motte and Bailey

Highlight • Castle

No remains of the castle exists, but still nice to walk around and explore.

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Didn’t find what you were looking for?

Find even more amazing natural monuments in Essex by checking out the top Highlights region by region:

Epping Forest

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Extend your search for the best caves by checking out these guides of the top ones in Essex:

Norfolk Central Bedfordshire Hertfordshire Suffolk Cambridgeshire

The Top 20 Natural Monuments in Essex

Hatfield Forest Lake

Grimston's Oak (The Monarch of the Forest)

Ambresbury Banks — Iron Age hillfort

The Deer Sanctuary, Epping Forest

Gernon Bushes Nature Reserve

Loughton Camp Iron Age Hill Fort

Dead Oak Tree on Oak Trail (Epping Forest)

Bluebells in Chalkney Woods

Beeleigh Weir

Chipping Ongar Castle Motte and Bailey

Other adventures in Essex

Most popular routes in Essex

Most popular attractions in Essex

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