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Ideally sited along the Colne Valley’s upper reaches, Halstead is a good centre from which to explore the quiet and remarkably beautiful countryside of north east Essex. This is undulating country, quite well wooded and with picturesque and historic villages at every turn.

An attractive village only four miles from Halstead, Gosfield groups around its 15th - 16th century church and the main street features half-timbered houses and a village hall built by Courtaulds in the 1850s. A rather unusual addition to the church was made in 1736 in the form of a square brick room with a Venetian window – the squire’s pew and family chancel of the Knight family, the local squire. Here, too, is the splendid monument to John Knight and his wife, said to have been the work of Rysbrach, constructed in 1733. Gosfield Hall, built in the 16th century, was visited by Elizabeth I, and was, for thirty years in the 19th century, home to yet another of the Courtauld family. The house contains many fine Tudor features and a panelled long gallery. The extensive grounds feature a lake nearly one mile long that was created by Earl Nugent. The Hall is now used as a wedding venue.

Beyond Gosfield is one of the gems of Essex – the beautiful village of Finchingfield. This is a place widely photographed and with little wonder for, with its church on the hill, triangular green and streets running down to the bridge and village pond, it has enormous appeal. Its houses are of all shapes and sizes, many of them Georgian and with a Guildhall that dates from the 16th century (it is open as a museum of local antiquities in summer on Sundays and bank holidays). The church, with its Norman tower capped by an 18th century cupola, contains two rood-screens of the 18th century and the finest in Essex.

Across on the other side of Halstead are the villages of Great and Little Maplestead. The latter is noted for its circular church, the only one in Essex and one of only five left in England. It was built in about 1335 by the Commandery of the Knights Hospitallers on the pattern of the Holy Sepulchre Church in Jerusalem. It was, however, extensively restored in the 1850s and much of the original medieval masonry was lost. St Giles Church at Great Maplestead shows much from the Norman period through to the 17th century. Most notable are the semi-reclining effigies of Sir John and Lady Deane, carved in the 17th century by William Wright as part of a series of highly macabre monuments, the most familiar being in St Pauls Cathedral in London.

North west of Halstead in the Colne valley are the villages of Sible and Castle Hedingham, both charming and interesting places. Sible Hedingham groups close to the 14th century church and has some notable houses including the 18th century rectory and the 15th century White Horse Inn. Castle Hedingham is a quiet, charming village with a great deal to see. The castle, once one of the mightiest in East Anglia, dominates both town and country around and was the home of the de Veres, Earls of Oxford and a most powerful Norman family. The fine Norman keep and the Tudor bridge are among many features of interest – the castle is open to view from Easter through to October. The nearby church has an impressive brick tower of the 16th century and wholly in the Tudor style. The church interior is one of the most important and ambitiously designed in Essex, the great chancel being a showpiece of late Norman design. The screen is most ornate and there are fine monuments throughout the church to members of the de Vere family and to the 15th Earl of Oxford and his wife.

On the other, eastern, side of Halstead the Colne flows through pleasant countryside with a string of villages featuring the river’s name. Earls Colne takes its name from Aubrey de Vere who formed a Benedictine priory here in the early 12th century. On the site of that original building is the present Colne Priory which is of red brick 18th century construction.

Between Sible Hedingham and Yeldham, a stretch of the old Halstead to Haverhill railway line (The Colne Valley Railway) has been preserved and is open to the public for steam train rides.

Grouped around Earls Colne are the villages of Colne Engaine, White Colne and Wakes Colne. Colne Engaine features a 14th century church that contains much re-used Roman brickwork. White Colne’s church was heavily restored in 1869 and the Church at Wakes Colne is of Norman origin and has an interesting feature, a very fine war memorial screen put up in 1920. At Chappel is the East Anglian Railway Museum with a collection of vintage carriages and steam locomotives of all kinds. It is open daily from 10 to 5 and, from March to December, has regular ‘operating days’ when train rides can be enjoyed.