75 Colchester – Maldon

Journey Overview

The 75 is a delight of a journey from the ancient history and  culture of Colchester, along the wide, open green roads of classic Essex countryside, alongside colourful heathland in places and shrubs, through beautiful villages to Maldon. It also continues to Great Totham too!

From Roman to more modern times, Colchester has been at the heart of Essex life and offers dazzling culture at its Firstsite art gallery and Colchester Arts Centre, through to the Curzon cinema, Flemish weavers in the Dutch Quarter and student nightlife – all under the watchful eye of its famous Castle. The bus leaves this transforming location behind – the calm before the storm that is its famous Zoo, with its crazy animal capers across over 160 species, set in 60 acres of parkland and lakes. Serenity returns as the Zoo gives way to Tiptree Factory Corner and the setting of Wilkin & Sons the manufacturer of preserves and marmalades since 1885 and known for its Tiptree brand of fruit preserves. There’s a museum which unfolds the history and everyday activity that goes into providing such great products. The bus goes close to Tiptree Heath with its magnificent heathers, ponds and open spaces and renowned smugglers on this ancient road to Great Totham, a charming village that includes the Island of Osea in the Blackwater estuary and is separated into two parts – a mile and a half apart, North and South.

A Fab Day Out!

A walk round Colchester Castle Park is a particular gem, set in the heart of the city and involves a riverside stroll to scenic gardens with its children’s play area, putting green and boating lake, as well as tree trail or family activity trail. Of course, it’s here where the Castle is situated, housing some of the most important historical finds in Britain, from Celtic coin hoards to Roman statues and mosaics, medieval painting to civil war armour. There’s also great guided tours of the Roman Vaults, the foundations of the Temple of Claudius and a trip up the Great Stairs for an amazing view of Colchester from the Castle roof.

Onto the bus and in approximately 15 minutes, the first stop off that we suggest is Colechester Zoo, which is one of the most famous of its kind in the UK and is the habitat of Komodo dragons, White rhino, giraffes, ostrich, zebra and kudo.

Back on board and the next suggested gem to alight at is the Tiptree Jam Museum which provides a fascinating insight into village life and jam making at the famous production site of jams and marmalade for the ‘Tiptree’ brand of fruit preserves.

Then it’s on the bus again, this time to Great Totham with its lovely St Peter’s Church which dates back to Norman times and a look at the thatch-roofed Barn Chapel, which became a chapel in 1822 when Isaac Foster donated the barn as a place of worship for non-conformists.

Gateway to the 75

By Greater Anglia Railway from London Liverpool Street or Norwich, Ipswich and Chelmsford among other locations in East Anglia, Suffolk, Essex and Greater London.