Halloween and October half term at the Essex Country Parks
For a spooktacular experience this half term holiday head to the Essex Country Parks.
Posted on 16th September 2024
Monster Mysteries Trail
Head to the Essex Country Parks this Halloween and October half term and pick up or download a free Monster Mysteries Trail. The perfect spooktastic day out for families.
Count the curious creatures lurking in the park. Find the magic numbers and help the rangers to create a spell to send the monsters home!
Available at:
- Belhus Woods Country Park
- Cressing Temple Barns
- Cudmore Grove Country Park
- Danbury Country Park
- Great Notley Country Park
- Thorndon Country Park (North)
- Weald Country Park
Running from Saturday 19 October to and including Sunday 3 November 2024.
Find the individual listings at the bottom of this page.
- Download the trail PDF straight to your phone
- Download the Monster Mysteries trail sheet to print at home
- Download more Halloween Mysteries to print at home
- Download Halloween Activities to do at home
Discover how to enter the prize draw to win an Explorer Pass below.
Trails are funded by the Essex Year of Numbers.

Autumn Scavenger Hunt

Make your own spider web decorations
Have a horrifyingly good time this Halloween crafting these stick spider web decorations.


Spooky Forest School Sessions
*FULLY BOOKED - keep checking for any cancellations*
Book your children onto our Spooky Forest School sessions at Thorndon and Danbury Country Parks this half term holiday for a fangtastic time.
Enjoy amazing activities such as potion and broomstick making, cook ghoulish marshmallows on the camp fire, take part in a scary Scavenger Hunt and so much more (activities may vary depending on the site and weather!).
Sessions are suitable for three to ten-year-olds and must be booked online in advance.
Sibling discounts are available.
You might also like . . . Family Forest School
Discover Family Forest School and our term time sessions for the under five's and home educated.
There are still spaces at Family Forest School on Saturday 7 December.
And block book your term time spaces at Woodland Play for the under five's or Home Ed sessions. All head at Danbury Country Park near Chelmsford.

Spooky Books in the Park
Join Essex Library Service for free spooky story time this October half term.
The mobile library will be at Weald Country Park from 10am to approximately 12.30pm* on Monday 28 October and Thorndon Country Park on Thursday 31 October.
Come and meet the team and enjoy free story times with a Spooktacular twist before (or after) you explore the parks and pick up one of our Monster Mysteries and Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler themed trails!
Available at:
Monster Mysteries Trail Prize Draw
Complete the Monster Mysteries Trail and encourage your children to add up their answers to find the 'magic number' to help complete the spell to send the monsters back to where they came from.
Email in your magic number total to: Explore-Essex@essex.gov.uk to enter our prize draw.
You could win an Explorer Pass (worth £85) and a goody bag or Sky Ropes voucher.
Good luck!
These activities are supported by the Essex Year of Numbers, a countywide campaign that aims to inspire a love of learning, with a focus on numeracy.


Man about Country: An Essex Ways story walks
Discover the stories and secrets of Essex with a guided walk through some of its finest landscapes.
- Dates: June 13 - July 10, 2025
- Times: 1:00pm - 3:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free

Jaywick Martello Tower Exhibition: Tower at Twenty
Join us in celebrating twenty years of Jaywick Martello Tower!
- Dates: June 26 - August 3, 2025
- Venue: Jaywick Martello Tower
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free

Essex Outdoors Bradwell: Sailing Experience Days
Take to the water in a keelboat to experience a day on the River Blackwater with your family.
- Dates:
- July 5, 2025
- July 6, 2025
- July 12, 2025
- July 13, 2025
- July 21, 2025
- (continued …)
- Venue: Essex Outdoors Bradwell
- Times: 10:00am - 4:30pm
- For the whole family
- Price: £210 for up to seven people (minimum age seven)

Family Forest School: Danbury Country Park
Don’t let the children have all the fun, connecting with nature is beneficial for everyone. Come and join us at our Family Forest School sessions.
- Dates:
- July 5, 2025
- Venue: Danbury Country Park
- Times: 11:00am - 2:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: £10 for the first child. £6 for siblings. Accompanying adults Free. Under 18 months free.

Sky Ropes and Sky Ropes Junior at Great Notley
Your family adventure starts here!
- Dates:
- July 5, 2025
- July 6, 2025
- July 12, 2025
- Venue: Great Notley Country Park
- Times: 11:00am - 4:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Adult £13.00 Young person (8-17) £13.00, Under 8 £13.00

Essex Outdoors: Harlow High Adventure
- Dates:
- July 5, 2025
- July 6, 2025
- July 12, 2025
- July 13, 2025
- July 19, 2025
- (continued …)
- Venue: Burntmill Lane
- Times: 12:00pm - 1:30pm
- 8-16
- Price: High Ropes Adventure Adult – £15 Young person (aged 8-17) – £12 Under 8 – £12 Climbing Wall Adventure Adult – £12 . Young person (aged 8-17) – £10. Under 8 – £10 All sessions are 90 minutes

**Postponed** Cressing Temple Barns: An Essex Ways Story Walk
*Please note: This event is postponed*.If you want to know more about the history, stories and places in your local area, while getting some quality time in nature - this walk is for you!
- Dates: July 5, 2025
- Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
- Times: 1:00pm - 3:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free

**Postponed** Jaywick Sands: An Essex Ways Story Walk
**Please note: This event has been postponed** Discover the stories and secrets of Essex with a guided walk through some of its finest landscapes.
- Dates: July 6, 2025
- Venue: Jaywick Martello Tower
- Times: 1:00pm - 3:00pm
- Price: Free

Jaywick Martello Tower: Drawing Workshop - Drawing the Human Figure
Join Jaywick Martello Tower artist Colin McAllister to discover essential techniques that will boost your confidence
- Dates: July 9, 2025
- Venue: Jaywick Martello Tower
- Times: 11:00am - 1:00pm
- For adults
- Price: Free

Cudmore Grove: An Essex Ways Story Walk
Discover the stories and secrets of Essex with a guided walk through some of its finest landscapes.
- Dates: July 9, 2025
- Venue: Cudmore Grove Country Park
- Times: 1:00pm - 3:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free

Essex Outdoors Bradwell: Family Powerboating Experience Days
Take to the water on a powerboat to experience a day on the River Blackwater with your family.
- Dates:
- July 12, 2025
- July 13, 2025
- July 17, 2025
- July 21, 2025
- July 22, 2025
- (continued …)
- Venue: Essex Outdoors Bradwell
- Times: 10:00am - 4:30pm
- For the whole family
- Price: £280 for up to seven people.

Helen Rollason: A Vintage & Makers Day Out
Shoppers and classic vehicle enthusiasts, start your engines as Helen Rollason Cancer Charity invites vintage and retro lovers to roll back the years and dress to impress for the 2025 Vintage and Makers Day Out!
- Dates: July 13, 2025
- Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Adults: £8 per person. Concessions (over 65): £7 per person. Children Under-16: £4 per person. Reduced early bird pricing available until 11th of July.

Parkrun: Great Notley Country Park
Free, weekly 5km timed runs.
- Dates: Every Saturday
- Venue: Great Notley Country Park
- Times: 9:00am - 10:00am
- For adults
- Price: Free to take part

Parkrun: Hadleigh Country Park
Free, weekly 5km timed runs.
- Dates: Every Saturday
- Venue: Hadleigh Country Park
- Times: 9:00am - 10:00am
- For adults
- Price: Free

Parkrun: Marsh Farm Country Park
Free, weekly 5km timed runs.
- Dates: Every Saturday
- Venue: Marsh Farm Country Park
- Times: 9:00am - 10:00am
- For adults
- Price: Free

Parkrun: Weald Country Park
Free, weekly 5km timed runs.
- Dates: Every Saturday
- Venue: Weald Country Park
- Times: 9:00am - 10:00am
- For adults
- Price: Free
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