Feather Down Country Retreats (Layer Marney Tower)

From Ipswich and the East: Turn off the A12 at the Halstead exit (B1124). At the roundabout take the first exit left. (You will pass a sign for Layer Marney Tower that says follow the signs to Maldon). At the next roundabout take the third exit to Maldon, Tollgate Retail Park and ColchesterZoo, passing Sea Pets and Homebase on your left. You will now go over three small roundabouts: at the first go straight over, at the second turn left and at the third, a double roundabout, turn right to Maldon. Follow the road for just over a mile to a t-junction. Turn right to Maldon (B1022). After two miles you will see, on the right, the entrance to Birch Quarry and soon after a turning on the left signed to Layer Marney Tower. Take this turning, go straight over the cross-roads and follow the lane for 1/4 of a mile. The entrance gates to Layer Marney Tower are on the right. Sat nav will take you to this point and now you need to follow these instructions: do not go through these gates, but instead carry on down the road. At the end of the road turn right down a track signed to the church and Hall Farm cottages. Go along the track and past the south front of Layer Marney Tower and into the church car park. Turn left down a track signed to Hall Farm cottages and near the end of the track turn right, just before the gateway to the farm buildings. Follow this short track around to the left and into the car park which is on the right. From London and the West: Leave the A12 at the Kelvedon turning (B1024). Drive through Kelvedon, crossing the river and at the top of the hill turn right by the Old Anchor pub, to Maldon and Tiptree (B1023). Follow this road for about two miles to a t-junction. Turn left to Colchester (B1022). Turn right after 2 miles, at the signpost to Layer Marney Tower. There is a sharp corner almost immediately, followed soon after by a left turning signed to Layer Marney Tower which you should take. At the first cross-roads turn right (signed), and drive for about 1/4 mile. The entrance gates to Layer Marney Tower are on the right. Sat nav will take you this far now you need to follow these instructions: do not go through these gates, but instead carry on down the road. At the end of the road turn right down a track signed to the church and Hall Farm cottages. Go along the track and past the south front of Layer Marney Tower and into the church car park. Turn left down a track signed to Hall Farm cottages and near the end of the track turn right, just before the gateway to the farm buildings. Follow this short track around to the left and into the car park which is on the right.