Hylands Park is on the border of Writtle and central Chelmsford, it can be accessed via either Five Mile Hill or Greenbury Way.
Hylands Park is part of Hylands Estate which also includes Hylands House and farmland. The walks are lovely for all ages but the playground is best for children between 3 and 12. It’s best for children who like to climb.
The Adventure Playground
The main draw of Hylands Park for children is the adventure playground, locally referred to as the castle or the fort. It consists of a number of wooden structures for climbing, one of which is wheelchair accessible. There are a variety of ladders, slides, bridges and nets for children to enjoy.
There are a bank of swings which all have trees attached. I’m honestly not sure why as it doesn’t seem to add anything to the swinging experience.
Where tyres are better used is on the standing swing where children can bounce up on down on them. There is also a flat titled roundabout, logs to walk around and a metal balancing pole that moves when you stand in it.
For the younger children on the right hand side is a tower structure with a ladder so they climb into it. It has a bridge leading out of it, a log to climb up and ropes to balance on.
There is also a wooden horse and cart to sit in, a basket swing and a willow tunnel to walk through as well as some willow dens to play in.
Other Features
Next to the playground is a forest area where children can build dens. There are lots of suitable logs around and you can either start your own or add to one of the many that are already there.
On the other side of the playground is a kiosk selling hot and cold drinks, snacks and ice creams. There are picnic benches, toilets and a table tennis table.
If you head up hill from the playground you’ll reach Hylands House and The Stables visitor centre which contains artists studios, a secondhand book shop (which includes children’s books) and a cafe which sells hot and cold food and has indoor seating. There are also toilets here and a market runs on Sundays.
Further on from the visitor centre are the gardens which are lovely to walk around and include a large duck pond. If you want to explore further there are large grass areas, wooded areas and ponds. There are always lots of dog walkers around and dogs are often off the lead.
There are three car parks for Hylands Estate, all of which are free. Two are accessed via Three Mile Hill and one is accessed via Greenbury Way. The Greenbury Way Car Park is right next to the playground.
