Walden Turf Maze.
The largest surviving historic turf maze in Europe, set on Saffron Walden Common. Free to visit at any time, it's a unique piece of local history and a fun challenge for all ages.
A little about Walden Turf Maze.
The Turf Maze on Saffron Walden Common is one of the best-known and best-maintained historic turf labyrinths in Europe, and the largest surviving example. It sits at the east end of the Common, a large open space beside the town centre that has hosted fairs and festivals for centuries.
The maze is thought to be medieval in origin, although the earliest written record dates from 1699, when the town paid 15 shillings for it to be recut. It has been recut several times since, and today its path is laid with bricks set into the hollows between the turf ridges, the reverse of most turf mazes, where you follow the raised grass.
Its design is unusual and complex, with 17 circuits surrounding a central mound and four distinctive lobes at the corners. The winding path is around a mile long, doubling back on itself again and again, so it takes real concentration to follow. Local legend recalls wagers of beer on races to the centre, and an ash tree that once grew in the middle was lost to a Bonfire Night blaze in 1823.
Free to visit at any time, the maze is a lovely stop on a walk around town. Saffron Walden is known as a town of mazes, so you can also explore the Victorian hedge maze at Bridge End Gardens nearby.