A120 Ghost Tree

The A120 Ghost Tree is an unusual roadside gallery that catches drivers off-guard as they head towards Colchester. What started as a solitary dead oak has become a canvas for local artists and visitors - its bare branches now host an ever-changing collection of sculptures, paintings, and installations that appear and disappear with the seasons.

You won't need more than 20 minutes here unless you're genuinely into site-specific art installations. The appeal lies in its sheer oddness rather than any polished curatorial vision. Some pieces are genuinely thoughtful; others feel like abandoned garden centre rejects. That's rather the point. It's the kind of thing that makes you smile at the audacity of it - someone claiming a dead tree as legitimate exhibition space.

Families with older kids who've outgrown the typical "see the animals" attraction might find it worth a brief stop. Photographers tend to linger. History buffs won't find much here beyond the tree itself. Practical types should know it's free and visible from the road, though actually getting up close requires a bit of scrambling and roadside parking that's honestly dodgy.

If you're staying at Ardleigh Caravan & Camping Park - just 2.7 miles away - it's an easy detour en route to Colchester proper. Not essential, but the kind of quirky break that breaks up a drive nicely. Don't plan your entire holiday around it, but don't skip it either if you're passing through.