While it’s never entirely predictable, a British summer certainly has a good share of warm and sunny days where there’s nothing better than heading out to sample what the local area offers.

One of the great features at The Arbour is its regular shuttle bus service to the centre of Chelmsford. There are a couple of stops for the C9 on the doorstep of The Arbour, and before you know it (20 minutes, if you’re counting) you’ll be there and ready to explore everything it offers.

You might need to start with something to fuel your day and an ideal first stop would be ACanteen, a funky restaurant bar overlooking the River Can. Its choices really catch the eye and there’s a diverse summer brunch menu which includes healthy options like a tropical acai smoothie bowl to a more self-indulgent choice such as a handsome breakfast burger. You can ‘create your own brunch’ too, from your pick of 19 ingredients. Maybe treat yourself and accompany it with a pre-lunch cocktail (alcohol-free of course!) – why not?

The sunshine means it’s a day when you can resist the shops and head for some green space and nature. A riverside path marks the southern border of Central Park, which features a playground, skatepark, lake and a café overlooking a landscaped flower garden. The 18-arch Victorian railway viaduct is a landmark crossing the park but there are also a couple of short bridges to the other side of the Can to reach another range of things to do, including a miniature railway and the Marconi Ponds Nature Reserve. Pick the right day and you could spend some time at the County Cricket Ground to watch a first-class match.

Alternatively, a really beautiful place to spend a summer’s day is RHS Garden Hyde Hall in nearby Rettendon, a 365-acre site with its host of features and landscapes to explore. Perhaps the most apt on a sunny day is the Dry Garden, with a range of drought-resistant plants, but there are many other formal and characterful garden areas, a meadow, woodland and a reservoir with bird hide – truly something for everyone who loves to be out and about to make the most of the great weather. And you can reward yourself for your exercise with a refreshing lunch, cold drink and ice cream at the on-site restaurant and café.

If you’re a member of the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society), then entrance is free, but there are other special ticket prices for children, families and those visiting ‘car free’. This could be via a bus service from the city centre that takes around 25 minutes, or a cycle ride of around 50 minutes from The Arbour itself.

If you still have the energy, this part of Essex has villages such as Woodham Ferrers and Rettendon itself which can be reached through open fields on footpaths and bridleways from Hyde Hall, or separately as another day out.

At home, The Arbour has numerous open spaces and leisure facilities nearby including play areas, sports pitches, a bowling green, skatepark and swimming pool. Close by, Beaulieu Square Neighbourhood Centre is home to a range of shops, cafes and more. Stop by the Sainsbury’s Local to pick up the perfect spread for a picnic or refuel after a busy day at independently run Coffee Squared. Countless options for enjoying summer at The Arbour!