Where is mersea

Again, high tides can make part of the walk a challenge, so timing is important, but if a shorter walk is preferred, then head over to Cudmore Grove Country Park on East Mersea. The park is a haven for families and nature lovers, with plenty of opportunities for bird-watching. The East Mersea flats are a food source for over-wintering birds and those looking out across the Pyefleet Channel have also reported seeing seals.

The cliffs, having suffered erosion over recent decades, have surrendered their secrets of , years, with bones and fossils discovered at their base making it an exciting place to explore with children. There is also a foot ferry which runs across to Brightlingsea and is visible from East Mersea's shore. West Mersea has a different feel to East Mersea, with a small town centre including cafes, restaurants, shops and a sailing club.

In fact, sailing and fishing lend this town much of its character and is a very strong feature of the community and arguably the attraction the island holds for so many. Marion and Vaughan Knight enjoying the entertainment - Credit: Archant.

Mersea Island Fresh Catch still bring in their catch of the day for sale on the jetty and every year in August, the West Mersea Yacht Club and Dabchicks Sailing Club host regatta week with competitive sailing races and fun events for participants and spectators alike. Lovers of seafood especially oysters are fully indulged in Mersea with great places to eat fresh produce in a setting that completely complements the experience. The Mersea Island Food, Drink and Leisure Festival that takes place in May every year continues to celebrate this by bringing together people, local produce and plenty of entertainment for good measure.

Freshly Cooked Scallops - Credit: Archant. The setting, appropriately, is close to the Mersea Island Vineyard, with stunning views across the Blackwater Estuary. Essex Outdoors, otherwise known as East Mersea Youth Camp, hosts the annual Mersea Island Festival, a camping experience for children, young people and adults living with or without a physical disability.

Today there are about ten acres, five grape varieties, producing some twenty thousand bottles each year. Legend has it that…. Day Trips , Kids , Special Events. The past few years have seen some miserable weat….

A very old dwelling that almost fell down, it has been rescued, lovingly res…. The authoritative guide to Mersea Island. The best-kept secret in Essex. Country pubs including the Dog and Pheasant and The Fox Inn offer bucolic pitstops, but in high season they do tend to get booked up in advance.

Mersea Barns , a shop and cafe on East Road, is dog and cycle friendly, offering a light breakfast and lunch menu, and roast dinners on Sundays. The nearby Mersea Boating Lake is a relatively recent addition to the island's offerings, with a chance to try kayaking, windsurfing and other water sports on a manmade lake.

West Mersea is the livelier corner of Mersea Island, though it's still fairly sleepy compared to other seaside resorts. It's definitely a place where tourists fit into the local way of life, rather than the other way around. The main high street is home to a mere handful of shops and cafes, and, with the exception of a Tesco Express, is refreshingly chain-free.

Even the beach front has resisted over-commercialisation, with just a couple of cafes and ice cream stalls to satiate hungry beach goers, although each holiday park has its own on-site facilities for guests. Two Sugars Cafe is worth a peek, for architectural reasons — the building was constructed as a second world war gun emplacement, and had an anti-tank gun on its roof.

The underground passages where ammunition was stored still exist, under the feet of oblivious sunseekers and off-limits to the public. The Mersea Island Museum is tucked away down a blink-and-you'll-miss-it lane to the side of the church in West Mersea, though at time of writing it hasn't yet reopened.

Even in normal times, it operates on very limited opening hours, so check before you make a special trip. Browse the upmarket gift and vintage shops and boutiques, before tucking into a deli-style sandwich at The Art Cafe , a sugar-loaded brownie or cupcake at Twisted Treats , or a full-blown afternoon tea at The Gilt Rooms.

For a fuller meal, follow the Coast Road around to the west coast of the island. The park includes a sandy beach and open grassland, perfect for picnics and great views. Mersea Island Holiday Park is a peaceful and tranquil park set in 22 acres of mature Essex coastal countryside. Choose either private lessons, group lessons or hiring. We also run kids clubs, offer parties and corporate events.

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