The rugged, wild beauty of Essex’s North Sea beaches is not a novel holiday destination, but rather one that is slowly being rediscovered. Whilst it may not offer the classic coves and cliffs seen in places like Cornwall, the coastal landscape of Essex is certainly a sight of open skies and classic English shores.
Somewhere along the 350 miles of Essex’s coast, sprinkled with faded seaside resorts, sits Mersea Island. In between the Colne and Blackwater estuaries, and separated from the mainland by the Strood Channel – a tidal causeway which fills twice every day – is an island which lets you step back in time to a slower pace of life.
The island stretches just five-by-two miles, and is split into the distinctive West Mersea and East Mersea, with pebble beaches and beach huts filling the space in between. The former, is a waterfront town with a fishing-village image, whilst the latter is a sleepier countryside hamlet.
West Mersea, the island’s town, has a working waterfront with fishing-village look. The countryside and East Mersea hamlet are sleepier. In between lie sand-and-pebble shores lined with holiday parks and beach huts.
Summer is boom season and visitor numbers swell: the school holidays are particularly busy. Things get liveliest during the Mersea Island Regatta, which fills two August weekends with water sports, boat races and fireworks. Off-season, shorebirds replace beachgoers.
