Mersea Island | Cudmore Grove Country Park | Dallaswear

Where is Mersea Island?

Just nine miles south east of Colchester, across a causeway that is at times covered by the sea, you’ll find Mersea Island. This historic, pretty, island covers an area of eight square miles and is home to approximately seven thousand people. Twice a day the high tide threatens to cut the island off from the mainland. It’s important to check the time of the high tide to ensure you don’t get caught on the causeway, which can be dangerous and the salt water is damaging to your vehicle.

We first came across Mersea on a family holiday. We were staying in Clacton and on a drive in the countryside one day we came across a sign for Mersea Island. Intrigued, we headed across the causeway. This was to be the first of many visits to the island.

Mersea Island has a long history. In Roman times there was an outpost on the island and for the inhabitants of nearby Colchester Mersea was a holiday destination. Before written history, during the time of the Celts, the main livelihoods on the island were related to farming and fishing. Still visible in the landscape are the Red Hills, the remains of Celtic salt workings. All around these sites large numbers of oyster shells have been found, which indicate that the present-day popularity of the Mersea Native Oyster is not a new phenomenon.

Our favourite place on the island is Cudmore Grove Country Park. The park is situated on the quieter east side of Mersea Island. There is a lovely sandy beach with views across the Colne and Blackwater Estuaries.

Mersea Island is the most easterly of inhabited islands in the United Kingdom and because of its geographic position was highly fortified during World War II due to the threat of invasion. So great was the threat that two thousand troops were stationed on the island. The remains of gun emplacements and pillboxes are still visible in the park to this day. Visitors interested in the wartime history of the island can follow the WWII heritage trail which will inform them about these important defence structures. For those interested in the history of the island a visit to the Mersea Museum, situated in the centre of West Mersea, is well worth a visit.

Cudmore Grove Country Park is a great place to visit with the family. There are loads of things to see and do to keep everybody occupied. In addition to the sandy beach there are accessible paths crossing the grassland areas where theground is mainly flat. On sunny days when the weather is hot, there is a lovely walk covered by over hanging trees which offers some welcome shade. This is near the wildlife hide which overlooks a pond where you have the opportunity to see foxes and rabbits as well as a variety of bird species. There are lots of butterflies at Cudmore Grove Country Park and trying to identify them is a great way to pass time. The low-lying meadow beyond the pond is a Site of Special Scientific Interest which attracts many wading birds. When we knew we were going to visit Cudmore Country Park we made sure we took a pair of binoculars with us to use in the hide and would spend many hours in this tranquil location spotting birds and enjoying being in the countryside. Although we only visited in the summer months, winter is an excellent time to visit to see bird species on the rich mudflats in the Colne Estuary. Across the different habitats in the park, you’re likely to see grebes, ducks, brent geese in large numbers, wigeon, teal and up to fifteen types of waders. Birds of prey you can see include peregrine and marsh harrier. Lapwings and avocet, both beautiful looking birds, breed here in the summer months.

In some areas the grass is allowed to grow long all year round. This careful management ensures the presence of small mammals, lizards and insects. We would regularly see adders at Cudmore Gove, which was very exciting! When we used to visit, we’d find groups of adders congregated under sheets of corrugated iron that had been placed on the grass.

The park has a beautiful, unspoilt, sandy beach along which run continually eroding sandy cliffs. Cudmore Grove Country Park is well known for these cliffs which are a window in to the past. Different layers laid down over different time periods are clearly visible. Gravel laid down by the Thames Medway river date back an amazing 300,000 years. Fossils dislodged from the cliffs in bad weather are occasionally found on the shell strewn beach and have included fossilised wood, mammal bones and the bones of hippopotamus!

From April to October, it is possible to take the foot ferry from East Mersea to Brightlingsea and Point Clear. The crossing to Brightlingsea takes just nine minutes. Conveniently, the boat can accommodate wheelchair users and cyclists.

The facilities at the park are good and include public toilets, disabled facilities and baby changing. There’s also a refreshment kiosk selling drinks, snacks and ice creams and a themed children’s playground for younger children. All of these being close to the car park.

Mersea Island has many attractions. West Mersea is the capital of the island and the destination of most visitors to the island. Clustered here are an array of shops, restaurants and guesthouses. It’s here that most visitors indulge in the traditional seaside holiday with simple pleasures such as heading to the beach or crabbing from jetties. Its in West Mersea where you’ll be able try the local fresh native oysters.

Mersea Island even has its own vineyard. While legend suggests the Romans grew grapes here the present-day vineyard was established in 1985. Offering the opportunity to stay on the vineyard through bed and breakfast accommodation, the vineyard is also home to Maria’s Vintage Tea Room, where it is possible to indulge in a sweet treat or a full lunch.

Being an island, it is unsurprising that water sports are a big part of the island’s life and economy. Sailing is very popular along with other water-based activities such as windsurfing and kitesurfing. The biggest event on the island is the annual Town Regatta, held in West Mersea each August. Running for over 170 years it’s a great day out featuring all things nautical, live music, fabulous street food and culminating in an evening firework display.