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| Mersea Island |
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Mersea Island is approximately 5 miles long, 2 miles wide and rising only about 70 feet above sea level. The southern part of the island contains beaches, with saltings forming an important feature of the landscape all around. London clay overlain by patches of glacial gravel produces heavy and loamy soils and at low tide wide expanses of alluvial mud are exposed around the shoreline.
The only connection to the mainland is by a causeway known as the Strood, which carries the main B1025 road to Colchester. The Strood is liable to flood at Spring tides, when the island is temporarily cut off. Please check the tide times with us before your visit.
The town of West Mersea, 4 miles from Mersea Outdoors, is centred around the Parish Church where the High Street meets Coast Road. Close by is the Museum, Community Centre and many shops, including butchers, Post Office, bookshop and grocers.
Leaving the Church, and going west along Coast Road, you pass St Peters Well Meadow, an area of marshes with houseboats, whose shapes are representative of an earlier generation. Further on and past the oyster fishery you reach the boating area where, based around the Public Hard, you'll find the Lifeboat Station, boatyards, yacht clubs, fishing boats and waterside activities. Fishing provides the main industry, with boats moored in the creeks together with oyster beds. At the end of the road is the area is known as the 'City', with a fascinating history of smuggling and oyster fishing.
Mersea beach runs from West Mersea, past Mersea Outdoors and onto East Mersea Stone at the island's most easterly point. East Mersea itself is almost entirely agricultural, with a small community of 300 people, and a Country Park, which has interesting eroded cliffs and is ideal for bird watching. Several holiday parks line the southern edge of East Mersea, with a village store, post office and public house serving the local residents and holiday makers alike.
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| Mersea Outdoors |
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Mersea Outdoors is set in approximately 62 acres of well-maintained grass fields.
We can accommodate up to 350 visitors in tents and have cabin accommodation for up to 104 people (you do need to provide your own bedding!).
Facilities include toilets, shower rooms, laundry room, dining rooms, a main hall equipped with music and a big screen video.
Outdoor activities available include assault course, caving, bridge building, high ropes course, climbing, team challenges, aerial runway and access to the beach for water sports. In all we offer more than 20 activities, all run by qualified instructors. Click on [Activities] to see a full list of options.
We also have access to a canoe base and field study centre situated on an island in the creek off West Mersea. This island can only be reached by boat.
The Colchester area lends itself to many day visits, from farm visits to Colchester Museum, the Zoo and Constable country.
You can use the site for basic camping, bringing your own gear, or we can supply everything from tents and mattresses to full catering needs and a fully planned programme.
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