An Essex island where tidal causeways, seafood huts, and sweeping estuary views shape a distinctive walking base along England’s east coast.
Mersea Island, off the Essex coast near Colchester, is a rewarding destination for walking holidays shaped by tidal landscapes, wide skies, and open shoreline. Linked to the mainland by the Strood causeway, the island sits between the Colne and Blackwater estuaries, creating a mix of saltmarsh, mudflats, and gently curving beaches. Its position close to the Essex Coast Path and within easy reach of the Essex Way makes it a natural stop for coastal walkers.
Beyond the causeway, the island lends itself to slower outdoor adventures influenced by tides, weather, and wildlife. West Mersea centres on a working harbour, oyster sheds, and colourful beach huts, while East Mersea feels quieter and more remote, with country parks and long sea-wall paths. Circular routes such as the Mersea Island Coastal Path offer flat, scenic walking, with seasonal tides adding a sense of change and unpredictability — always worth checking before setting out.
With a good choice of places to stay — including guesthouses, holiday cottages, and campsites, mainly around West Mersea — the island works well for short coastal breaks. Its flat lanes and sea-wall routes also make it suitable for relaxed cycling holidays, linking beaches, harbours, and nature reserves at an easy pace.
