Camping our experience in Mersea Island

Colchester Essex, Essex, England South East

Recommendation added: 21/01/2006 19:48
By: sweety (YSUK rating +141)

sweety has been thanked 1 times for this contribution

"Ok some people will either love it and some will absolutely hate it and opt for the local Hotel, either way it is not to everyone's liking.

We decided as a family after many different types of holidays such as , Self Catering, Holidays Abroad, Holidays in Caravans, Lodges that we would try Camping.

After searching on the internet for different places, we came across a place called Waldegraves Holiday Park, Colchester Essex. It is located on Mersea Island, as it says it is a little Island with an East side and West side. To access the island you have to cross the Strood Channel via 'The Causeway' which is a type of Bridge. Interestingly if the sea rises to the extent that the Causeway is covered by water, you are unable to get back to the mainland as this is the only access to the island.
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We decided to visit the West, (although there was no logic in this decision just a toss of a coin). We wanted to stay quite close to home and this was only a few miles away from where we live.

Mersea Island is near to the town called Colchester, Essex the oldest recorded Roman Town in the country with museums, a Norman Castle and a very large shopping centre, all very nearby. Mersea Island is well known for being unspoilt and peaceful also it is famous for its oysters and boating/yachting facilities.

You can either Tour or hire a Holiday Home here. We found all the amenities such as toilets and showers clean and well maintained. The touring area was peaceful and very picturesque., with little in the way of traffic.

Paths were very large and all around the site, with extremely large grass areas.

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Activities include.
Karaoke,
Talent shows,
Games,
Adventure trails
A Visiting entertainer
Outside playground,
Different children's activities throughout the summer season.
******************************************************** ******Entertainment
The Wheat sheaf (BAR) is the centre of Waldegraves' Entertainment programme. It is open at lunchtime for a drink at the bar and a quiet game of pool, or join in the evening entertainment.

There is an entertainment programme throughout the year, part of which is a weekly talent competition. All winners compete at the end of season to find Waldegraves' very own top talent for the year.

Alongside the Wheatsheaf is the youngsters room complete with karaoke machine, stage, disco, table tennis and a pool table. This also contains a small Amusement Arcade. Unlike most places we have visited this was a very small Arcade and this enabled the children to use and enjoy the other activities. I preferred this to the large and very dominating Arcades I found at many other establishments like this.
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Golf
Has both an 18 hole pitch & putt golf course and a new 10 bay undercover driving range, which is floodlit for those who need their golfing fix. The course offers challenges to both experts and beginners alike. Also there is a selection of golf accessories, plus club hire
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Beach and Water sports
Boat access to the sea is made easy by Waldegraves' own hard slipway, which is suitable for hand or vehicle assisted boat launching. Water, for most craft, is deep enough approximately ± 3 hours either side of high water and is suitable for sailing dinghies, jet skis, speedboats and windsurfers. Buoyed zones ensure that speedboats and jet skis do not stray into bathing areas.

For safety, it is recommend that all children are supervised by an adult when playing or swimming in the sea.
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Boating Lake
Specially designed for rowing boats, inflatable boats and model boats, the Boating Lake is surrounded by trees and mown, grassy banks. Children and families can have hours of fun just messing about in the and water boats.
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Swimming Pool
A heated open-air pool is great for all ages. Divided into a toddler and a parent and a main pool, even the younger swimmers can enjoy the water. Surrounding the pool is a large, protected sunbathing deck.

Qualified lifeguards are on poolside duty at all times whilst the pool is in use.
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Sports
There is an all weather, multi purpose playing surface which can be used to practice basketball, netball and football skills. This is very spacious.

It has basketball nets and a marked basketball court, the area can be used for fun, practice or organised matches. Alongside the all weather area is a large, grassed area which is perfect for organised games or a fun kick-about.
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Fishing
There are 4 well stocked lakes offering any angler a fine facility. The lakes are stocked full of Carp, Bream, Tench, Roach, Rudd, Perch and Gudgeon.

They are fully managed, a permanent fishing warden ensures that the fish and their environment are always maintained. Rods tackle and bait can all be bought or hired from the onsite Shop.
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Shops
The Wheatgrain Shop bakes its own, fresh bread, every morning, this is usually very early. They also stock local produce together with a large range of food, children's toys and souvenir gifts.
Also there is a brand new leisure accessories shop with new golf, camping and fishing stock.

Also various touring caravans for sale.
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Places to visit.
There are many places to visit around the area. Including Colchester Zoo, Nature Reserves, east Mersea has a vineyard. Although to be honest we stayed on the site most of the time enjoying the activities and beach.
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Eating out
Well there is a Restaurant on site, although there are numerous places to go just off of site too. The restaurant does a large menu although it can be expensive if you were to eat there for each meal.
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Other activities.
On a Sunday they have a large Boot Sale, which we went too and it was great, children loved it. (Weather Permitting.)

I would recommended this Site for anyone who was going camping for the 1st time or there 100th time. It is great for getting away from the hustle and bustle of life. Some older children may find it a little boring as it is defiantly more for the outdoor type of people. No sign of playstation, TV's or excessive Fruit Machines.

We had a 3 bedroom tent, and opted for an electrical point. We took lots of toys for the children to play with including many colouring books and puzzle books. We also took a travel Kettle, radio, torches, extra batteries, and some plates, cups and cutlery (these were all plastic.)

The best thing we took was the Torches each of the children had one and it eased them at night, also we heard them playing games with them too.

On a few occasions we bought a food and ate it back at the tent which was very nice, I found as well as my children that we spent more time as a family on this holiday than many of the others."