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Mersea Island

Around East Mersea from Cudmore Grove

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Walk summary

Autumn or winter

Wintering birds on grazing marsh and estuary

It can be very chilly on the coast especially if windy: check the weather forecast and take plenty of warm clothes.

Park at Cudmore Grove country park, East Mersea

2 hours

Flat, apart from a steep slope down from the seawall; on well-defined unsurfaced footpaths except for a lengthy stretch of quiet road on the way back.

Click on a marker on the map for route details

Stage AB: Cudmore Grove

20 mins

From the car park head back towards the entrance road and bear right before you reach it down towards the hedgerow, turning right to follow the path alongside it, passing a bird hide overlooking a pond. On reaching the seawall, climb up on to it and follow the seawall path with grazing marsh on your left and saltmarsh fringing the Colne Estuary on your right. From the point, you can detour along the sand spit ahead or turn left to follow the seawall path.

Stage BC: Seawall path

40 mins

Follow the seawall path past arable fields, then the Colchester Oyster Fishery, then pastures grazed by sheep. After three stiles you come to a flight of steps down on the left, with a waymarker.

Stage CD: Back to East Mersea

25 mins

Go down the steps and across the pasture and into a small wood. Follow the path through the woodland past several houses until you emerge into Shop Lane. Turn right to follow it around several bends until you come out on to East Road, just down from the Dog and Pheasant PH.

Stage DA: East Mersea to Cudmore Grove

20 mins

Turn left out of Shop Lane and walk along East Road, keeping straight on along Bromans Lane where East Road turns left. The entrance to Cudmore Grove is on the right towards the end of Bromans Lane.