Practical Caravan

Local Authority Inside informatio­n on Wivenhoe, Essex

Planning to visit somewhere new? Let the locals give you the lowdown! This month, a riverside gem

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Who are you?

We’re the Lyon family – we love touring, which is a brilliant way to enjoy the great outdoors.

How do you know the area? We have lived here for 30 years, originally choosing the town for its proximity to our work in Colchester (5km), London and Stansted Airport, and its access to public transport.

Why do you love it?

Wivenhoe, a tranquil riverside town of Saxon origin, was recorded as Wiivnhou in the Domesday Book of 1086. It has a long history of fishing and boat-building. The area offers a great choice of countrysid­e walking trails, National Cycle Network routes (sustrans.org.uk) and scenic coastal footpaths.

Nearby Essex University gives the town a buzz, with a mix of students, commuters and a thriving artistic community. Its High Street has a delightful collection of independen­t shops and attractive pubs. If you enjoy being on the water, you can launch kayaks, boats and stand up paddleboar­ds from the quayside.

What is your favourite place in the area? There are many highlights: walking from Wivenhoe to the nearby Cinque Port of Brightling­sea, or the Town to Sea Trail, a waterfront walk directly into Britain’s oldest recorded town, Colchester.

Here you can see a band, browse stalls and shops, take in an exhibition, or visit Colchester Castle and the zoo. There are a number of nearby beaches – for amusements, Clacton; for immaculate sands, Frinton.

Walton-on-the-naze is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (the cliffs hold a range of fossils), and the traditiona­l fishing village of Mersea Island offers fine views across the Blackwater Estuary.

Opposite Wivenhoe, you can take the ferry to the 200-acre Fingringho­e Wick Nature Reserve, with views of Geedon Saltmarsh, or cross to the Suffolk border (nine miles) and visit Dedham Vale, on the Stour Valley’s Flatford and Constable walking trail.

Perhaps best known for its historic connection with The Mayflower, Harwich is also worth a visit by bike, or on foot along the first part of the Essex Way.

Which campsites would you recommend? A particular favourite of ours is Fen Farm Caravan Park (fenfarm.co.uk). Small and really tranquil, this family-oriented campsite is located by the sea, close to a country park on Mersea Island. There’s a public footpath to the beach. It’s also near Cudmore Grove Country Park, where in normal times, you can take part in a terrific Sunday Parkrun!

What food and drink is the area known for? Mersea Wild Pacific Oysters, fished sustainabl­y from traditiona­l beds, are world famous and can be enjoyed at The Company Shed or the West Mersea Oyster Bar.

For wine-tasting and tours in Suffolk, Dedham Vale Vineyard is a must. Tiptree Jam Museum is not far, so you will find the famous royal preserve served with most cream teas in the area. Try the Essex Rose Tea Room, in Dedham High Street, or afternoon tea at the Wivenhoe House, a lovely country house hotel.

Tell us somewhere great to eat!

The Black Buoy is a CAMRA award-winning pub that takes some beating for a reasonably priced family meal, although there are five other pubs to choose from, should you wish to partake in a pub crawl!

For a Friday night fish and chip supper, Henley’s of Wivenhoe (the world record holder for the fastest serving of chips from raw potato) is an absolute must.

If it’s a special occasion, for us it would have to be Le Talbooth, with its picturesqu­e setting by the Stour.

Where can you get spare kit?

Homestead Caravans & Outdoor Leisure, in Weeley, stocks a large collection of accessorie­s and outdoor kit.

Where can I find the cheapest petrol/diesel in the area?

Tesco Hythe Superstore (Greenstead Road CO1 2TE), by the infamous ‘magic roundabout’ – care is needed, because traffic travels in both directions.

Share a highlight only a local would know… Visit Wrabness to follow the footpath that brings you to the House for Essex, designed by Grayson Perry. With views across the beach, there are perfect picnic spots and you can also join the Essex Way from here.

‘If you enjoy being on the water, you can launch kayaks, boats and stand up paddleboar­ds from the quayside’

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 ??  ?? Watersport­s on the River Colne
Watersport­s on the River Colne
 ??  ?? Wivenhoe quayside
Wivenhoe quayside
 ??  ?? Colchester Castle
Verum essus, te prature ruptat quibus
Colchester Castle Verum essus, te prature ruptat quibus
 ??  ?? The Black Buoy pub
The Black Buoy pub

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