Nature and Outdoor Activities

If you like a peaceful seafront location with shelving sandy beaches then Dovercourt Bay is ideal. The beach holds a Blue Flag for excellence, an award that it has held for many years. The beach offers a wide range of family activities along the promenade including an impressive range of sport and leisure facilities, but it’s the golden sand that is always a highlight for visitors.

Dovercourt Bay is home to two cast iron lighthouses, the High and the Low lighthouses – one on the beach and one-off shore; they were in daily use until 1917 and restored in the 1980s. When standing on the high promenade above the beach, there are superb panoramic views over a wide expanse of the North Sea and neighbouring Felixstowe point. Visit The Beach Guide for more information.

The area’s nature reserves and bird sanctuaries provide excellent opportunities for bird watchers and wildlife enthusiasts. Bobbit’s Hole in Dovercourt is a small freshwater lake bounded by secondary woodland and is a valuable wildlife pocket attracting a number of bird species including the Kingfisher. for information see Visit Essex.

Dovercourt Skate Park, which is situated alongside the leisure centre, is free and open all the year round and can be used by skateboarders, BMX bikes, inline skates and scooters.

Clacton Kayaks are a family-run business established in 2020, priding themselves on providing a welcoming and personalised experience for all our customers. Enjoy kayaking, paddleboarding, or pedalo rides in this unique location which features a safe and secure lake with an on-site shop. Providing everything you need for an unforgettable watersports experience.

Harwich ‘Parkrun’ organise free, weekly, 5km timed runs around the world. They are open to everyone and are free, safe and easy to take part in. Every Saturday at 9.00am. The event takes place in Cliff Park, Dovercourt. Please register before your first run.

Harwich Beach is located on the confluence of the Stour and Orwell estuaries and offers an ever-changing seascape of boats and ships going into both Harwich and Felixstowe ports. The beach is a rare example of an emerging dune system in Essex, where the coast is predominately saltmarsh. This beach is good for walking, swimming and exploring the many historic attractions nearby such as the Treadwheel Crane.

Harwich beach is sand dotted with sea plants, and is a resting place for fishing boats.

Route 51 of The National Cycle Network is a long distance ride, suitable for the more energetic and adventurous cyclists and which passes through Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Essex, finishing in Harwich.

Part of the route is a 25 miles ride, which forms part of North Sea Cycle Route, starts in Colchester by the tourist information centre and heads to Wivenhoe along the River Colne. The route then proceeds to Harwich along country roads. The final off road stretch takes you through the town of Dovercourt before finishing by Harwich Pier.

The Harwich Society offers guided walking tours of Harwich throughout the year, which take you to the hidden gems and historical sites of Harwich.

Tours start at the Ha’penny Pier.

Tel 01255 553610/504590 www.harwich-society.co.uk

Seal watching trips are offered all the year round from Harwich to Hamford Water National Nature Reserve. On some days there are as many as 70 Seals on the mud waiting for you!

The seal trips are with the vessel “SEAL SPOTTER” and takes between 90-110 minutes, depending on tide and other vessels. The boat can take up to 12 passengers at a time. Waterproof clothes and an extra layer is advisable. Tickets can be booked online at www.sealwatching.co.uk (The booking tool knows the price, availability and how many seats are available.) Gift coupons are also available online. Departure point is from the Ha’ Penny Pier, Harwich.

Tel: 01728 666329 or [email protected]

The Harwich Harbour Foot Ferry, which can accommodate up to 58 people on a brand-new boat, takes foot passengers and cyclists every hour from the Ha’Penny Pier across the Harbour to Shotley and Felixstowe.

Daily services operate seasonally, with the first ferry starting at the beginning of the Easter Holidays 2018. Additionally, they offer river trips/sun downers starting from Harwich, Felixstowe or Shotley or anywhere on River Orwell or River Stour. Information about the service is displayed on the Ha’penny Pier.

Tel: 01728 666329 

There are many great walks one can choose from which take in some of the fantastic history and picturesque countryside. The Essex Way is a long-distance footpath stretching for 82 miles right across Essex. Although it officially starts in Epping and ends in Harwich it is signposted both ways! If you only wanted to do part of it, a 16 mile walk will take you to Manningtree, where you can pick up a train to return you to Harwich. This route will take you cross country to the Stour estuary, through to Wrabness and then through Copperas Wood, a 12 hectare nature reserve that has been traditionally used for Sweet Chestnut and Hornbeam coppicing. You’ll also pass Grayson Perry’s innovative house known as ‘A House for Essex’, which is on Black Bouy Lane.

Harwich & Dovercourt is a friendly club where new Members and Visitors alike are always welcome to enjoy a great venue for a day’s golf. The club was first formed in 1906, and is a 9 hole CASC registered club situated between the villages of Dovercourt and Parkeston.

Located on Dovercourt seafront, The Lighthouse Sports and Social Hub houses one of the last outdoor roller skating rinks in the UK. Opened in 1947 the rink is now operated by The Lighthouse Sports and Social Club, offering a range of sports and fitness activities for the whole family.  They also offer hot and cold foods, drinks and ice cream.

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