Waldegraves Holiday and Leisure Park

View prices & book 9 128 reviews
Outdoor heated swimming pool
Outdoor swimming pool
General view of site and pitches
Aerial photo

  • Family-friendly site on Mersea Island with beach access
  • Plenty of activities in the park and nearby area
  • Heated swimming pool, fishing lake and restaurant on site
Hurrah, it's Mersea Island! A perennially popular spot on the south-east coast, Mersea and its oysters have been known for centuries and the place has been a favourite with visitors since pre-Roman times. And hurrah, it's Waldegraves Holiday and Leisure Park, a fantastic family option for Mersea Island holidays. There's heaps to do here for when you're not out exploring the island: a heated outdoor pool, clubhouse with licensed bar, family games room, playground and sports area are just for starters – and best of all, the park has access to its own private sandy beach... Park characters Sammy Seagull and Bonnie Boxer are on hand along with the human members of the Waldegraves team to entertain guests, with other entertainment on site coming in the form of a coarse fishing lake, all-weather sports court, crazy golf, foot golf, pitch and putt and a driving range. The Granary restaurant and The Wheatgrain shop will sort foodie supplies.

Site type

Tent pitches 73
Motorhome pitches 51
Touring caravan pitches 51
Caravans for hire 31
Open now
Opens 1 March

Tourist board rating

Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • The site does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act (i.e. Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro).
  • Group bookings of 10 or more adults are not permitted (couples and immediate family members excepted).
  • Single-sex bookings of 4 or more people (couples and immediate family members excepted) are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • No hen/stag parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • Facilities/activities including crazy golf, foot golf, pitch and putt and the driving range are subject to extra charges payable on arrival.
  • The outdoor swimming pool is open between 30/04 and 30/09 (subject to weather conditions).
  • Commercial vehicles (vehicles used for work-related purposes, carrying goods or fare-paying passengers) and sign-written vehicles are not permitted on site.
  • At least one of the party members must be aged 21 or over.
  • Guests are advised to bring a good quality torch with them as parts of the site are unlit.
  • Swimming in the lake is not allowed.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Sat, 1 Mar to

AA 5 pennants

Pitch types & availability

Reviews

  • 61%
    10
  • 2%
    9
  • 28%
    8
  • 0%
    7
  • 2%
    6
  • 0%
    5
  • 0%
    4
  • 0%
    3
  • 2%
    2
  • 0%
    1
Location
9
Value for money
9
Accommodation
9
Facilities / Activities
9
Customer service
9
Child friendliness
9
Cleanliness
9
Wifi
5

95% would recommend this site to a friend

91% would stay here again

Reviews page 1 of 13
Arrival date (latest first)

It’s a great site spoiled them the burning garden waste

Overall 7/10

Location
6
Value for money
7
Accommodation
9
Facilities / Activities
8
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
9
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
No rating
Anonymous

Electric grass and gravel touring pitch

Liked Site was spotlessly clean
Staff are very friendly
Good security
Swimming pool was good

Disliked Burning of garden waste spoiled it as the smell from the smoke was unbearable and it was hot so we could not really any fresh air. This spoiled it for us so we cannot return

Excellent site, so much space, clean facilities. Staff eager to help

Overall 8/10

Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
8
Facilities / Activities
9
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
8
Richard L.

Electric grass pitch

Liked Friendly staff, well stocked shop and good sized pitches. Toolets and showers really clean.

Disliked Hedges cut but sharp cuttings still on the ground which was quite painful in thin soles shoes and hands. Pitch, slightly sloped

Sparkling-clean toilets and showers, swimming pool, shop, restaurant, friendly staff. Everything was…

Overall 10/10

Location
9
Value for money
10
Accommodation
10
Facilities / Activities
10
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
No rating
Steve T.

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked Sparkling-clean toilets and showers, swimming pool, shop, restaurant, friendly staff. Everything was great - best camping site we've been to!

Disliked Nothing

exceptional place to stay

Overall 10/10

Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
10
Facilities / Activities
10
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
7
Wifi
3
Anonymous

Electric grass and gravel touring pitch

Liked very nice place and very nice people

Disliked showers though very clean had a sulphury smell to them

Perfect spot for families and couples

Overall 10/10

Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
10
Facilities / Activities
10
Customer service
9
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
7
Oksana I.

Electric grass pitch

Liked Few minutes walking distance from the beach, very clean and nice place, water and electricity on each pitch.
Nice restaurant and pub, heated swimming pool, big shop, sweet corner for the kids, and loads of activities! Amazing stay, definitely will come back and will share this experience with my friends

Disliked Reception didn’t work on our arrival (18:40) and was no information where to go.
Wifi was working just near the facilities, no internet on the pitch.

Toilets were always clean, food from the courtyard was really good.…

Overall 8/10

Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
10
Facilities / Activities
7
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
1
Anonymous

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked Toilets were always clean, food from the courtyard was really good.

Disliked Entertainment was too loud. Could hear it from the pitch and when inside the club house couldn’t hear ourselves think.

2nd visit but will be back

Overall 9/10

Location
8
Value for money
10
Accommodation
No rating
Facilities / Activities
9
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
9
Wifi
5
Anonymous

Electric grass and gravel touring pitch

Liked Lovely sized pitch. All staff are welcoming and helpful.
Swimming pool.
Resturant, lovely food, fair price.
Close proximity to beach.
Bar, well stocked, good service.
Very fair touring price.
Hot shower, plenty room for clothes.
Suitable for all ages will be back grandkids.
Toilets cleaned regularly.

Disliked Leaving for home.
Both of us paid for wifi, which wasn't great.

Nice pitches very clean site staff very friendly…

Overall 5/10

Location
6
Value for money
6
Accommodation
6
Facilities / Activities
4
Customer service
5
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
7
Wifi
4
mrs b.

Electric grass and gravel touring pitch

Liked Nice pitches very clean site staff very friendly

Disliked For us as dog owners feel it could be a bit more dog friendly totally understand you can't take them in restaurant or bar but we tried to order food to sit outside in evening and was told our only option was a takeaway bit disappointed so we went to a lovely pub just down the road that was dog friendly

Location and facilities were excellent. Shop had everything you would need. Lovely…

Overall 10/10

Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
10
Facilities / Activities
8
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
7
Richard L.

Electric grass pitch

Liked Location and facilities were excellent. Shop had everything you would need. Lovely breakfast in the on site restaurant

Disliked Restaurant closes at 9pm with other on site facilities closed mid week

The place is really well looked after with lots of amenities for…

Overall 9/10

Location
9
Value for money
10
Accommodation
10
Facilities / Activities
8
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
6
Anonymous

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked The place is really well looked after with lots of amenities for young kids. Very nice location near the coast, but not for swimming unfortunately. Super clean toilets and good entertainment for the kids.

Disliked If you are an early sleeper, you might struggle with the noise from other campers, or make sure you camp in a more strategic place than we did.


Features

Leisure on site

Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Games room Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Play area TV room Take away Tennis Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available Car parking by pitch/unit Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Launderette Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Rallies welcome Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Remote location Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities Chemical disposal Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Public transport nearby Shop nearby

Type

Large (51-200 pitches)

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Horse riding nearby Indoor pool nearby Leisure/theme park nearby Outdoor pool nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Tennis nearby Watersports nearby

Touring and motorhomes

Seasonal pitches Tourer storage facilities Water hook-up points for tourers

Location

Waldegraves Holiday and Leisure Park

Mersea Island

Colchester

Essex

England

CO5 8SE

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)

GPS

51.77794°N
0.94871°E

Route directions

Join the B1025 to Mersea Island. Cross the Strood Channel via ‘The Causeway’ and then take the left fork to East Mersea. Take the second turning to the right and follow the brown and cream Tourist Board signs to Waldegraves.

Nearest transport

Coach
5.6 mi Brightlingsea Road
5.6 mi Brightlingsea Road
5.7 mi Colchester Road
Rail
5.4 mi Wivenhoe Rail Station
5.7 mi Alresford (Essex) Rail Station
7.1 mi Great Bentley Rail Station
Ferry
3.6 mi Point Clear Ferry Landing
3.7 mi Brightlingsea Ferry Landing
12 mi Burnham on Crouch Ferry Landing
Airport
17.9 mi London Southend Airport

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

Mersea is the most easterly inhabited island in the UK and although it's only about seven square miles has quite a bit to do among its unspoiled landscape. Exploring the local village from Waldegraves Holiday Leisure Park and sitting with a picnic taking in the fab views over the Blackwater Estuary should see you sorted to start with, then we'd suggest a bit of crabbing, wandering among the native wildlife of Cudmore Grove Country Park to the island's east, and a meal in one of the many eateries overlooking the harbour Mersea Hard. The foot ferry across to nearby Brightlingsea and Point Clear near St Osyth is on the island's east side. Off the island, the excellent town of Colchester is only nine miles away – zoo and castle a must – or you could trek around other nearby parks like Colchester's Highwoods Country Park and Hadleigh Castle Country Park in Suffolk.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
West Mersea 0.9 mi Sea N/AGoodN/AN/A
Brightlingsea 3.3 mi Estuary N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Jaywick 7 mi Sea N/AGoodGoodGood
Clacton Beach Martello Tower 8.2 mi Sea N/AGoodGoodGood
Clacton 9.6 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Colchester Zoo 7.6 mi

firstsite 7.9 mi

Colchester Castle Museum 8 mi

East Anglian Railway Museum 13 mi

RHS Garden Hyde Hall 17.8 mi

National Trust

Bourne Mill 7 mi

Coggeshall Grange Barn 12.8 mi

Flatford: Bridge Cottage 12.8 mi

Paycocke's 13.1 mi

Thorington Hall 14 mi

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

West Mersea 0.8 mi

Mersea Island Circular 2.1 mi

Cudmore Country Park - East and West Mersea - Cudmore 2.5 mi

Bradwell St Peter - River Blackwater - Bradwell Waterside 3.2 mi

Bradwell-on-Sea - Roman Fort - St Peter's Way - Bradwell 3.2 mi

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Nearest sites

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.

Want to know more about camping in Essex?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Waldegraves Holiday and Leisure Park have a swimming pool? Yes View all features
  • Is Waldegraves Holiday and Leisure Park dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Waldegraves Holiday and Leisure Park? Mersea is the most easterly inhabited island in the UK and although it's only about seven square miles has quite a bit to do among its unspoiled landscape. Exploring the local village … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Waldegraves Holiday and Leisure Park?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  3 p.m. –  9 p.m.
    Depart by:  1 p.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Waldegraves Holiday and Leisure Park? From £40 (for 2 nights, 4 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.