Overview of Waldegraves Holiday Park

Waldegraves Holiday Park is a family-owned coastal holiday park on Mersea Island in Essex, overlooking the Blackwater Estuary. Families can combine beach days and island walks with a heated outdoor swimming pool, entertainment, children’s activities and a wide range of outdoor sports.

This park has welcomed holidaymakers for more than 70 years and offers both self-catering caravan holidays and traditional touring or camping breaks. Direct access to the beach and slipway makes Waldegraves particularly attractive to visitors who enjoy coastal scenery, fishing, boating and time beside the water.

There is plenty to do without leaving the park. Four fishing lakes are joined by an 18-hole pitch and putt course, a golf driving range, FootGolf, crazy golf, play areas, a sports court and a family games room. Guests can also enjoy meals and drinks at the restaurant, bars and seasonal outdoor food and entertainment areas.

Waldegraves is ideal for families, couples, anglers, golfers and dog owners looking for an active holiday beside the Essex coast. West Mersea’s seafood restaurants, beaches and harbour are a short drive away, while Colchester Zoo, Colchester Castle and several nature reserves can be reached for days out.

Waldegraves Holiday Park at a Glance

Why is Waldegraves Holiday Park a Great Holiday Park?

• Direct access to the beach and a slipway beside the Blackwater Estuary
• Heated outdoor swimming pool with a separate pool for younger children
• Four managed coarse fishing lakes and opportunities for sea fishing
• 18-hole pitch and putt, a 10-bay driving range, FootGolf and crazy golf
• Three-bedroom holiday caravans sleeping families and groups of up to eight
• Touring, motorhome and tent pitches with electric and non-electric options
• Family entertainment, children’s activities, play areas and a sports court
• Restaurant, bars, takeaway food and an on-site shop

Frequently Asked Questions About Waldegraves Holiday Park

Is Waldegraves Holiday Park on Mersea Island?

Yes. This park is on Mersea Island near West Mersea and is reached by crossing the Strood causeway from the Essex mainland. Visitors should check local tide information before travelling because the road can be covered during particularly high tides.

Does Waldegraves Holiday Park have a swimming pool?

Waldegraves has a heated outdoor swimming pool and a separate toddler pool. The pool normally opens from May until early September and remains dependent on suitable weather conditions.

Are dogs welcome at Waldegraves Holiday Park?

Dogs are welcome in selected dog-friendly holiday caravans and on touring or camping pitches. Dogs must be declared when booking, kept under control around the park and should not be left unattended in accommodation.

What accommodation is available at Waldegraves?

Guests can book three-bedroom holiday caravans sleeping up to eight people. Touring caravans, motorhomes and tents are also welcomed on a choice of serviced, hardstanding and non-electric pitches.

Is there fishing at Waldegraves Holiday Park?

There are four coarse fishing lakes stocked with species including carp, bream, tench, roach, rudd, perch and gudgeon. Fishing tickets are required, and sea fishing is also possible from the park’s beach.

Is there food and entertainment at Waldegraves?

The park has a restaurant, sports bar, family entertainment venue, seasonal outdoor bar and takeaway facilities. Entertainment and children’s activity programmes vary according to the date of the stay, with the fullest programme usually running during school holidays.

Accommodation at Waldegraves Holiday Park

Waldegraves Holiday Park offers self-catering holiday caravans alongside pitches for touring caravans, motorhomes and tents. This range allows visitors to choose between a furnished caravan holiday and a traditional outdoor break beside the Essex coast.

The main holiday caravans have three bedrooms, usually arranged as one double and two twin rooms, with additional sleeping space in the lounge. They can accommodate up to eight people and include central heating, double glazing, a television, Wi-Fi and a private gated deck.

Kitchens contain the main appliances, crockery and cooking equipment needed for a self-catering stay, including an oven, microwave, fridge freezer, kettle and toaster. Bed linen, gas and electricity are included, although the additional services provided on arrival vary between accommodation grades.

Selected holiday caravans welcome dogs, with pet-friendly choices available across the main accommodation grades. Waldegraves also has one two-bedroom accessible holiday caravan with ramped access, wider internal routes, an adapted kitchen area, a wheel-in shower, grab rails and an over-bed hoist.

Holiday Caravan Comparison

Dog-friendly versions of the main holiday caravan grades are available subject to availability and must be selected when booking.

Touring and Camping Accommodation

Touring and camping guests can choose from grass, hardstanding and non-electric pitch areas. Serviced pitches have their own electric connection and water supply, while hardstanding pitches are intended for touring caravans and motorhomes.

The camping fields provide space for tents in different areas of the park, including locations close to the lakes and coast. Touring and camping guests can use the park’s toilet and shower blocks, washing-up points, laundry facilities, swimming pool and entertainment venues.

Touring and Camping Pitch Comparison

Park Facilities at Waldegraves Holiday Park

Waldegraves Holiday Park has a broad range of outdoor activities, entertainment and places to eat. The central leisure area includes a heated outdoor swimming pool, a smaller toddler pool and space for guests to sit beside the water when the weather is nice.

Fishing is one of this park’s most distinctive features. Four managed coarse fishing lakes cater for visiting anglers, while the beach provides access to sea fishing. Tackle and bait can be purchased from the park shop.

Golfers can use the 18-hole pitch and putt course and undercover 10-bay driving range. Families can also play FootGolf or nine-hole crazy golf. Additional outdoor facilities include children’s playgrounds, an all-weather sports court, grass games areas and a boating lake where guests can use suitable small boats and inflatables.

The Granary Bar and Restaurant serves meals and drinks, with indoor seating and an outdoor deck overlooking the pool area. The Barn provides a sports bar, while the Wheatsheaf hosts family entertainment. Seasonal facilities include an outdoor stage, courtyard bar and takeaway.

The Wheatgrain shop sells groceries, freshly baked goods, drinks, beach items, camping accessories, fishing supplies and bottled gas. Other useful facilities include toilet and shower blocks, family bathrooms, a launderette, Wi-Fi, reception services and six electric vehicle charging points.

Entertainment programmes include visiting performers, live music, family shows, games and children’s activities. Programmes vary through the year, with more frequent entertainment and organised activities during school holidays.

Waldegraves Holiday Park Facilities

Facility	Details
Outdoor swimming pool	Heated main pool and separate toddler pool, normally open May to early September
Fishing	Four coarse fishing lakes plus sea fishing from the beach
Golf	18-hole pitch and putt, 10-bay driving range, FootGolf and crazy golf
Beach and boating	Direct beach access, slipway and boating lake
Children’s facilities	Playgrounds, activity programme, sports court and family games room
Entertainment	Live music, visiting acts, family shows and organised activities
Food and drink	Restaurant, sports bar, clubhouse, seasonal outdoor bar and takeaway
Shop	Groceries, bakery items, fishing tackle, camping supplies and beach goods
Touring facilities	Toilet and shower blocks, washing-up areas, water points and waste disposal
Other facilities	Wi-Fi, launderette, reception and electric vehicle charging

Places to Visit Near Waldegraves Holiday Park

Mersea Island provides plenty to explore without a long journey from Waldegraves. West Mersea is known for its working harbour, sailing community and locally caught seafood, while the island’s beaches and coastal routes are ideal for walking, cycling and wildlife watching.

Mersea Museum introduces visitors to the island’s fishing, boat-building, maritime and natural history. West Mersea Hard is another popular stop for harbour views, crabbing, boat trips and seafood restaurants overlooking the water.

At the eastern end of the island, Cudmore Grove Country Park covers more than 100 acres of coastal grassland, beach and nature reserve. Its walking trails, play area, historic remains and views across the Colne and Blackwater Estuaries make it an easy family day out.

Abberton Reservoir Nature Discovery Park is particularly rewarding for birdwatchers. The internationally important wetland attracts large numbers of ducks, swans and geese and has walking trails, bird hides, a visitor centre, café and play areas.

Colchester offers two of the region’s best-known attractions. Colchester Zoological Society occupies approximately 60 acres and cares for more than 150 species, while Colchester Castle contains Roman, Celtic and medieval collections inside Europe’s largest Norman keep.

Gardeners can visit the Beth Chatto Gardens near Elmstead Market, where contrasting gravel, woodland, water and reservoir gardens demonstrate how plants can be matched to different growing conditions.

Nearby Attractions

Journey times can vary, particularly when crossing the Strood causeway or travelling towards Colchester at busy times.