Just across the water is Mersea island and Pyefleet Creek overlooking the nature reserve at Fingringhoe.

It's just a short trip to Colne point with its sandy beaches, and the open sea beyond.

Brightlingsea by car:

1. From London take the A12 north from the M25 (Jn28) and set your milo to zero. Keep going past Chelmsford and Colchester exits and continue on towards Ipswich branching off onto the A120 for Clacton and Harwich (42 on the milo) (DON'T be fooled into taking the A120 to Braintree/Stansted, the turning for which is a few miles before Colchester).
2. Come off the A120 at the Clacton exit (48 milo) and at the roundabout take the second exit (A133) towards Frating and Colchester.

3. At the traffic lights turn left onto the B1029 towards Brightlingsea, cross the level crossing about a mile-and-a-half further on and when you get to the mini roundabout, turn right, then immediately left at the adjacent roundabout towards Brightlingsea on the B1027.

If you're approaching from the North on the A12, come off at the Colchester exit, then take a left at the roundabout for Clacton/Harwich onto the A120. >then 2.