Osea Leisure Park

Views overlooking the estuary (added by manager 18 Feb 2013)

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  • Award-winning nature site family run since 1933
  • Less than ten miles from Colchester Zoo
  • Restaurant and bar with play area and large screen TV
Oh, see this for a wondrous wildlife haven…Family-run since 1933, edged by Essex countryside, the Blackwater Estuary and miles of coastal walks, Osea Leisure Park is one for naturalists of all ages to retreat to. And would you Adam and Eve it, it’s only about an hour from London too. The Osea family take the site conservation seriously and have picked up a Gold David Bellamy Award for their endeavours; they also work with Natural England and the Essex Wildlife Trust to re-establish the local saltmarsh grazing, and use Osea Meadows to graze rare-breed cattle and sheep. It all makes for a splendidly secluded and natural spot for family hols, but with coastal villages, Essex attractions, museums, boating and sailing all close by, and Colchester Zoo less than ten miles away. Barbecues are allowed on site; you can pick up supplies in two main supermarkets about a mile away, and fast food and pizza takeaways close by. Or follow in the footsteps of most guests to the Deckhouse restaurant and bar, a short walk through the caravan park and with landscaped grounds, play area, live weekend entertainment in high season, and a large screen TV to follow all-important football matches and sports fixtures (limited open hours apply at off-peak times). There's no shop on site, but one is at the park next to Osea a short walk away, and there are vending machines for snacks and drinks on site as well as a freezer for refreezing ice packs.

Site type

Tent pitches 2

Tourist board rating

Languages spoken

English

Gold David Bellamy Conservation Award AA Holiday Centre

Want to know more about camping in Essex?

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

Disabled facilities

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

Single-sex groups welcome

Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided

Barbecues allowed

Campfires allowed

Commercial vehicles allowed

Dogs allowed

Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Peaceful

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

Nearby leisure

Cycle hire nearby

Cycling nearby

Fishing nearby

Golf nearby

Horse riding nearby

Indoor pool nearby

Restaurant nearby

Sailing nearby

Watersports nearby

Location

Osea Leisure Park

Goldhanger Road

Maldon

Essex

England

CM9 4SA

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London GMT (GMT+00:00)

GPS

51.73518°N
0.72903°W

Nearest transport

Coach
5.9 mi The George
5.9 mi The George
11.2 mi Bus Station
Rail
6.1 mi Althorne Rail Station
6.2 mi Witham (Essex) Rail Station
6.3 mi North Fambridge Rail Station
Ferry
8.3 mi Wallasea Island Ferry Landing
8.6 mi Burnham on Crouch Ferry Landing
13.4 mi Point Clear Ferry Landing
Airport
11.6 mi London Southend Airport
22.8 mi London Stansted 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

Boating, botany and birdwatching…the Blackwater Estuary is the biggest estuary in Essex and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserve with all sorts of habitats such as mudflats, saltmarsh, grazing marsh and reedbeds. The Old Hall Marshes part of the estuary, managed by the RSPB, is one of the sites to see feathered friends – around 4000 Brent geese gaggle here in winter – and you might also spot a few rare breeds of other flying things like the emerald damselfly. The estuary’s Tollesbury Flats are stuffed with native Essex oysters; oysters have been harvested here for around a thousand years and Anglo-Saxon oyster traps have been found in the flats. Oystercatchers flit around here accordingly, and both the Tollesbury Flats and the other main Blackwater area, the Salcott Flats, have several other species fluttering around, like migrating birds in winter, birds of prey and other waders such as redshank and curlew. Moving onto the water, the Blackwater Estuary, Blackwater River and surrounds have boating and sailing clubs, boat trips, sea fishing trips from West Mersea and seal-spotting around Mersea Island – or go on your own feets to Mersea and Northey Islands, one of Essex’s six tidal islands walkable to when the tide is out. The ancient town of Maldon is about a mile from Osea Leisure Park: mosey around here to Hythe Quay and see its traditional Thames barges or hop on one for a river cruise to Osea Island with a cream tea along the way. Battle and history enthusiasts have the sites of the Battle of Maldon (old) and Maldon Museum (less old) to delve into; Beeleigh Abbey and its gardens, and the Combined Military Museum on Station Road – fountain pen gun, Bond? If you’d like to taste those famed Essex oysters (yes of course), buy some on weekends and bank holidays at the seafood bar in Maldon’s Promenade Park – and if you’re in town in spring, you're obviously going to take part in the Maldon Mud Race? Squelch. Within 15 miles of Osea, everything from heritage railways (Mangapps Railway Museum) to Essex jam (Tiptree Farm) to regional wine (New Hall Vineyard; one of the oldest in the country) is to hand, along with south Essex towns like Leigh and Southend-on-Sea. Make time for at least a day in Colchester: the kids will want hours to see the 270+ species and chuff around the Lost Madagascar Express road train at Colchester Zoo, while adults can check out the cathedral and Colchester Castle and its museum, covering 2000 years of British history.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020 2019 2018 2017
West Mersea 8.9 mi Sea N/A Good N/A N/A
Brightlingsea 13 mi Estuary N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Southend Chalkwell 13.9 mi Estuary N/A Good N/A Good
Southend Westcliff Bay 13.9 mi Estuary N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Leigh Bell Wharf 13.9 mi Estuary Good N/A Poor N/A

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

RHS Garden Hyde Hall 8.1 mi

Colchester Zoo 9.9 mi

Colchester Castle Museum 13 mi

firstsite 13 mi

East Anglian Railway Museum 13.1 mi

National Trust

Coggeshall Grange Barn 9.2 mi

Paycocke's 9.6 mi

Bourne Mill 12.5 mi

Thorington Hall 19 mi

Flatford: Bridge Cottage 19.8 mi

Cycle routes

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

Other

Heybridge - Maldon - River Chelmer - River Blackwater 1 mi

Battle of Maldon, 991 1.6 mi

Purleigh - Cock Clarks - Woodham Mortimer - Hazeleigh - Purleigh 4.4 mi

Tiptree - Great Braxted - Great Totham - Tiptree 4.6 mi

BRAXTED PARK 5.2 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.

Reviews

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  • Does Osea Leisure Park have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Osea Leisure Park dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Osea Leisure Park? Boating, botany and birdwatching…the Blackwater Estuary is the biggest estuary in Essex and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserve with all sorts of habitats such as mudflats, … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Osea Leisure Park?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  12 p.m. –  Anytime
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    On-site accommodation
    Arrive:  12 p.m. –  9 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.

    Please use The Deckhouse for late check-in when reception is closed.

    Read more