HARWICH HAVEN & ESTUARIES
Harwich – Shotley – Felixstowe
On track for great car-free days out
Explore The Haven
Discover the Historic Harwich Haven, Stour & Orwell Estuaries, Harwich, Shotley & Landguard Felixstowe
Enjoy great car-free days out around the Harwich Haven, travelling around Suffolk and Essex by rail with Greater Anglia and the Harbour Foot and Bicycle Ferry across the mighty River Orwell. Head out on wonderfully wildlife-rich coastal and riverside walks. Visit fabulous heritage and family-friendly attractions. Or simply sit back and watch the awesome spectacle of vast ships visiting Felixstowe’s über-impressive container port or the Harwich International cruiser terminal.
The Haven and its three peninsulas are a fascinating hub of history. Together, they have seen everything from royal ships and the Pilgrim Fathers’ Mayflower to early seaplanes, Britain’s last opposed seaborne invasion and the surrender of over 100 German U-Boats. Discover an estuary of amazing military and maritime significance over many centuries, of wildlife habitat treasures today and extreme and striking contrasts.
Explore The Haven by Rail, Foot & Ferry
Make every day out into a super little car-free adventure. With stations all around the Felixstowe and Harwich peninsulas, heading off to explore the coast or countryside of The Haven couldn’t be easier.
Or why not plan a ’round trip’ experience? Take the train to the heritage resort of Felixstowe and walk via the seafront and Landguard Nature Reserve to The Haven. Have lunch or a picnic by the river watching the big ships or pop into the Fort or Museum before taking the ferry across to historic Harwich where more forts and fascinating finds await. A train journey home from Harwich delivers some awesome Orwell views!
Download the map leaflet to find out more.
Download Info MapClimb Aboard!
Nothing beats viewing The Haven from the water. Heading across the harbour on the little yellow passenger ferry to new adventures is a voyage of discovery in itself. Experience the sheer scale of neighbouring container ships. Get a strategic view of the estuary’s historic military defences. Or simply sit back and enjoy the harbour tour ride.
The Harwich Harbour Foot and Bicycle Ferry between Suffolk and Essex across the Orwell operates a seasonal daily timetable (weather permitting). It links Shotley (Pier), Harwich (Ha’penny Pier) and Landguard Felixstowe (John Bradfield Viewing Area). Tickets are available online.
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Enjoy the View Points
Although Landguard’s Haven and Port of Felixstowe viewing area ranks amongst Suffolk’s top 50 attractions, it’s not the only place to take in magnificent views of the ever-bustling Orwell estuary.
Head for the lofty heights of the Crow’s Nest in Shotley’s Heritage Park for views across the river Stour, or walk alongside the Orwell to appreciate the vast waterside frontage of the Port of Felixstowe.
The foreshore of Harwich beach and Dovercourt Bay is a superb spot for full-on river-mouth views and seeing the massive cruiseliners or container ships coming in from the North Sea or heading off across the waves on their journeys across the world.
Natural Treasures – Precious, Protected, Beautiful
Each of the 3 peninsulas around The Haven is home to a wide range of stunning, protected wildlife habitats including nature reserves, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and areas of Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape.
Situated on Britain’s most easterly point, the Haven’s saltmarsh, mudflats, low cliffs, ancient woodland and vegetated shingle are on the ‘Eastern Flyway’ for wildfowl, migrating birds and even moths!
Don’t forget your binoculars!
Landguard Nature Reserve National Landscape
Explore with Waymarked Walks & Cycle Routes
There are some simply wonderful walks and rides around The Haven! From short waymarked or leafleted strolls like maritime, heritage, family-friendly or accessible trails to fully signposted long distance paths, taking time out to explore and enjoy couldn’t be easier.
Choose from town or country walks direct from the train station or ferry point, or cycle rides which follow National or Regional Cycle routes or quiet little country lanes.
Look out for these waymarked trails alongside The Haven’s rivers or coast: Arthur Ransome’s Walking Trail via Pin Mill – Stour & Orwell Walk – Essex Way Path Harwich, Wrabness, Mistley, Manningtree to join the Dedham Vale & Stour Valley Path through Constable Country – King Charles III England Coast Path Walk – Suffolk Coast Path.
What’s that Ship? – What’s that I can see? – What’s going on over there?
Watching the gigantic container ships and cruise-liners which travel to Suffolk and Essex in the UK from all over the world is just fascinating. Then there are the pilot boats and sailing yachts, the harbour foot ferry… Looking out over the busy water highway of the Orwell estuary is a real spectacle. Even if you’re not usually the curious type, there are sure to be loads of questions on the horizons which you’d just love to have answers to. Never fear – if you have a smart phone to hand, chances are the answers are right at your finger tips!
There are two sides to the great river and a story behind every vessel in view. So why not find out more about Harwich Haven?
Take a look at live stream estuary footage of the Port of Felixstowe, Landguard and Harwich or the tide charts and channel maps perhaps, or download an app to track the journeys of the ships you can see before your eyes? Discover where they have come from and even where they are destined for next!
3 Peninsulas Packed Full of Discoveries
Royal shipyards; the Pilgrim Fathers’ Mayflower; Britain’s last opposed seaborne invasion; seaplanes and surrendering German U-Boats; today’s biggest-ever container ships…
The fascinating Haven and its peninsulas have witnessed so much history and spectacle over the centuries. What will you discover?
Download Map Leaflet
Felixstowe
From fort and port to heritage resort, the Felixstowe Peninsula is perfect for fascinating days out and fab family fun. Explore Landguard’s mighty fine fort, very special nature reserve and the Felixstowe Museum, or take a crane-side seat at the viewing area for ‘fish & ships’! Handling over 3000 vessels and 4 million containers a year, there’s always something to watch at the Port of Felixstowe!
The resort’s great expanse of beach, and ‘Beach Street’ fun dining experiences, are just a walk in the family-friendly Martello Park away. Enjoy fun times at Felixstowe Pier, a Spa Pavilion show or relax in the Grade II listed, terraced seafront gardens. On top of all this, there’s even a cliff-top heritage town to explore too. Enjoy!
Discover Landguard Enjoy FelixstoweShotley
Shotley’s peninsula is full of surprises. Meet a mighty Indian prince in the HMS Ganges Museum by Shotley Gate’s bustling marina, or learn about ‘Button Boy’ navy trainees scaling a 43 metre mast. At hilltop Shotley church, a vast naval cemetery remembers the fallen.
Check out stunning river views from ‘The Quarterdeck’ in Shotley Heritage Park, or Stour-side, by St Mary’s church, Erwarton. Anne Boleyn’s uncle owned Tudor Erwarton Hall, but is her heart really buried here? Arthur Ransome clearly lost his to Pin Mill. Follow Swallows-and-Amazons-style sail-boats up the Orwell and you’ll soon see why.
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Harwich & Dovercourt
Expect history around every corner in Harwich. Pop into the Ha’penny Pier’s historic ticket office built in 1851 for early continental travellers, to pick up a map, join a free guided tour or find out about local lad Christopher Jones, master of The Mayflower, which took the first settlers to America in 1620.
Spot the Treadmill Crane used in the Naval shipyard (1667-1927). Visit all three of Harwich’s remarkable light ’houses’ or take in a film at the elegant, Grade II* listed Electric Palace Cinema. Don’t miss ‘The Redoubt’, the fine circular Napoleonic fort tucked away near Harwich Green, or Beacon Hill Fort by The Point and wildlife foreshore of Dovercourt Bay.
Free guided tours by The Harwich Society : May- Sept – Saturdays 2.00pm – Start: Ha’penny Pier Visitor Centre. No need to book.
Quick History Maritime Trail MapExplore More
Enjoy some real time out, travelling by train to Felixstowe in Suffolk, Harwich in Essex and towns and villages along the awesome River Orwell. The Haven is both conveniently on Greater Anglia rail routes and suprisingly off the beaten track. Put your feet up at the coast or by the riverside. Stretch you legs a little on a stroll or set out on a little adventure. The Harwich Harbour Foot and Bicycle Ferry is a fab way to explore even more in a day and there is just so much to see and do.
From brilliant birdwatching and countryside walks to military defences and fascinating forts, maritime heritage trails, museums, seaside fun and mesmerizing massive ships – what will you go for this time… and when you come back for more?
