Hattie's Guidebook
Sightseeing
Colchester Zoo
Maldon RoadMúseum á kastalanum
Castle ParkFirstsite
Mercury Theatre
Colchester's Natural History Museum
66 High StLayer Marney Tower
Tiptree Tea Room, Museum and Jam Shop
Factory HillWalks/nature
High Woods Country Park
174 Turner Rd
Lexden Park
Church Lane2 minute walk.
Abberton Reservoir is a pumped storage freshwater reservoir in eastern England near the Essex coast, with an area of 700 hectares (1,700 acres). Most of its water is pumped from the River Stour. It is the largest body of freshwater in Essex.
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Abberton Reservoir
Abberton Reservoir is a pumped storage freshwater reservoir in eastern England near the Essex coast, with an area of 700 hectares (1,700 acres). Most of its water is pumped from the River Stour. It is the largest body of freshwater in Essex.
Location
Abberton Reservoir Nature Discovery Park
Church Rd,
Layer-de-la-Haye
Colchester
Essex
CO2 0EU
Know before you go
Size
25 hectares
Parking information
Large free on site car park
Bicycle parking
Yes
Grazing animals
Sheep grazing from September-October
Walking trails
Various routes around the reserve and reservoir, please call in to the centre and ask for details.
Access
Some walking trails are wheelchair friendly. A wheelchair and electric buggy are available for use.
Dogs
No dogs permitted
No dogs currently permitted
Facilities
Visitor centre
Bird hides
Toilets
Shop
Cafe/refreshments
Picnic area
Accessible toilet
Baby changing facilities
Outdoor play area
Wifi
When to visit
Opening times
Abberton Nature Discovery Centre is open 7 days a week 10.00am-4.00pm
Best time to visit
All year round
About the reserve
The huge expanse of Essex & Suffolk Water's Abberton Reservoir is one of Europe's top wetland sites. It is of international importance as a safe haven for wild ducks, swans and other water birds, whether resident, passing through on migration or over-wintering. It lies close to east-coast migration routes and, with its surrounding envelope of pasture and tree plantations, is a welcome sight to tired birds. Up to 40,000 ducks, swans and geese visit each year. The top seven species are Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Coot and Black-headed Gull and they cannot fail to impress. Added to this there can be hundreds of Shoveler, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Pintail and Great Crested Grebe.
In the spring there is the unusual sight of Cormorants nesting in trees, one of the few places in Britain where they do this. They began in 1981 and have continued ever since. Late summer brings the spectacle of large numbers of swans and ducks moulting - replacing their worn-out feathers - on the reservoir. Safety is vital while they do so because they replace all their flight feathers at once, which means that for a while they are unable to fly. In dry winters water levels fall temporarily to expose large expanses of mud. This attracts large numbers of passage waders such as ruff and spotted redshank from the coast. The surrounding farmland, too, is of value to birds. In winter thousands of golden plover may be seen there, along with small numbers of migratory geese and swans. For the keen birdwatcher the reservoir boasts an impressive list of rarities visiting briefly in winter or passing through on migration.
Visitors can enjoy walks on our nature reserve, whilst taking in stunning panoramic views across the reservoir from the three accessible hides
Essex Wildlife Trust Abberton Reservoir
Church RoadLocation
Abberton Reservoir Nature Discovery Park
Church Rd,
Layer-de-la-Haye
Colchester
Essex
CO2 0EU
Know before you go
Size
25 hectares
Parking information
Large free on site car park
Bicycle parking
Yes
Grazing animals
Sheep grazing from September-October
Walking trails
Various routes around the reserve and reservoir, please call in to the centre and ask for details.
Access
Some walking trails are wheelchair friendly. A wheelchair and electric buggy are available for use.
Dogs
No dogs permitted
No dogs currently permitted
Facilities
Visitor centre
Bird hides
Toilets
Shop
Cafe/refreshments
Picnic area
Accessible toilet
Baby changing facilities
Outdoor play area
Wifi
When to visit
Opening times
Abberton Nature Discovery Centre is open 7 days a week 10.00am-4.00pm
Best time to visit
All year round
About the reserve
The huge expanse of Essex & Suffolk Water's Abberton Reservoir is one of Europe's top wetland sites. It is of international importance as a safe haven for wild ducks, swans and other water birds, whether resident, passing through on migration or over-wintering. It lies close to east-coast migration routes and, with its surrounding envelope of pasture and tree plantations, is a welcome sight to tired birds. Up to 40,000 ducks, swans and geese visit each year. The top seven species are Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Coot and Black-headed Gull and they cannot fail to impress. Added to this there can be hundreds of Shoveler, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Pintail and Great Crested Grebe.
In the spring there is the unusual sight of Cormorants nesting in trees, one of the few places in Britain where they do this. They began in 1981 and have continued ever since. Late summer brings the spectacle of large numbers of swans and ducks moulting - replacing their worn-out feathers - on the reservoir. Safety is vital while they do so because they replace all their flight feathers at once, which means that for a while they are unable to fly. In dry winters water levels fall temporarily to expose large expanses of mud. This attracts large numbers of passage waders such as ruff and spotted redshank from the coast. The surrounding farmland, too, is of value to birds. In winter thousands of golden plover may be seen there, along with small numbers of migratory geese and swans. For the keen birdwatcher the reservoir boasts an impressive list of rarities visiting briefly in winter or passing through on migration.
Visitors can enjoy walks on our nature reserve, whilst taking in stunning panoramic views across the reservoir from the three accessible hides
Hilly Fields
Cymbeline Way
Lexden Earthworks & Bluebottle Grove
Beaches
My favourite little place only 20 minutes down the road.
Please check tide times before your visit.
41 íbúar mæla með
Mersea Island
My favourite little place only 20 minutes down the road.
Please check tide times before your visit.
Hospital
Colchester Hospital
Turner RoadWalk-in Centre Car Park
Places to eat
The Lexden Crown
235 Lexden RdVery close to the flat
Bellapais Steak House and Greek Restaurant
Saint John's StreetMiller & Carter Colchester
342 London RdBanquet Chinese
342 London RdNorth Hill Noodle Bar
2 North Hill
The Hare and Hounds
Lovely country pub
The Layer Fox
2 Malting Green RdLovely country pub
Donkey and Buskins Colchester
Layer RoadLovely country pub