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Beautiful period fisherman's cottage

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Exterior - Beautiful period fisherman's cottage (West Mersea)
Dining - Beautiful period fisherman's cottage (West Mersea)
Interior - Beautiful period fisherman's cottage (West Mersea)
3 bedrooms, iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets - Beautiful period fisherman's cottage (West Mersea)
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop - Beautiful period fisherman's cottage (West Mersea)
Anchor Cottage offers a tranquil retreat in the heart of The Anchorage, with three bedrooms, a large sitting/dining room and lovely sheltered patio for alfresco dining. Being only 150 metres from the water's edge provides ideal access to paddle-boarding, kayaking and swimming.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

3 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 5

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Pet-friendly
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Outdoor space

Add dates for prices

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Beautiful period fisherman's cottage

Anchor cottage is a delightful period Grade 2 listed, three-bedroom cottage situated in the heart of The Anchorage, once known as Mersea City. It was built circa 1575, and is the largest of three terraced fishermen's cottages, nestling alongside other period buildings in The Lane, and next to a very small chapel.

It has three bedrooms, a large double, a twin room and a ground floor single bedroom. The bathroom is also on the ground floor.

A large sitting/dining room provides plenty of space for five people indoors and there is also a lovely sheltered patio, with summer house, for alfresco dining.

Please note, being a 'period' property there are some low ceilings, some with beams, some low door heights and the stairs are quite steep too.

There is a private garden with BBQ area that enjoys the sun at most times of the day.

The Lane is a popular local walk with little traffic so lots of peace and quiet.

Being only 150 metres from the water's edge it provides ideal access to the water for paddle-boarding, kayaking, crabbing and swimming. Most of the island's bars and restaurants are situated in the anchorage so it's only a short walk to find food and drink hospitality. Well behaved dogs are welcome.

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach nearby

Internet

  • Available in the cottage: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Hob
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Bathtub
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Wood stove

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Smart TV

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming cats and dogs only
  • 2 pets total

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • Near a hospital
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Cycling nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Motor boating nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Garden

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  • Restaurant
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8.4 out of 10, Very good, 251 reviews
The price is €114
includes taxes & fees
29 Apr - 30 Apr
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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 20

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

Pets are allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs and cats only
2 total pets
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property on the number on the booking confirmation

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

About the area

Located in Colchester, this cottage is on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Cudmore Grove Country Park and Abberton Reservoir, while Headgate Theatre and Tymperleys Clock Museum are cultural highlights. Colchester Arts Centre and Xtreme Gaming are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with nearby power boating, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling. Visit our Colchester travel guide
View more Cottages in Colchester
Map
West Mersea, England

What's nearby

  • Colchester Zoo
    Colchester Zoo
    19 min drive - 17.8 km
  • Colchester Castle Park
    Colchester Castle Park
    29 min drive - 18.2 km
  • Ipswich Waterfront
    Ipswich Waterfront
    57 min drive - 63.8 km
  • Mersea Island Museum
    19 min walk - 1.6 km
  • University of Essex
    32 min drive - 19.8 km

Getting around

  • Colchester Town Station
    25 min drive
  • London (SEN-Southend)
    86 min drive

Restaurants

  • Donkey & Buskins
    13 min drive
  • The Plough
    7 min drive
  • The Layer Fox
    14 min drive
  • The Kings Head
    46 min drive
  • The Hare and Hounds
    14 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Beautiful period fisherman's cottage pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 2 total). Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much is parking at Beautiful period fisherman's cottage?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Beautiful period fisherman's cottage?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Beautiful period fisherman's cottage?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Beautiful period fisherman's cottage located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is 0.8 mi (1.2 km) from Mersea Island Museum and 2.7 mi (4.4 km) from Mersea Island Vineyard. Cudmore Grove Country Park and Gosfield Lake Golf Club are also within 9 miles (15 km).

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Beautiful period fisherman's cottage Reviews

Reviews

Exceptional

All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
More informationOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 17 out of 17 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 17 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 17 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 17 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 17 reviews

9.8

Cleanliness

10

Location

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jayne

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
We had a wonderful stay, The cottage was beautiful. Everything we needed was catered for with some lovley welcoming touches. Local food was excellent, walks were lovely. Would recommend ..
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

julia C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Mersea Island break

The property is beautiful, comfortable and homely in a great location.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Diane P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Long weekend

It was a lovely stay on a bleak February weekend, lovely and warm in the house very comfortable, thoroughly enjoyed it
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Virginia R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location

The Fisherman's Cottage delightful thou with low ceilings anyone over 6' would struggle standing upright! A great location for the fabulous seafood food restaurants and good pubs. Highly recommend this lovely property
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Edwina K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent

We really enjoyed our stay. Everything worked and the instructions were clear. We felt at home - some nice personal touches - I won't spoil the surprise....Communication with the owner was really good too. There are some really great seafood places to eat nearby and of course lovely walks along the beach.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Heather H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Home from home

Mersea Island is a perfect place for a break away. The quaint, but not so little, cottage is located in the loveliest area and is close to all the great seafood eateries. The homely cottage has been so thoughtfully put together by the owners to provide for your every need, both inside and out. So many little touches make you feel like a most welcome guest. Warning: You will be sad to leave.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sarah H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Charming and comfortable

The Anchor Cottage is an utterly delightful, comfortable and (perhaps surprisingly given its 16th century heritage) practical place to stay. We were 5 adults together from different places in the world for a small family reunion. We loved cooking together (great kitchen),using the bbq, eating in either the garden or sweet dining room with candlelight and of course watching the Euro 2024 😂. The beds are super comfortable and the family bathroom more than adequate with plenty of hot water. We really appreciated the well equipped laundry room too, having been on the road for some time. Last but not least, the location steps away from the waterfront with all the restaurants, oyster and fish bars and of course the vast expanse of tidal waters, boats and the enormous Constable sky. We would love to come back again some day. Highly recommended.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

mandy p.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely stay

Cottage is gorgeous.Only issue was wifi was extremely poor.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Hazel V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

New year getaway

Perfect cottage everything we could want, warm and cosy . Welcomed with a bottle of bubbly for the occasion .
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gilbert O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice place

i
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marina S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Ideal family short break

Very well appointed and located - pretty wrap around garden with sun at different times of day- close to jetty where grandsons loved crabbing and yummy unpretentious seafood restaurants.Only reservation for some could be 2 flights of steep stairs to 2 of 3 bedrooms with only bathroom and loo downstairs— but cottage dates from 1575 so don’t expect en-suites! - what you do get is character and comfort.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Judy W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful house. Perfect location

We immediately felt at home. I’m from Mersea circa 1950s and it’s always been my go to place. Now my family have all passed away I try and find somewhere lovely that I can introduce my grandchildren to the delights of crabbing and shell hunting. This is the first place that absolutely fits the bill. Thank you
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Will M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cosy cottage in a good location

Lovely old cottage, furnished well with a nice kitchen having everything you need for eating in (except for a sieve or collander). Clay tiles on ground floor make the floor cold so bring slippers in low season. Some very low beams so tall people beware. Couldn't light the gas fire though. Surprised to find slow-moving bees on window sills or on floor each day when returning from day out.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Simon C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Magical place, magical property

This is such a lovely place to stay - really good value, excellently equipped, private with a neat garden (photos don’t do it justice), and good communication with the owner plus a parking spot in a place where this is at a premium. It is also so beautifully quiet. Mersea island is well connected - not far from Constable country, the ancient town of Colchester, the salt marshes of Tollesbury, and the ancient chapel of St Peter on the wall at Bradwell on sea. Plus you can get to Maldon easily and it’s near London. It’s possible to walk all round the island and the shellfish from The Company shed and Dukes was fresh and delicious. The house represents great value and is located in the prettiest part of West Mersea on the prettiest road near the bustling seafront. A magical find in an area bristling with Anglo Saxon and Viking history.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023