Mersea Island

Baxter & Sarah
May 7
2 min read

A Sandy Pawed Adventure at Mersea Island with Baxter the Beagle

Beagle with harness stands on a mossy rock by the shore under a clear sky, tongue out and happy. Background of wet sand and sea. — **@baxter.beagle.2021**

If there’s one thing Baxter and I both love, it’s discovering new places together — especially the kind where he can run wild, sniff absolutely everything, and (most importantly) sneak in a cheeky snack or two. Last weekend, we headed to Mersea Island for a proper day out with friends, and it ticked all the boxes.

Beagle chewing a stick on a blue mat with green patterns, outside on grass. People and greenhouse in the blurred background. Relaxed mood. — **@baxter.beagle.2021**

We started off with lunch at Mersea Barns, which is super dog friendly. There’s a lovely garden area for sunny days, a cosy glass room for when the weather’s being a bit… British, and even a shop selling toys, treats, and emergency poop bags (because let’s be honest, we’ve all forgotten them at least once).

Naturally, we grabbed a table in the garden to soak up the sunshine. I ordered food while Baxter settled in on his mat, happily chomping on a chew and watching the world go by.

Food at Mersea Barns — **@baxter.beagle.2021**

As for the food? Incredible. Fresh, full of flavour, and beautifully presented. Safe to say, the boys were throwing some serious side-eye while we tucked in — but not a crumb was shared!

Beagle sits by a weathered boat on a sandy beach. A green thermos labeled "TEDDY" is beside the dog. Cloudy sky and calm sea. — **@baxter.beagle.2021**

With full bellies and wagging tails, we set off to explore the east side of the island. We wandered through wide open farmer’s fields, followed the stunning North Coastal Path, meandered through East Mersea Flats Nature Reserve, and finally arrived at the beach — hands down our favourite part of the day.

Two dogs stand on a log at a rocky beach with grassy cliffs in the background. One dog licks its lips, creating a playful mood. — **@baxter.beagle.2021**

What really sets Mersea Island apart? The beaches are dog-friendly all year round — no summer restrictions, no awkward signs, just endless freedom for the pups to run, dig, and paddle to their heart’s content. Baxter definitely made the absolute most of it!

Beagle on a bench looks at a cup of whipped cream. The background has trees and a building. The cup reads "Ice Cream" in white. — @baxter.beagle.2021

After all that excitement, we decided it was ice cream o’clock. We made our way to the west side of the island and stopped off at the Seaview Beach Diner. While dogs aren’t allowed inside, there’s plenty of outdoor seating, and even a doggy menu! Baxter devoured a puppuccino while I happily got stuck into a Mersea Flurry.

A beagle stands playfully on a mint green beach hut porch, with "TEDDY" bottle nearby. Blue sky and other huts set the scene. — **@baxter.beagle.2021**

Before heading home, we squeezed in one last wander along the beach past the colourful huts, where we found a brilliant old boat wreck — the perfect spot for a few final photos.

Mersea Island has everything we look for in a dog-friendly day out: fantastic food, beautiful walking routes, proper beach vibes, and a warm welcome for pups at every stop. We’re already planning our next visit.

Mersea Barns Address: East Road, East Mersea, Colchester, Essex, CO5 8TQ

Seaview Beach Diner Address: Seaview Ave, West Mersea, Colchester, Essex, CO5 8DA

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