Harwich

claymore

claymore

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It looks like I may be spending a day or so in Harwich in the near future.
I don't know the area at all apart from reading Dick Deadly's East Coast witterings - where would you recommend I visit to appreciate the charms of the area?
 
The old town is an interesting place for a wander for an hour or two. Lifeboat Museum worth a visit. You can always hop on the foot-ferry and cross over to Shotley or Landguard to stretch your legs, too.
 
There a a few not bad pubs although most are now bistro restaurants, and some pubs I wouldn't dare enter. The Pier hotel is good if you want an up market meal but not for a cheap snack.
Several low key museums. The Redoubt [Napoleonic] is worth a couple of hours, The low light house has a small maritime collection and good views.
Landguard Fort is supposed to be good [not been], take the ferry from Ha'penny Pier.
There is a growing collection of burnt out properties in town and it is perhaps indicative that the Tourist Information office has gone bust.
Main attractions seem to be the means of transport out of Harwich.
There is a lot of history, so a read up beforehand will open up possibilities.
 
Harwich is an interesting little town. All very Nelsonian and with an amazing maritime history. You can see the houses where the Master of the Mayflower lived (the Mayflower, of course, started from Harwich)and also the house of Commander of the Jamestown colony. The maritime museum in the old low lighthouse is quite entertaining. It also has (or had - haven't been this year) "the Electric Palace", which is one of the oldest cinemas in the country. there are lots of handsome old buildings (all on a domestic scale) and a walk around the old town yields a a lot to interest anyone who likes just looking at places.

Little is the operative word, though. It doesn't take long to get around Harwich. For any shopping, you need to go to Dovercourt. Not a bad walk along the seafront. Harwich town itself is not a lively place.

The waterfront is always interesting, with glorious views across the confluence of the Stour and the Orwell. Lots of nautical activity across the way at Felixstowe and up the Stour at Parkestone. You may also see the Patricia - flagship of Trinity House and a rather handsome little ship - at the Trinity House dockyard. there is also the restored lightship now lying alongside the quay by the pier. Quite a few interesting boats use the pontoons there, including, sometimes, the fine old Lowestoft ketch "Excelsior".

Excellent food and service at the Pier Hotel on the waterfront. Upstairs, the Waterfront restaurant is always good, with lovely fresh seafood. Downstairs is more informal and less expensive but also good. The snack bar on the pier is owned by the hotel and is several cuts about the standard kind of place you might find on a pier.

There is a ferry across to Shotley on the other side of the Stour. This was the site of the old HMS Ganges and there is a small Ganges museum at Shotley marina. The pub just up the road from the marina also serves quite good food.

The Shotley peninsula is really lovely - truly rural Suffolk. It offers some delightful riverside walks along the Stour and the Orwell.

The Butt and Oyster at Pinmill is worth a visit - an old barging pub with its feet in the water. Food's OK and Pinmill is very charming.

The Stour is, of course, Constable Country, with all that implies about its rural prettiness. A trip up to Manningtree is worthwhile - very pretty old town. The Thorn pub/restaurant at Mistley is also reliably good for food and there several other good pubs in Manningtree.

Harwich is situated in a lovely part of the world and is very different from ferry ports like Dover, which is, indeed, without charm. It would be hard to see how anyone interested in things nautical could fail to find something to entertain him or her.
 
Litotes said:
Harwich is an interesting little town. All very Nelsonian and with an amazing maritime history. You can see the houses where the Master of the Mayflower lived (the Mayflower, of course, started from Harwich)and also the house of Commander of the Jamestown colony. The maritime museum in the old low lighthouse is quite entertaining. It also has (or had - haven't been this year) "the Electric Palace", which is one of the oldest cinemas in the country. there are lots of handsome old buildings (all on a domestic scale) and a walk around the old town yields a a lot to interest anyone who likes just looking at places.

Little is the operative word, though. It doesn't take long to get around Harwich. For any shopping, you need to go to Dovercourt. Not a bad walk along the seafront. Harwich town itself is not a lively place.

The waterfront is always interesting, with glorious views across the confluence of the Stour and the Orwell. Lots of nautical activity across the way at Felixstowe and up the Stour at Parkestone. You may also see the Patricia - flagship of Trinity House and a rather handsome little ship - at the Trinity House dockyard. there is also the restored lightship now lying alongside the quay by the pier. Quite a few interesting boats use the pontoons there, including, sometimes, the fine old Lowestoft ketch "Excelsior".

Excellent food and service at the Pier Hotel on the waterfront. Upstairs, the Waterfront restaurant is always good, with lovely fresh seafood. Downstairs is more informal and less expensive but also good. The snack bar on the pier is owned by the hotel and is several cuts about the standard kind of place you might find on a pier.

There is a ferry across to Shotley on the other side of the Stour. This was the site of the old HMS Ganges and there is a small Ganges museum at Shotley marina. The pub just up the road from the marina also serves quite good food.

The Shotley peninsula is really lovely - truly rural Suffolk. It offers some delightful riverside walks along the Stour and the Orwell.

The Butt and Oyster at Pinmill is worth a visit - an old barging pub with its feet in the water. Food's OK and Pinmill is very charming.

The Stour is, of course, Constable Country, with all that implies about its rural prettiness. A trip up to Manningtree is worthwhile - very pretty old town. The Thorn pub/restaurant at Mistley is also reliably good for food and there several other good pubs in Manningtree.

Harwich is situated in a lovely part of the world and is very different from ferry ports like Dover, which is, indeed, without charm. It would be hard to see how anyone interested in things nautical could fail to find something to entertain him or her.
Click to expand...

Wow. I quite like Harwich myself but your tour sounds much better. Ever thought of a career in the tourist industry. How much are the tickets.:D
 
You poor soul.

My well intensioed advice would be to do your utmost to remain in a state of intoxication for the length of your visit there.

That's why public transport exists.

PS Mind and stop by next time your at the boat- we are avoiding the Galley.
 
Recommend a pint in the Bell or the Alma. Went into one pub there (Stingray maybe?) and the RNLI tin was chained to the bar. Make of this what you will...
 
DanTribe said:
Landguard Fort is supposed to be good [not been], take the ferry from Ha'penny Pier.
Click to expand...

Landguard Fort is actually very interesting to visit, though the display is only part developed. Much of the interior has not been done up and retains its original patina from the last hundred years or two. It was also the site of the last resisted invasion of Britain, in 1667, by the Dutch under de Ruyter, and has a long history up to the last war.
 
Thank you to all, got here yesterday and had a wander around Flatford, Manningtree and Pin Mill
Stayed in the Mayflower Premier Inn which is absolutely fine and only £38.

Wandering round Harwich itself this morning in a state of high excitement waiting for my Grand-daughter coming in from Esjberg.
Thanks again, this area really is fascinating - absolutely lovely.
 
claymore said:
Thanks again, this area really is fascinating - absolutely lovely.
Click to expand...

Glad you enjoyed it. A beautiful area and a fascinating place indeed! With such a distinguished maritime history and current maritime activity, its hard to see how any sailor could fail to enjoy it. And there is a fine iceberg under the tip you explored. :)
 
Can't comment on the town of Harwich, but we've just got back from a week in Woolverstone and Pin Mill and we really enjoyed it. Woolverstone Marina was friendly and decently equipped and Pin Mill is really attractive. We cruised the rest of the Orwell and it's a pretty river. We didn't have an outboard for the dinghy and were too lazy to row, so we didn't explore further. I'm told that tthe Deben is even prettier.

We'll be going back soon.
 
Yep.....the Pier Hotel is great for fish and chips.............it's where I discovered mint sauce in mushy peas makes all the difference........plus I supplied their headboards:D
 
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