Harwich to Colchester: Saturday Essex Adventure

Overview

This is a full day, train-assisted ride.

We will be taking the train from London Liverpool Street to Harwich, cycling to Colchester, and taking the train back to London from there.

The ride includes some sections on potentially busy roads with fast-moving traffic. You need to be confident riding in these conditions.

Our lunch stop is in Wivenhoe, after 32km/20 miles of the ride. You will need to bring enough snacks & water to keep you going until then.

Please read the ride description carefully.

Travel Arrangements

Please read carefully. Ticketing arrangements and train connections are not straightforward!

Outward Journey

We will take either:-

- the 09.30am departure from London Liverpool Street, changing at Manningtree (arrive 10.25am; depart 11.00am) to connect to Harwich Town, due to arrive at 11.22am;

- or the 10.00am departure from London Liverpool Street, arriving at Manningtree 10.55am, departing 11.00am to connect to Harwich Town, arriving at 11.22am. If you choose this option, you have only 5 mins to get across to the other platform (stairs or lift) to make the connection. When I recced the route, station staff held the connecting train for me.

This is a Greater Anglia service. In theory, bike reservations are required. However, we might be able to get on the outward train without a bike reservation. To make a bike reservation, you need to specify the time of your return journey; I would suggest the 17.20 or later.

Return Journey

We expect to reach Colchester by approx. 5pm. Direct trains to London Liverpool Street run frequently and take between 45 mins and an hour. Again, reservations are in theory required on some services (the faster service from Norwich), but are not required on the stopping service. So I suggest you book a bike reservation on a service from 17.20 onwards, you might be able to get on an earlier service, and if you buy the Super Off Peak Day Return, your ticket is valid on all trains.

Tickets

The most economical way is to buy a Super Off Peak Day Return from London to Manningtree and then a single fare from Manningtree to Harwich Town. At the moment, the Super Off Peak Day Return to Manningtree is £42, discounts available. These prices often increase closer to the date of travel. The Single from Manningtree to Harwich is £6.

If you want to book a bike reservation for the outward journey, you will need to book your tickets via the Greater Anglia website https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/tickets-fares rather than Trainline. Please note that our time of arrival in Colchester is only an estimate, so it’s not a good idea to buy a return ticket that commits you to a particular train.

The Ride

From Harwich Town, we will ride around the old quayside with its quaint buildings and historic memorials, before riding out on the cycle path along the North Sea coast. Then we turn onto the potentially busy road out of Harwich to Little Oakley. As we ride deeper into the countryside, the roads become quieter and we can enjoy the views of rolling fields, ancient churches, traditional country pubs.

We navigate another busier stretch of road around Elmstead Market, before turning down to Wivenhoe, a pretty village on the Colne Estuary. This will be our lunch stop (approx. 2.30pm), where you can find a couple of cafes, a pub, or space to sit and eat your own food.

From Wivenhoe, we take the off-road Wivenhoe Trail, along the Colne River to Hythe, with lovely riverside views. We turn away from the river and circle around the outskirts of Colchester, through green spaces and parklands, before turning up to the rail station.

Train-assisted ride from Harwich to Colchester.

Off road trails along coast and Colne River. Sections on potentially busy B roads with fast moving traffic. Quieter country roads. Cycle routes & shared paths through parks.

Lunch stop in Wivenhoe.

Lock for your bike. Money/card for refreshments. Bring water & snacks. Buy train tickets in advance.

First-timers welcome!