Noah’s Ark on Holiday
We offer around sixty families each year a week’s free stay in one of our two fully accessible lodges.
Bookings close in January and once you have a reservation with us you can find all the information here that you’ll need before your stay.
The holiday is self catering – you will have to provide your own food. There are local supermarkets that will deliver to Coopers Beach Holiday Park.
Coopers Beach Holiday Park
Boasting direct access to the beach, Coopers Beach Holiday Park is a peaceful coastal retreat and is home to our two fully accessible lodges.
With plenty of onsite facilities, you’re sure to enjoy a relaxing break away.
- East Mersea beach on the doorstep.
- West Mersea beach and amenities are a short drive away.
- Bar and restaurant with discount on food and drink (15% peak, 25% off-peak). More details can be found here.
- Entertainment venue.
- Adventure playground.
- Multi-sport court.
- Heated indoor and outdoor swimming pools.
- Wi-Fi.
- A small convenience store.
Explore the Lodges
Each holiday lodge sleeps seven people (including a sofa-bed in the lounge):
Bedrooms
- Bedroom one: medical profiling bedroom and en-suite wet room with shower and toilet.
- Bedroom two: a twin bedroom (beds can be pushed together to make a double bed).
- Bedroom three: twin bedroom (in Lodge 10 beds can be lifted to make floor space for floor sleepers).
- Travel cot – please bring your own mattress.
Kitchen and Lounge areas
- Fully equipped kitchen – including cooker, oven, fridge, freezer, microwave, dishwasher, wine cooler, kettle, toaster, crockery, cutlery, and cooking utensils.
- Lounge area with double sofa-bed.
- Large flat screen TV with access to all Freeview channels.
- Dining area.
- Outside decking with furniture.
Bathrooms
- Large wet room with shower and toilet.
- En-suite wet room with shower and toilet.
- Shower chair for use in both wet rooms.
Other amenties
- Mobile hoist – please bring your own sling.
- Clothes washer/dryer.
Lodge Holiday Photos
Take a look inside the lodges.
Getting To Coopers Beach
If you do not have your own vehicle, we can organise minibus transport to take you there and back.
Coopers Beach on Mersea Island is easily accessible by car from the M25:
- Take the M25 towards Dartford.
- At Junction 28 turn onto the A12 towards Chelmsford.
- Turn off the A12 and follow the signs to Tiptree and then Mersea Island.
To know before you go
Medical Emergencies
We do not offer clinical care support during your stay.
Emergency medical support is available locally:
- Mersea Island Medical Practice is available if a GP appointment is needed.
- Colchester Hospital A&E is a 30 minutes’ drive from Cooper’s Beach. Ambulance or air ambulance support is quicker.
- There are several first responders on Mersea Island.
Mersea Island Tides
Mersea Island is in Essex on the coastal estuary. Twice daily Mersea has a high tide, which sometimes covers the causeway (The Strood) creating a magical little island for that period.
- If the tide is at 4.5m or higher, it will probably cover the road. Sometimes this is for 30 minutes either side of high tide, other times it can be up to 1.5 hours either side, if it is a Spring Tide or the wind is strong.
- Before travelling, make sure you check the tide times and aim to travel well outside of the high time if it is above 4.5m.
- You can check the tide times at www.tidetimes.org.uk/west-mersea-tide-times.
- You can also view the Strood Cam to check that the road is clear: www.stroodcam.co.uk.
- Please do not attempt to cross the causeway if the road is covered. This can result in your car being abandoned in the sea, or the occupants having to be rescued by the emergency services.
Useful Information
Mobile phone reception on Mersea Island is very poor. You will need to turn on Wi-Fi calling on your phone to make phone calls from your Lodge.
Two beach wheelchairs - 'D-Bug' and 'Hippocampe' (a sportier model) - are available to hire from West Mersea Town Council for a small donation. Call 01206 383855 or 07946 888063. https://www.westmerseatowncouncil.gov.uk/Other-Useful-Information
Two beach huts are available for private hire. To book visit: https://thehutmerseaisland.co.uk/
An accessible changing room with toilets is available on the beach in West Mersea, situated near the beach huts.
An opportunity to enjoy the freedom of being on the water on a boat journey or fishing trip in a fully accessible boat. For more information and booking, visit: https://www.freedomboatadventures.com/
We hope you enjoy your stay!
For more information, please contact:
Susan Hannigan
