Wildlife reserves · East of England
Skipper's Island
In or near Little Oakley.
Skipper's Island — island off the coast of Essex.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 2 h–4 h
- Best time of year
- Autumn & winter (migration & wildfowl)
- Nearest railway station
- Kirby Cross · 3.4 km
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
- Dog-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Skipper's Island, the nearest railway station is Kirby Cross, located 3.4 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is CO13 0EZ. Entry is free, but wheelchair accessibility is limited.
About
Skipper's Island is a wildlife reserve in the United Kingdom. It covers approximately 94 km². Managed by Essex Wildlife Trust. Wikidata describes it as: "island off the coast of Essex". Coordinates: 51.8720°, 1.2210°.
Photo gallery
Summary from the official site
Skipper's Island is a nature reserve located in the Walton Backwaters, known for its wilderness and tranquility. It is home to unique wildlife, including the Fishers Estuarine Moth, and features diverse plant life such as Sea Hogs Fennel and Sea Lavender. The island is accessible only by boat and is not open to public foot traffic.
Read more on the official property page.
Protected designations
- Site of Special Scientific Interest: Hamford Water SSSI
- National Nature Reserve: HAMFORD WATER
- Ramsar wetland: Hamford Water
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
Skipper's Island is a 94.3-hectare (233-acre) nature reserve north of Kirby-le-Soken in Essex, England. It is owned and managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust. The highest part of the island has thorn thickets, separated by grassy rides. The lowest land is saltmarsh, and there is also extensive rough pasture with brackish pools. Flora include sea hog's fennel and lax-flowered sea-lavender, and there are breeding birds such as shelducks and oystercatchers. The island is connected to the mainland by two causeways, and access is only by prior arrangement with the trust.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
- Coordinates
- 51.8720, 1.2210
- County
- Essex
- District
- Tendring
- Parish
- Thorpe-le-Soken
- Postcode
- CO13 0EZ
- Parliamentary constituency
- Clacton
- Nearest railway station
- Kirby Cross — 3.4 km
- Official site
- www.essexwt.org.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q28405088 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Skipper's Island (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Saltmarsh On Skippers Island - geograph.org.uk - 1443771.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
World War II bombing decoy HA2 Kirby-le-Soken
Memorials & monuments · 0.3 km
Skipper's Island
Forests & woodlands · 0.5 km
Horsey Island
Islands · 1.7 km
The Red Lion Public House
Historic pubs · 2.0 km
Kirby Le Soken War Memorial
Memorials & monuments · 2.1 km
Kirby Le Soken Village Sign
Public art & sculpture · 2.2 km
Hamford Water
Natural landmarks · 2.4 km
East Coast Distillery
Distilleries · 2.6 km
Beaumont Cut
Canals · 2.8 km
Beaumont Quay, Hamford Water: a 19th century quay and lime kiln
Marinas · 2.9 km
Rose
Museums · 2.9 km
Kirby Cross Village Sign
Public art & sculpture · 3.4 km
Nearby
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World War II bombing decoy HA2 Kirby-le-Soken
World War II bombing decoy HA2 Kirby-le-Soken is a memorial in the United Kingdom.
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Skipper's Island
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Kirby Le Soken War Memorial
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Kirby Le Soken Village Sign
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Where to eat & stay near Skipper's Island
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📷 5Places to eat & drink
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The Red Lion Public House in England East, United Kingdom.
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The Trafalgar Public House
The Trafalgar Public House in England East, United Kingdom.
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📷 5Restaurants · East of England
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Skipper's Island?
- Skipper's Island is in Essex, East of England, United Kingdom (postcode CO13 0EZ), in the parish of Thorpe-le-Soken.
- What is Skipper's Island?
- Skipper's Island — island off the coast of Essex.
- How do I get to Skipper's Island?
- The nearest railway station is Kirby Cross, about 3.4 km away. Drivers can use postcode CO13 0EZ.
- Who runs Skipper's Island?
- Skipper's Island is operated by Essex Wildlife Trust.
- Is Skipper's Island a protected site?
- Yes — Skipper's Island is part of the Hamford Water SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest and the HAMFORD WATER National Nature Reserve.
- Is Skipper's Island free to visit?
- Yes, Skipper's Island is free to enter.
- How do I get to Skipper's Island?
- The nearest railway station is Kirby Cross, about 3.4 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode CO13 0EZ.
- Are dogs allowed at Skipper's Island?
- Most wildlife reserves allow dogs on lead only, with restrictions during ground-nesting bird season (March-July). Check signage at the reserve.