GREAT ESCAPE TRAVEL
Is it possible to combine a relaxing coastal break with the bustle of slot machines and funfairs, and throw in some pleasant English countryside? The answer, of course, is yes – and I found the perfect combination of all three recently at Brightlingsea, on the Essex Sunshine Coast. This is an area of family-orientated, sandy beaches – many of which hold awards for cleanliness – as well as being the name of a branch of the Eastern Mainline railway connecting Colchester with Clacton and beyond.
We were spending a few days at Lakeside Caravan Park, a fairly small site with shower and washing-up blocks but no shop, bar or children’s play area. This means the site is a little cheaper than some of the larger, ‘all singing, all dancing’ places; ideal for us as we were watching the pennies on this trip. Besides, the town is a very short stroll away and has shops, bars and plenty of walks, so we didn’t miss any onsite facilities.
