Though the route uses B roads they are of the white-line-down-the-centre variety with fast traffic but not excessively busy.
Start Point: Wivenhoe Station (Greater Anglia)
Alternative Start: Clacton-on-Sea Station (Greater Anglia)
Finish Point: Clacton-on-Sea Station (Greater Anglia)
Meetup Time: 09:50
Start Time: 10:00 (or 11:30 approx. from Clacton-on-Sea)
Route Day 1: Wivenhoe to Harwich
Route Day 2: Harwich to Clacton-on-Sea
No. Days: 2
Day 1: 60 km (38km if starting from Clacton-on-Sea)
Day 2: 48 km
Overnight: Individuals book their own accommodation in Felixstowe such as the Premier Inn. Alternatively, individuals could stay overnight in Harwich or, subject to trains, travel home and back again.
High level sense check:
Day 1 starts at 10:00 and you need to arrive in Harwich Harbour by 16:00 to catch the 16:10 Harwich Harbour Ferry to Felixstowe. Boarding closes 5 minutes before departure and you need some time for mechanicals. 60km in 6 hours means an overall average speed of 10km/h with breaks included, or 10mph with one hour for a break and one hour contingency. Keep rolling as you need a buffer for mechanicals! Missing the ferry means a 15-minute train ride to Manningtree and a 45-minute ride to the Premier Inn Colchester (A12).
Day 2 starts at 10:45 after disembarking from the Harwich Harbour Ferry with a plan to arrive at Clacton-on-Sea by 15:45 to get a snack and catch the 17:04 train back to London. 50km in 5 hours means an overall average speed of 10km/h with breaks included. This provides time for extra breaks or time to revisit Clacton-on-Sea.
Ferry:
The Harwich to Felixstowe foot and cycle ferry is £8.10 one-way with a bicycle. The booking site allows up to 12 bicycles in the booking drop down list which suggests a level of capacity. Your ride leader may do a block booking so check with them before booking. In practice 8 riders would be a sensible maximum.
The Harwich Harbour Ferry can be pre-booked and there are options to cancel or change the booking. At the time of writing (April 2026) you can update your booking up to 48 hours before departure. Cancellations are only allowed up to 14 days before departure. If you have a booking the service may stay open for you if safe for your crossing when it would otherwise close due to bad weather.
Hotels:
Felixstowe Town Centre Premier Inn, in 2026 a room on a Sunday night was £43 though prices vary.
Other independent and chain hotels is available, though few are as clear as Premier Inn regarding bikes; Premier Inn is bike friendly.
Evening Meal:
Felixstowe has the full range of eateries in the town centre in walking distance of the Premier Inn. The clue is mostly in the name here.
For timings, setting sail at 16:10 means a 15 minute crossing, 15 minutes to get to the hotel, 20 minutes for check-in, 60 minutes for shower and 30 minutes to walk to the restaurant so 6.30pm is the earliest sensible meal time. Café Bencotto operate a walk-in policy.
Blue Naan does Indian cuisine and has vegetarian options. It operates a dry bar and has various non-alcoholic drinks such as zero-beer. A 13-minute walk from the Premier Inn. Open until 9:30pm Sundays.
Fish Dish serves fish and chips. Grilled fish is available though the vegetarian options are limited to various halloumi dishes (starters and salad) and penne based mains. A 5-minute walk from the Premier Inn. Open until 8:30pm Sundays.
Loca Bar and Restaurant has a varied European menu including more vegetarian dishes than you usually get, specifically more than one. A 10-minute walk from the Premier Inn. Open until 7pm Sundays which doesn't offer much time to wash off the trail dust before eating.
Café Bencotto serves excellent Mediterranean cuisine including pasta, pizza and other interesting mains. It also has a plant-based menu. A 20-minute walk from the Premier Inn. Open until 9pm Sundays. Café Bencotto operate a walk-in policy.
Average Speed: 10mph
Stops: Every 15 miles approximately. As this is designed to be a comfortable tour extra stops are possible and even encouraged though part of the schedule means getting the 16:10 Harwich Harbour Ferry across to Felixstowe which is the last ferry of the day. You do need to keep moving.
The Day 1 Stages:
Stage 1, Wivenhoe Station to Clacton-on-Sea (22km) where a café stop is suggested along the sea front and where you pickup people starting at Clacton-on-Sea. You could sensibly continue and stop at Caffé Gloria on Connaught Avenue off the Esplanade in Frinton-on-Sea which has everything you need for a 12:15 café break after 18 miles. Other cafés are in the area.
Stage 2, Clacton-on-Sea to Little Oakley (28km) where there is a pub (Ye Olde Cherry Tree) for a brief stop. You could eat here if taking the Harwich to Hook of Holland crossing.
Stage 3, Little Oakley to Harwich (10km) takes you 5km to the Mayflower Pub (Premier Inn Brewers Fayre) near the Stena Line ferry terminal and optionally has a detour to the ferry terminal entrance. It then does the extra 5km to the Harbour ferry in Harwich Town where you take the 16:10 crossing to Felixstowe. It is suggested that individuals book the crossing in advance unless your ride leader has done that. The 16:10 crossing is the last one of the day. As the first train out of London isn't until 08:38 on a Sunday timing is tight to try for the 15:10 crossing. If you make good time the ferry will allow you on an earlier sailing subject to space. https://theharbourferry.co.uk/
Stage 4, Felixstowe Harbour to the hotel. The landing is currently a beach landing so just head for the road. With the sea at your back facing Langaurd Fort head for the left of the Fort. You can then follow NCN 51 towards the hotel on a good path through a nature reserve then along the promenade.
The Day 2 Stages:
Stage 5, the hotel to Felixstowe Harbour.
Stage 6, Harwich Harbour to Manningtree (24km) where individuals could take the train home. If using this as a route to return from a Netherlands trip it is a good breakfast stop. The following cafés allow space to park bikes so you can keep an eye on them.
Rio's Café, 23 High St, Manningtree CO11 1AG
Hobsons Deli & Café. 21 High St, Manningtree CO11 1AG
Stage 7, Manningtree to Clacton-on-Sea (24km). For a drink before catching the train Crust and Cream is independent and does baklava. 40 Pier Ave, Clacton-on-Sea CO15 1QN. From here it is a 10 minute walk to the Station.
Suggested Café Stops:
See Stages above though the plan is to do café stops on an ad hoc basis.
Shorten the outward route using the train:
Start at Clacton-on-Sea.
Cycle direct from Wivenhoe to Harwich on the EV2. This Chelmsford to Harwich route would help.
Shorten the outward route:
Cycle direct from Clacton-on-Sea to Harwich.
Shorten the return route using the train:
Return from Manningtree.
Suitable Bikes:
Any, though bare in mind the distance and pace. A heavy eBike will not be suitable for the foot ferry. Check if you have a lighter eBike. Also, eBikes aren't permitted on London Underground or London Overground trains.
Surface:
Mostly tarmac, though there may be gravel, rough surfaces and potholes on lanes.
Mechanic:
None
Support Vehicle:
None
Broom Wagon:
None
No Drop Ride:
Yes, no-one gets left behind, though note the rider requirements.
Rider Requirements:
Be responsible for your own safety
Follow the highway code
Arrive with a well maintained bike
Carry equipment to repair a puncture or two
Dress/pack for the forecast conditions
Be comfortable maintaining 10mph for about 15 miles of continuous cycling on the flat
Be self-sufficient with regards hydration and fuelling; ask for a stop if you require one.
Organiser Tips:
Premier Inn and some other chain hotels typically do lower Sunday and Monday night rates, higher Saturday rates. Check café opening times for your chosen dates. Premier Inn allow bikes in rooms.
The Kit List for a short break provides suggestions for extra items though consider the weather and the nature of the ride.
Rider Tips:
Pack light. Packing should be the same as for a day ride plus any overnight essentials. Seriously, pack light. If you have any questions ask the organiser.
In contrast to shorter rides the person navigating may not be familiar with the whole route, there may be roadworks and diversions so be aware and look after your own safety.
Premier Inn allow clean bicycles in rooms though some don't have lifts so phone ahead and request a ground floor room if this might be an issue for you. Keeping your bike in your room means you don't necessarily need your heavy Gold Secure bike lock.
With only about 250m of ascent each day this isn't a hilly tour.
Day 1 (Sunday):
07:14 Leave Northwick Park
07:52 Arrive Liverpool Street station
08:38 Take the Wivenhoe train
09:47 Arrive Wivenhoe Station
10:00 Leave Wivenhoe
11:30 Arrive Clacton-on-Sea for coffee
12:30 Leave Clacton-on-Sea
14:00 Time for a 20-minute break
15:30 Arrive Harwich Harbour Foot Ferry
16:10 Take the last ferry to Felixstowe; pre-book this with bicycles
Day 2 (Monday):
10:30 Take the first ferry to Harwich
10:45 Leave Harwich
12:45 Arrive Manningtree for lunch
13:45 Leave Manningtree
15:45 Arrive Clacton-on-Sea for ice-cream
17:04 Train to London
18:30 Arrive London
From 19:00 Metropolitan Line home
Option to alight at Stratford for London Overground
Route Guidance:
Use the cycle paths that take you round the busy roundabouts near the ferry terminal.
