Wow… What a Location !
The Hexagon is an impressive addition of open plan accommodation to the Radar Tower. The location is simply stunning as you are fields away from any neighbours down a farm track leading to the wonderful Essex Marshes and bird sanctuaries.
The Radar Tower and Hexagon stand in a large hedged and fenced meadow surrounded by the owners fields.
The Hexagon is designed to sleep a couple with space for a travel cot…. but f you want to bring children to enjoy this experience then feel free to bring a tent with you, there is a small charge for a pitch from £15 a weekend to £25 per week.
The bird life around you is amazing with Marsh Harriers, hawks, migrating geese, herons, kites, ducks, waders, plovers, larks, owls, egrets and many, many more, all around you.
At the end of the field you are in the Wildlife Nature Reserve with endless walks along the sea wall where you can take in the beautiful changes in landscape from marshy wilderness to hidden creeks and farmland. Looking out to sea or along the Blackwater Estuary you will often see the impressive sight of an historic Thames Barge under Full Sail or a fleet of competing yachts.
It is amazing that this Cottage is near London as it feels a million miles away.
The owners spoil their guests with a lovely English Breakfast basket.
Cottage Walk through
The Hexagon is a completely self-contained living area all on the ground floor with one en-suite king sized bedroom and a well equipped kitchen .
It is accessed from the entrance to The Radar Tower and guests may use the Tower to take in the magnificent views from a high vantage point over the marshes to the sea.
The owners have put in a wood burning stove and sofas in the top viewing floor for guests to enjoy bird watching and the magnificent sunsets.
There is a sheltered car park for 2 cars next to the Tower and plenty of room for more vehicles.
You access The Hexagon via The Radar Tower, in the large hallway there’s lots of local information regarding the Tower and the local area, with maps of the Nature Reserves and Bird Sanctuaries, there’s also a second toilet off the hallway and stairs to the viewing floor.
You enter the Hexagon from the hallway door.
The floor of the Hexagon is marble tiled throughout with no steps.
There is an en-suite king sized bedroom on your left with a neat shower room.
On the right is a well equipped kitchen with a hatch to access the table in the open plan sitting/dining room.
At the end of the hall is the main open planned sitting and dining room, the whole front of which is glazed with 8 glass folding doors with views out into your meadow and beyond – there are no neighbours [Emoji Removed]
There is an efficient glass fronted wood burning stove in this room and a lovely large glass hexagon pyramid roof light adding to the elegant spacious feel.
This is a truly Unique Cottage.
2 well behaved doggies are welcome, the garden is totally enclosed and there are Miles of walks stright from the property, but please do not let your dog off the lead when near farm animals of in the bird Sancturies.
There is a £20 charge per pet for up to 7 nights.
Garden
The Hexagon is access via a farm track through 3 field gates which brings you to the old disused railway track leading down to the Hexagon and onwards to the sea wall.
At the Hexagon is a sheltered car park and ramp to the Radar Tower.
The Radar Tower and Hexagon are set in about an acre of meadow grassland which is hedged and fenced for all but the most determined dogs – as cattle are sometimes kept in the field around the Hexagon’s meadow this has in addition electric fencing on the cattle side – don’t worry it’s not dangerous just a slap to keep the cows from eating through the hedge.
If you wish to bring a tent for your children the owners are completely happy with that but please leave the garden in a nice state afterwards.
There is a £15 charge for bringing a tent for less than a week and £25 for a week. Thus adding to the normal sleeping capacity of the Hexagon which is 2 adults.
Outside
The field surrounding The Hexagon belongs to the owners, who are Champion cattle breeders.
The field is adjoined by the Essex Marshes and the Sea Wall, so you have direct access to some of the best bird watching areas in England and miles and miles of some of the best dog walks as well.
The Marina at Tollesbury is about 700 metres away across the fields and there’s a meandering pathway at the end of the field that will take you there.
You are fields away from any neighbours [Emoji Removed]
Green Credentials
Mell Farm, in which The Hexagon sits, has been managed for nature conservation for 25 years. We have planted over 4,000 trees and there is now more woodland on the farm than at any time in the past 100 years. We have raised the water level on the grazing marsh to encourage the winter wading birds, and the grassland is managed to allow cover for the nesting birds in the spring and summer.
Many of our visiting birds are migratory and can travel thousands of miles to this, their winter holiday home.
The Hexagon, which adjoins the historic Submarine lookout Radar Tower, is a new build with underfloor heating and full modern insulation, making it supremely energy efficient.
It is clad in hardwood timber reclaimed from the renovation of Portsmouth docks.
And of course it is self reliant with waste water treatment.
We have started to plant fruit trees in the surrounding area to create a small orchard and are negotiating with a local bee keeper to get some hives.
The cottage is maintained using local labour (cleaner, gardener, workmen), using Ecover products where possible and full recycling facilities are provided.
We encourage all our guests to use the excellent local shops and cafes in the village – all within walking distance.
Local Area
Tollesbury is the nearest village and is at the end of a peninsular created by the river Blackwater’s Estuary and the Tollesbury Fleet with its many small creek’s.
Tollesbury is hemmed in by the mysterious and graphically stunning lunar landscape of the Essex marshes. Indeed the buildings closest to the harbour are built on stilts to accommodate the high tides which swamp the marshes and when the sea simply comes up the road.
There is a nice safe tidal pool that has been created for people to enjoy a swim, canoe or picnic on the created beach just beside the marina.
At low tide you can have hours of fun walking round the endless tide pools of this lunar landscape marshland, past the historic ships, the bright red Lightship and the local working boats and long forgotten hulks – it is a completely different World.
There are some lovely cafes like the ‘The Loft’ or restaurants in the Marina and all the shops you need in Tollesbury.
Dogs & Cats
The owners are happy to accept well behaved dogs and cats and the garden is enclosed and safe for all but the most determined escapologist dog.
… But… Obviously …please be aware that it is very important that you keep your dog on a lead when going into a field with cattle or sheep in and don’t let it splash off the sea wall to scatter rare nesting birds etc
… apart from that you have miles and miles of area to let your doggie run free.
Standard Inclusive Features
Kitchen: The Hexagon is a complete little home and facilities include modern central heating, refrigerator, hobs, oven and / or microwave, toaster, crockery & serving dishes, cutlery, many utensils, fire-extinguisher, lots of pots & pans, glasses & mugs, kettle, cafetiere, teapot, kitchen towels, oven gloves, olive oil, salt & pepper, sugar, herbs, tea, fresh and instant coffee, washing up liquid, cloths, general cleaning materials, etc.
Bathroom: We provide fluffy cotton towels, bath mats, toilet brush, toilet rolls.
Bedroom: cotton bed linen, wardrobe with coat hangers / chest of drawers, hairdryer.
Living room: A TV, books, games, magazines, local brochures, OS and other maps plus a folder with our special ‘What To Do’ insiders guide to the local area.
Please note that there are no adult bikes available at this cottage as the nearby lanes are not really suitable but there are some small children’s bikes for use in the garden and on the cart-track. This is more of a walking area than family biking.
Babies: Baby cots and high chairs are provided in cottages accepting babies (please bring babies bedding which is not supplied).
