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Harwich Beacon Hill Beach

Essex, England


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Harwich Beacon Hill Beach is a shingle beach located on the south side of the Orwell Haven, a combined estuary of the rivers Orwell and Stour, in Suffolk, England.

Beacon Hill Beach is situated just south of Beacon Hill fort, a derelict defence fort facing south-east. The estuary has been fortified since Roman times, and the fort last saw service as coastal artillery defence during World War II. The beach stretches down from Beacon Cliffs in a south-westerly direction, just to the south of the estuaries of the Stour and Orwell rivers, and offers views towards the cranes and industrial buildings of Felixstowe.

The beach has a number of beach huts lining the seafront, and The Waterfront is located further south along the beach, offering a place to eat. At the southern end of the beach, the promenade loops round Cornwallis Battery to join Dovercourt beach to the east. The solitary buildings of Beacon Hill Fort can be found at the north-eastern end of the beach, which has been a fortified site since the time of Henry VIII.

Today, most of the remains of the fort are inaccessible, but the former radar tower is generally open to the public in summer, for a small entrance fee, on one Sunday each month.

Shingle

Weather and tides for Sunday 20 July

Tonight
Chance of rain 54%
Min temp. 16°C
(feels like 15°C)
Wind 9mph
Tomorrow (Monday)
Chance of rain 66%
Max temp. 22°C
(feels like 20°C)
Wind 11mph
Max UV Index

The tide at Harwich Beacon Hill Beach is currently rising. High tide will be at approximately 8:09 PM, and the next low tide will be at approximately 2:26 AM tomorrow.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Approximate sea surface temperature:   19.7°C  

Detailed weather and tides »
  • Popular Activities

    Sunbathing Water sports
  • Features

    Museum Nature reserve Promenade
  • Parking

    There are various parking options near the port and in the town, off Marine Parade.

  • Lifeguard

    No lifeguard cover at this beach

  • Awards

    Keep Britain Tidy Seaside Award

  • Water Quality

    Water quality not measured here

    Water quality not measured here

Recommended holiday cottages near Harwich Beacon Hill Beach

Things to do and see in the area

Harwich Redoubt Fort (0.1 miles)
Electric Palace (0.4 miles)
Halfpenny Pier (0.6 miles)
Lightvessel LV18 (0.6 miles)
Landguard Fort (1.3 miles)
Felixstowe Museum (1.5 miles)
Stena Line (1.8 miles)
Felixstowe Seafront Gardens (2.8 miles)
Port of Felixstowe (3.1 miles)

Places to eat near Harwich Beacon Hill Beach

Treo Bar Cafe (430 yards)
Thai Up At The Quay (230 yards)
The Alma Inn and Dining Rooms (200 yards)
The Cafe on the Pier (150 yards)

All distances are approximate

Other beaches nearby

Location: Bath Side, Harwich

Location type: Urban

OS Grid: TM262320

County: Essex

Country: England

Local Authority: Tendring

Parish: Harwich

Nearest postcode: CO12 3NP

(for sat-nav purposes only, a beach does not have a postal address!)

Important! Beach information is compiled from a variety of different sources and is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of compilation. However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication. BritishBeaches.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy of any information on this page.

Stuff you might want for the beach!

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Visitor information for Harwich Beacon Hill Beach, Essex, England. Weather, tides, visitor comments, beach facilities, photos, nearest postcode, beach information and nearby accommodation.

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18.97.14.83 Sun, 20 Jul 2025 18:57:19 +0100