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Abberton Reservoir

1,429 ha

📷 Glyn Baker · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

BirdsWildlifeDogs
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome1,429 ha

Getting here

51.82670, 0.86977

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🐦90+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Tufted Duck and Teal
  • 🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
  • 📍Open access throughout summer — no booking required

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome

Best for

5 activities

Bird watching

Birds — Tufted Duck, Teal, Great Crested Grebe +87 more · last seen 2026; Reservoir — wildfowl and wading birds

Free

Wildlife

Birds — Tufted Duck, Teal, Great Crested Grebe +87 more · last seen 2026; Reservoir — wildfowl and wading birds

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed with public access

Free

Waterside walks

Reservoir — waterside public access

Varies

Picnic day out

Reservoir — waterside day out

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

4 signed routes nearby · 24 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Colchester Orbital Spoke (South)Walking route
Named routeLocal walking route
King Charles III England Coast Path: Maldon to SalcottWalking route
Named routeRef ECPNational walking route
Colchester Orbital South AWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Colchester Orbital South BWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Fields Farm Roadpublic footpath · 428 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 428 mPath type: service
🚴

Cycling

20 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
NCN 51Cycling route
Named routeRef 51National Cycle Network
EuroVelo 2 - Capitals Route - part United Kingdom 8Cycling route
Named routeRef EV2International cycle route
Colchester Orbital CycleCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Garrison RouteCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
NCN National Route 1Cycling route
Named routeRef 1National Cycle Network
EuroVelo 12 - North Sea Cycle Route - part United KingdomCycling route
Named routeRef EV12International cycle route
🐴

Horse riding

1 public path nearby

Public paths

No named routes yet. Public paths are shown on the map.

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Abberton Reservoir

📷 Glyn Baker · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Abberton Reservoir

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Weather for this location

Next 14 days

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🐄Colchester ZooVisitor farm4.6 km→✦Gosbecks Iron Age and Romano-British siteHistoric site4.4 km→🌱Cheshunt FieldUrban park4.5 km→✦Roman Practice Camp and late Iron Age and Roman remains east of Stanway Hall FarmHistoric site4.7 km→🌱Monty's ParkUrban park5 km→💧Abberton ReservoirReservoir0 m→