Can anyone tell me the best place to view the ships coming and going to the Ports of Felixstowe and Harwich.?

Question

Can anyone tell me the best place to view the ships coming and going to the Ports of Felixstowe and Harwich.?

Answer 1

Go to the end of View Point Road to the extreme southern tip. Perfect vantage point. Spent many hours there in my childhood!!

Answer 2

Best to stand in a field and watch things coming out of Cowes

Answer 3

Follow the A14 right into Felixtowe, to its start (junction 1): a roundabout in the town at the Port gate. Do not turn right, into the port, but continue on ahead, over a level crossing (the freight line into the port) and up to a 'T' junction with traffic lights. Turn right here onto "Langer Road".

After about a couple of hundred metres the road curves right, take the first turning on your left after this curve, it is called (with something of a hint about it!): "View Point Road". It follows, literally, the edge of the port's perimeter fence.

At the end, you will emerge onto a purpose-built car park viewing area ('free') right at the very edge of the port and a stone's-throw from the transom of any ship moored on the end of Trinity Terminal.

You can remain in your car or even walk down onto the beach - disarmingly close to the edge of that end terminal and any vessel berthed there.

The view is stunning, across to Shotley Point (the site of the old HMS Ganges Naval Training Base) to the right, and straight across, to Harwich. (Although, compared with Felixtowe, there is not much activity there these days).

You will also be parked right at the door of the Napolionic "Landguard Fort" - this part of Felixtowe is called "Landguard Point". It is also a nature reserve. You will not be alone as the 'viewing area' is very popular at all times of the year, night and day. But there is usually a space. Many 'punters' come equipped with multi-band radio receivers and eavesdrop on ship/shore conversation with Port Control! There is also a well-established stall selling hot food and drinks, etc.

If you wish to get a more panoramic view of the entire expanse of Harwich Harbour, then, coming along the A14 from the West, turn off and turn left, as if to go into Ipswich, at the very last junction before the enormous 'Orwell Bridge'. Drive down the big hill, past the ski-slope to the little roundabout at the bottom of the hill and turn right, onto the B1456. This will take you spectacularly under the aforementioned bridge and along "The Strand": the West Bank of the River Orwell.

Follow the road all the way down to Shotley (about 6 to 8 miles) and right through the village down to the water's edge. Turn left, past the frontage of the "Bristol Arms" inn and along the precarious harbour wall into Shotley Point Marina.

You will end up in a huge car park with plenty of spaces. It is 'free' and provides superb views across Harwich Harbour and out to sea which the marina bar and restaurant share, through their glass front.

At Shotley Point you will be at the meeting point of two rivers: the Orwell on your left, with the Port of Felixtowe on its far shore and the Stour to your right, with the Port of Harwich, over in Essex on its opposite bank. Still more to the right, a little upstream of Harwich is Parkeston Quay, where the cruise-ships berth. And 'straight ahead' as it were, is the salty-sea!

It is undoubtedly the best view of the harbour. But the Felixtowe viewing area is just as well-worth a visit as you can get so close to the activity, and the view is still superb.

Bring your bin's and enjoy your view!

Answer 4

thru binoculars