The Nutshell

Location: 4 The Lane, West Mersea, gb

Star Rating: 9.3 Stars

Property Type: Holiday homes

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 03:00 PM - 12:00 AM

Check-out: 10:00 AM

Amenities & Facilities

• Offsite parking discounted rates available
• Non-smoking rooms
• Terrace
• Non-smoking throughout
• Free wired internet
• Offsite parking discounted rates available
• Internet access
• Japanese garden
• Covered parking
• Beach toys

Rooms Available

• One-Bedroom House

  This holiday home's special feature is the fireplace. Meals can be prepared in the kitchen, which is equipped with a stovetop, a refrigerator, kitchenware and an oven. Featuring a terrace with garden views, this holiday home also provides a washing machine and a flat-screen TV with streaming services. The unit offers 1 bed.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • TV
  • Telephone
  • Hair dryer
  • Radio
  • Refrigerator
  • Seating Area
  • Toilet
  • Microwave
  • Washing machine
  • Heating
  • Kitchen
  • Fireplace
  • Private entrance
  • Sofa
  • Hardwood or parquet floors
  • Dining area
  • Electric kettle
  • Tumble dryer
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Oven
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster
  • Cleaning products
  • Coffee machine
  • Terrace
  • Dining table
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Outdoor dining area
  • Drying rack for clothing
  • Toilet paper
  • Trash cans
  • Wine glasses
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Body soap
  • Socket near the bed

Guest Reviews

• Stuart (9/5): Location was perfect so close to the harbour, comfortable, clean, and so quaint and cosy. - Location was perfect; comfortable, clean everything perfect for us. Nothing
• Nikki (10/5): Had a great stay. Very comfortable bed. Recommend staying here - Loved the location. Very close to local bars restaurants and the marina Tv was bigger in the bedroom than the lounge. Not really a complaint lol just found it strange
• Marzena1985 (10/5): - Perfect location, amazing atmosphere and the best bed mattress ever!
• Guest (8/5): -
• Anna (10/5): -
• David (10/5): Perfect cottage - So cosy and comfortable - we immediately decided to come again and stay longer next time. Perfect host, and the cottage had everything we needed. Absolutely wonderful. Some of the year there is a parking space offered nearby - very welcome and convenient, but it's under a tree, which birds obviously love sitting in.... we will be parking somewhere else next time for sure! Not a grumble - just a warning!
• Karen (10/5): Relaxed, chilled and very fishy xxx - No breakfast, saving ourselves for lunch at the company shed. Everything was perfect! We will be back !
• Shona (10/5): Characterful haven - This is such a characterful property with the added bonus of all mod cons, absolute peace and quiet and one of the comfiest beds I've ever slept in. I loved it all. Just be aware the stairs are more ladder like but it adds to the charm if you're physically able to use them.
• Taylor (10/5): - The property has all the character you could hope for with a very short walk to the seafront and restaurants .
• David (10/5): great -
• Chris (9/5): Very good - Very good location which met with our expectations
• Andrew (10/5): -
• Caroline (10/5): Cute little cottage - This was a lovely little cottage full of history and charm it was like stepping back in time but having home comforts at the same time. We would love to return here again . There was nothing we did not like.
• peter (10/5): -
• Adam (10/5): -
• Mr Noggs (9/5): Great property in lovely location. - Fantastic property in a great setting. It was exactly as advertised. Comms from the owner were detailed and gave us everything we needed to know. Lovely walks along the beach, some great cafes and pubs within walking distance. A lovely area of the country we’d never been to before. Nothing could have made it better, even the weather was with us 😀
• Natalia (10/5): -
• STEPHEN (8/5): Great stay in a lovely place. - Location was great as a base to explore the area with several eating places within easy walking distance. The cottage had pretty much everything we needed. The stairs are more of a ladder, which was made clear in advance, and the shower room/toilet was very small. Neither spoiled our holiday experience.
• Francesca (8/5): Cute and quirky and well equipped. - Very cute and quirky and well kitted out with what you need. Great for a few nights visiting friends on the island for a birthday party.
• Chris (9/5): - Excellent location
• Sue (10/5): -
• Mark (9/5): - Great cosy cottage in a great location.
• Doros (9/5): A lovely weekend in this dinky, historic, unusual house. - The messaging from owner was friendly and helpful. Changing our booking was no problem and we were given comprehensive info. The house was an unusual gem, in a lovely location. It was perfect for a short stay for a couple. It was clean and well equipped. The bedroom was particularly nice and the bed and pillows were very comfortable. It was our first time in Mersea and we loved the 'end of the world' feel about it despite being less than 2 hours from London. We were warned about the stairs and were up for the challenge but they're not for the feint hearted! We managed, but they are tricky to negotiate if you are carrying anything or if you need to get up in the night for the bathroom, as we did, being a couple in our 70s.
• Michael (10/5): -
• James (10/5): Perfect host and extremely accommodating in all respects. - Everything. Nothing.
• Edward (10/5): -
• Suzanne (10/5): Excellent location, small cute original fisherman’s cottage - What a little gem - small but mighty! Exceptionally well equipped, comfy furnishings, plenty of hot water. The location 10/10 if you want easy access to the marina. The host was easy to liaise with and touched base via text once we had to arrived to make sure we were happy. Although there is no allocated parking we did manage to park a short distance away with no issues. The stairs are daunting on first look but you soon get used to them - slow and steady and you’ll be ok! Would 100% stay again.
• Kay (7/5): Quaint but not somewhere to go back to. - Easy to get to. My course was on East Mersea just ten minutes away I didn’t check properly about the stairs which I accept. However you couldn’t take anything upstairs which needed some planning. However the the shower room really wasn’t good. The door was difficult to close/open and due to the tiny room I found it difficult. There were extensive notes about what you could and couldn’t do. However when I put the organic waste out the small green bin clearly hadn’t been emptied for sometime and the larger bin although without maggots already had waste in it.
• Eric (9/5): Great location in a cottage of character. - A place of character and history. Location near the water and good places to eat. The stairs, but we were aware before and gave us no problem.
• Paul (10/5): Perfect! - Amazing property - even better than the photos make out. Spotlessly clean and really well equipped, can’t wait to come back again. Nothing
• Makatdee (10/5): Perfectly perfect - Ten out of ten! What a wonderfully cute little cottage. My wife and I enjoyed every minute spent in The Nutshell. Set in a quiet corner of West Mersea just a short walk from the water with several lovely places to drink and eat, Seafood at Dawn, The Coast Inn, Waterfront Pizza, The Blackwater Pearl, The Victory and the famous Company Shed are all within a 5 minute stroll. A taller entry door! People must have been a lot shorter back in the day!
• Samantha (9/5): Superb - Amazing quirky little cottage. We loved the fact that it was almost 500 years old and has been loving cared for to create a lovely space to enjoy Mersea Island. Nothing
• Alun (10/5): Exceptional - Amazing place. Our second time staying and we will definitely be staying again very soon. Perfect host and perfect little cottage. Highly recommend
• Emma (10/5): Exceptional -
• Pauline (6/5): A beautiful situation close to the sea, quaint ancient cottage sadly didn’t live up to expectation. - Beautiful little cottage, so close to the sea, a fantastic coast line. The bedroom was fantastic. The cottage was well equipped with everything and more for 4 people. ( we were only 2). The wood burner added a warmth and glow as evenings were cold, but we took are own wood. Everything was easy to find and use as listed. Sheets of of instructions on how to use the cottage, which were obviously ignored by the previous occupants and not checked, wood burner choked with ash and half burn’t logs, crockery and cutlery put away not properly cleaned, surfaces not thoroughly cleaned. Instructions on waste disposal were ludicrous , why isn’t this included in the services. Trying to get the garden table and chair out from a cupboard outside was a Herculean task, but no point anyway as the courtyard was half covered in pigeon poo. The stairs, I realise in that sort of property would have to be steep, but steep doesn’t cover it. The dining table is falling to bits, held together with elastic bands? If you put your tea cup on it then added a plate it would wobble and send the tea splashing over the table. The worst thing was the shower/wet room, water all over the ceramic tiles no mats rubber or wooden to stand on to dry, then stepping out over one step onto a moveable varnished step was downright dangerous. Definitely not the high end accommodation we had hoped for.
• Clare (9/5): Superb -
• George (10/5): A cosy and very friendly getaway spot, unique and tucked away - we had a wonderful time here. - The cottage is a truly amazing old building, close to the waterfront in West Mersea, on a very quiet little street. Very cosy vibe. Cerian gave us loads of information about the property and the local area in advance, and was flexible and communicative about check-in/-out. We had a wonderful experience here.
• Wendy (9/5): Superb -
• Christine (10/5): Loved my stay. - The cottage was beautiful, snug and cosy. Allocated parking would be good. The stairs are steep, more like a ladder. Fine for me, and as described but worth considering.
• Colin (8/5): Lovely winter stay at quirky cozy cottage - Great location. Cerian communicated very well. Very comfy quirky place Place was quite cold when we arrived as heating was off. I think host may have forgotten because he was ill at the time. Log burner was a little dirty when we arrived, not a problem, but instructions said to clean it. Starter pack for the fire only had a few matches left, but all in all a comfy stay.
• Sue (9/5): Superb -
• Brian (10/5): Exceptional - The host was amazing. Every single thing was arranged. I cannot think of a single thing that was missing. Coming home.........
• Lauren (10/5): In a nutshell, it's enchanting! - It is a unique and enchanting little cottage with prodigious character, nestled on a quiet lane, just steps away from the boats, and mussel-catchers' sheds along the waters' edge. It is like stepping back in time, but with added WiFi, televisions, a gorgeous wood-burning stove, and a wet room. There was nothing I didn't like. The ladder up to the bedroom demands you to mind your step, but this is clearly highlighted on the website and it is just one of the quirks of this lovely place.
• Amanda (9/5): Quaint little Nutshell cottage - The Nutshell is a beautiful little cottage. Equipped with everything that you could possibly need for your stay. Cerian is most attentive & couldn't be more helpful. The only thing that gave me some concerns was the ladder up to the bedroom. I was staying with my mum who isn't as agile as she used to be. We did manage & became quite adept at going up & down.
• Joe (6/5): Pleasant - Cute, best position! Well appointed and generally clean & tidy.
• Wendy (8/5): Very good -
• Nash (10/5): The Nutshell - The Nutshell is a gorgeous quaint little cottage in the absolutely stunning location of West Mersea just seconds walk from the water and little restaurant's cafes and shops. The host was incredibly accommodating and was always happy to answer any queries. Over all 10 out of 10 would definitely recommend The Nash's
• Paddy (10/5): Loved The Nutshell and it has a bit of a fan club on the island, for good reasons. - Unique property. Location. Peaceful. Kitchen, sitting / dining room, bedroom are all a good size and betray any assumptions one might have just from viewing the outside dimensions. WiFi played up for first couple of hours but after a couple of reboots was perfectly fine.
• Jo (10/5): Absolutely Perfect - Everything..... it was just perfect we will definitely stay again and Cerian was so helpful Nothing.....but just some little tips maybe just warn others staying that the door out is low as my partner hit his head several times.Also we had a power cut it was ok as my partner knew how to rectify it ie finding the fuse box it but maybe just add to the info you send out.
• Chloe (10/5): If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in west Mersea I’d say the nutshell is the place for you. 3rd time going and def - The nutshell is definitely at home from home. Has everything you could need and more. The little details inside make it feel so cozy ( especially the fairy light ! ) location is great aswell only a few second walk to the seafront! I can honestly say there’s nothing about this property I wasn’t happy with.
• Gary (10/5): Thank you Cerian for being a great host, and for sharing your lovely cottage with us. It’s a little gem in a beautiful l - We liked everything from the minute we walked into this Beautiful property. There was nothing I didn’t like. I did however knock my head a few time on the low door frame, but that was my fault, once and I should have learnt 🤣
• Claire (4/5): Historic cottage in a quirky location but needs cleaning & better managing - sadly, not recommended. - Characterful and quirky property; good fish restaurants close by; pleasant strolls on the beach. The whole place felt grubby and was far too stuffed with the owner's property and just too much stuff generally - as the cottage is tiny this made for a very claustrophobic feel, especially as plates/cups etc. were dirty. The garden needed sweeping and there were dead pigeons on the ground and lots of bird muck - we couldn't sit in it.
• Joanna (7/5): Quaint cottage close to Harbour - Location History of the house Comfortable bed The back garden is in need of some TLC which would then make it a better place to sit in. The chairs and tables could do with updating and perhaps thinking about about reorganising the placement of the Bins because then it would be nicer. Inside the house it could do with a general tidying up.
• Derek (9/5): A dream come true - Quirkiness of the property, especially being so old and in a great location. The parking arrangements. A resident challenged us for parking in the road we were advised we could park.
• Martin (8/5): Stay at the Nutshell - Location fantastic. Coffee machine good.Comfortable lounge. Kitchen exceptionally well equipped. Bed linen had a damp smell. Pigeon problem in courtyard garden. Everything kept getting covered in pigeon poo! Internet was intermittent.
• Pittock (10/5): Exceptional - House was lovely . Area very nice. Some of the local residents were lacking in manners
• Brenda (10/5): Beautiful stay in a beautiful part of Essex - Everything about it
• Malcolm (9/5): Our stay was peaceful and enjoyable in a beautiful little cottage which I hadn’t wanted to leave. - The cottage was delightful, it was spotlessly clean and had all required facilities. It was in a quiet and picturesque area of Mersea island and was very peaceful. The top of the staircase which was dangerous for anybody with mobility issues. This would have been helped with the addition of a grab rail on the wall at the top of the stairs/ladder.
• Michael (9/5): Superb - Everything Firealarms kept going off.
• Ashley (9/5): Great place, friendliest people and beautiful setting - A quirky little place but with real comfort Very steep stairs but still manageable
• Greg (10/5): Fantastic little place - Everything just loved it made our weekend Nothing to say
• Coleen (9/5): Superb - Full of character, had everything you could need and the host was so friendly and helpful, couldn't ask for better. Not a did like it being mindful that the stairs woukd be difficult for certain people.
• Tina (10/5): Had an amazing stay locals were so friendly it was an amazing unique place to stay - It’s beautiful cosy and clean Nothing
• Ben (10/5): Great 3 day break, lots of fresh air and beach walking, then home to the Nutshell to relax. - Quirky, clean good ambiance. Great coffee machine and lovely log burner.Cerian was a great host and very informative. Nothing
• Dominic (10/5): Amazing cottage - Great service, information and amazing cottage
• Paul (10/5): Relaxing break - Quirky beautiful old fisherman cottage Nothing
• Diane (10/5): Relaxing break in a historic cottage - Beautiful old cottage, very cosy and comfortable for a winter break. Well-equipped and we had great communication from the host. Can't think of anything
• Sharp (10/5): Exceptional -
• Pete (10/5): Wonderfull cottage - We loved everything about this cottage Nothing
• Faith (10/5): Exceptional - The Nutshell is snug and was a perfect location for our weekend. The host is kind and welcoming. We had everything we needed with lovely walks nearby. You only must be aware of the stairs if you have difficulty with stairs in general or plan on going to the toilet often in the night.
• Lee (10/5): A lovely place to relax , and take walks - Good location, clean, everything you could need for your stay. There is nothing to not like
• Bernd (10/5): Unique stay in an interesting historic building - The Nutshell is a unique landmark in West Mersea, and we had longed to have a look inside ever since we first stayed in West Mersea 10 years ago. Thus we took the chance of staying in The Nutshell when we discovered that it was for rent. It is an extremely cosy cottage, the kitchen is well-equipped, from the dining table you can watch people (and dogs) pass by. The harbour is round the corner, good restaurants are close by. You have to bear in mind that the cottage dates back to 1549. Thus the bathroom is tiny (but everything works perfectly), the steps to the upstairs level are a bit of a challenge. Parking near the property is possible, but a matter of good luck.
• Sharon (10/5): Beautiful, quiet, close to lovely eating places. - Fantastic location, charming cottage, it had everything we needed. Parking a little tricky.
• Craig (10/5): Exceptional -
• Elizabeth (9/5): Relaxing. - Location of this little cottage is perfect short walk to 2 very good pubs and beach plus The Company Shed is at the end of the road family run seafood restaurant excellent. The cottage is very well equipped the ladder to the bedroom could be tricky with anyone who has mobility issues. Nice patio garden. Nothing!
• Rebecca (9/5): Superb -
• Christopher (10/5): Great place to stay for sailing and exploring West Mersa - Brilliant, well laid out for this historic home
• Michelle (10/5): Great little weekend away ..everything you need ...lovely place to visit - Location was very good..lovely pubs and restaurants..Cottage was very nice everything you needed...stairs bit stip for me..parking was a bit of problem . Parking ..
• John (10/5): Wonderful quaint little cottage - Really quaint, very comfortable, very quiet at night, yet best possible location for coastal West Mersea. Well equipped and owner provided lots of useful info. Steep stairs ok for us but wouldn't suit elderly or infirm guests
• Alun (10/5): Stunning and perfect setting - The Nutshell is a beautiful cottage, simply idilic. Clean, tidy and has everything we needed for our 5 day stay. We will definitely stay again
• Eral (10/5): Wonderful weekend in a beautiful cottage and a beautiful island - we loved staying at The Nutshell. The cottage has all the amenities one could wish for, with loads of character and in an excellent location in the island. The kitchen is fully equipped and even has two excellent nespresso machines, a very welcome surprise. Cieran was very welcoming and informative. We could have not wished for more.
• Sally (10/5): Exceptional - Beautiful location and fabulous cottage 1 stroppy neighbour! Lol
• Jacky (9/5): It was perfect for us , and we'd love to stay again. Such a special place. - Fantastic location and such a lovely cottage. And great communication and kindness from the host Cerian. You could feel her love for the cottage. The stairs were steep up to the (really lovely) bedroom and rather difficult to negotiate. So one would need to have awareness of this depending on mobilities etc. As long as this isn't a problem , then the cottage was perfect.
• Anthony (8/5): Very good -
• Sam (10/5): Exceptional - We had a really lovely time, the location is perfect, it has everything and it's so cute!
• Peter (9/5): Superb - Great location and really quirky.
• Julie (9/5): Superb - The owner of property was most helpful with an issue on the Internet (provider had a major issue). Was a bit apprehensive about stairs, but I found them ok, had no issues getting up or down. Luvly quaint home. Don't think there was anything otherwise wouldn't have booked to return.
• Debi (10/5): Excellent property everything thought of by the excellent host who go out and beyond to make your stay comfortable. - Excellent quaint cottage near to the sea and restaurants. Beautiful sunsets. Nothing everything was superb.
• Graeme (7/5): nice place for a short stay - charming cottage - well appointed garden furniture covered in bird droppings and garden untidy. Parking difficult. Bathroom tiny
• Charley (10/5): A beautiful little gem - This little house was a perfect home from home which is what I needed for a couple of nights. Very well equipped, had everything you could need and in a stunning location. The host was friendly and accommodating. Highly recommended. I found the bed a little too soft for my liking but this is just personal preference.
• Nis126 (8/5): Very good - The place is clearly exceptional. Perfectly located, cosy, one-of-a-kind micro house with all the equipment needed to have a great stay. Full of charm and worth repeating if I come back in Mersey. Well, it's an old historic place, so don't expect modern standards for the building: everything in it is quirky. That said, apart from a dishwasher, everything needed is provided.
• Anthony (10/5): Exceptional - How clean and tidy with everything you needed away from home. All good.
• Rebecca (10/5): A beautiful and comfortable little hideaway in a perfect location - It is the quaintest and cosiest little bolt hole, with a really friendly welcoming feeling. It’s small but perfectly formed, with everything you need to be comfortable and snug. The location is perfect for walks and very quaint. Obviously the ladder to the upper floor isn’t the easiest to navigate but with a little care it isn’t a problem at all. Older or more infirm people might struggle, is the only reason I mention it.
• Mike (9/5): great two day stay - great location and a beautiful little house stairs to the bedroom not for the faint hearted

Photos