Lady of The Twizzle

Spot seals, watch yachts sailing by and witness the tides ebb and flow from the luxurious surroundings of Lady of the Twizzle. This 85-foot barge has been converted into a spacious, self-catering boatel permanently moored on Twizzle Creek, a sleepy backwater just outside Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex that was the setting for one of Arthur Ransome's Swallows & Amazons books. She sleeps up to 14 in four spacious cabins, has a vast open-plan galley that’s possibly better equipped than your kitchen at home, and plenty of outside space too. There’s the aft deck that’s great for a morning coffee, the fore deck which is home to a hot tub, and the top deck from where you can witness the sun rise and set over the sea.

Lady of the Twizzle offers a taste of life on board, with plenty for sea lovers to enjoy and nothing for landlubbers to fear. This barge is going nowhere: her seafaring days have long gone, and though she rises with the tide, she’s incredibly stable and you won’t notice movement at all. That’s not the only change since her days at sea. Her re-fit means that at times, you might forget you’re on a boat. The galley, for example, has a full-size American-style fridge, a dishwasher and a kitchen island with a breakfast bar. The dining table seats 14, and there’s a snug with comfy sofas and a wide-screen TV.

There are four cabins, all on the lower deck. Two are double rooms, and the others are family suites, each of which sleeps up to five. All are carpeted and have en-suite bathrooms with flushing toilets and power showers, tiled walls and heated towel rails. Towels are fluffy, robes are provided, and bed linen is Egyptian cotton. There’s a TV in every room and an Xbox for gamers. Like we said, it’s easy to forget you’re on a boat – except for the nautical touches. Some, like the portholes, are authentic; others have been added just for fun.

This unique boatel accommodation offers a memorable experience that’s perfect for special occasions. Birthdays and anniversaries are often celebrated here, and the services of a recommended private chef are always an option. Should you wish to eat or drink elsewhere, walk along the sea wall to Walton-on-the-Naze for a meal at The Victory. Or perhaps you’d prefer to drive to the equally appropriate Ship in Kirby Le Solen, or The Pier or Alma in Harwich. And if you want to actually take to the water, how about a seal-watching boat trip? Or a swim off the golden sands at Walton or upmarket Frinton-on-Sea, which is only three miles away.