Author Topic: Essex coastline walks  (Read 3269 times)

Tribble

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Essex coastline walks
« on: 20:30:52, 10/10/16 »
I've been exploring the Thames Estuary recently … e.g. the area around Shoeburyness. There are some interesting walks around there - but one hazard is of course that much of the land is military, and some "rights of way" aren't that in practice. Also did a good walk in the vicinity of Stanford le Hope and Mucking Flats, with the huge cranes of the new London Gateway Port dominating the skyline.

Any comments or suggestions for other walks in that area?

Dovegirl

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Re: Essex coastline walks
« Reply #1 on: 21:24:08, 10/10/16 »
I haven't walked in that area but I follow this blog by a lady who has walked the Essex coast in the course of her ongoing walk round the coast of Britain

https://coastalwalker.co.uk/category/04-essex/


Jac

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Re: Essex coastline walks
« Reply #2 on: 10:50:29, 11/10/16 »
I haven't walked in that area but I follow this blog by a lady who has walked the Essex coast in the course of her ongoing walk round the coast of Britain

https://coastalwalker.co.uk/category/04-essex/

I'm following Ruth's blog too - her photos are super and her style of writing tight but very personal and beautifully descriptive of small things that make each day different whilst very accurate and easy to follow on a map.
So many paths yet to walk, so little time left

midnight rambler

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Re: Essex coastline walks
« Reply #3 on: 15:19:54, 11/10/16 »
Have you tried the Thames Estuary Path? http://www.thamesestuarypath.co.uk/
I took the North West London and Hampstead Ramblers along it from East Tilbury to Pitsea a couple of years ago. Apart from a (then) un-cleaned-up landfill site between East Tilbury and the wonderfully named Mucking, a very enjoyable walk, with an excellent lunch stop ta the pub in Fobbing.

Tribble

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Re: Essex coastline walks
« Reply #4 on: 12:49:05, 29/10/16 »
Hi … thanks very much for the links. I agree with Ruth about industrial scenery - I also find it interesting, e.g. my walks in that area have gone past the old Bata shoe factory at East Tilbury, and Tilbury power station. And I also like her photos!

Incidentally I had an excellent aerial view of the Thames Estuary a few days ago on a flight back from Germany. It was a sunny afternoon, and landmarks such as Southend Pier and the London Gateway cranes were clearly visible. It was interesting to see from the air the places I had recently been exploring on the ground.

BlueSwan

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Re: Essex coastline walks
« Reply #5 on: 22:52:34, 06/12/16 »
A really interesting walk is the Broomway (an old right of way to Foulness Island) but you have be very confident about tides and navigation to do it safely.  People have perished after getting lost when the tide comes in.


The current photo across the top of our walking club website is of a walk we did along the Broomway.
http://www.clog.org.uk [nofollow]

Oldtramp

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Re: Essex coastline walks
« Reply #6 on: 20:03:26, 08/12/16 »
I found Peter Caton's Essex Coast Walk (privately published http://petercatonbooks.co.uk) a useful guide.  Not a literary masterpiece, but definitely useful.


The Broomway is definitely worth it.  These folks, with whom I went, run small-group walks along it.....http://www.wildlifetrips.org.uk/services
 They're safer than going by yourself, given tides, mists,  soft mud between the Foulness Shore and the hard sand of the Broomway, not to mention the fact that Foulness is a military site, where your presence isn't likely to be entirely appreciated.



BlueSwan

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Re: Essex coastline walks
« Reply #7 on: 20:14:00, 10/12/16 »
The fact that Foulness belongs to the MoD isn't a major problem as the public rights of way are clearly marked on the OS maps.  As long as you stay on the footpaths, there isn't a problem.


One of the walk leaders in our group has led this walk a couple of times (both times in the summer). Here are some photos from the last time we went there:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/clogpics/sets/72157660306882540/ [nofollow]


The previous time, we found a dead body....


Oldtramp

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Re: Essex coastline walks
« Reply #8 on: 09:31:27, 11/12/16 »
A lot more on the Broomway here:  http://www.broomway.org.uk


This agrees with your point, BlueSwan, than the walking along the Broomway itself isn't restricted by the military, but that reaching the start at Wakering Stairs may be.  I suppose you could avoid this by reaching the start by walking along the sea wall instead of the access road.


The other point is that you must come back along the Broomway; you can't walk out over Foulness Island and the bridge, so tides need to be reviewed carefully!   
« Last Edit: 09:42:06, 11/12/16 by Oldtramp »

BlueSwan

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Re: Essex coastline walks
« Reply #9 on: 19:05:17, 11/12/16 »
You can get to Wakering Stairs by either walking along the sea wall (a public right of way) or via the road which also has public access (although not a right of way).  There is no problem with getting there and you don't need anyone's permission. Our group walked to Wakering Stairs from Shoeburyness station both times.


Yes you do need to come back the same way, and this limits how much time you have on the island before the tidal "window" closes.  On our first visit, we found a dead body and called the police and waited for them to arrive. By this time the tidal window had closed and the group was removed from the island by the security guards. On the second visit, there were no complications and we returned to the mainland along the Broomway and then back to Shoeburyness to catch the train home.


Here are a few more photos and more can be found here  https://www.flickr.com/photos/clogpics/sets/72157660306882540/ [nofollow]

BlueSwan

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Re: Essex coastline walks
« Reply #10 on: 19:21:12, 11/12/16 »
The other way onto the island is to visit the Foulness heritage centre which is open to public on the 1st Sunday of the month between April and October. 


I led a cycle ride for our group (Central London Outdoor Group http://www.clog.org.uk [nofollow] ) last September along the coast to Foulness via the road bridge.  Unfortunately a few of us didn't have cycle helmets and they refused to allow cyclists onto the island without helmets (even though helmets are not a legal requirement on public roads). 




Twiggy2

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Re: Essex coastline walks
« Reply #11 on: 09:45:28, 15/01/17 »
From south woodham ferrers to Burnham (or the other way) is a good walk you have to come inland on the section near SWF.
Also the Bradwell area is nice there is a section from St Peters Chappel to Bradwell,  from Sandbeach to Burnham there is a stretch of about 12 mies with no habitation or shelter a beautiful walk, also walking round the edge of Mersea island is about 12.5 miles and a great walk on a fine day.
Leigh on sea, Southend on Sea, Wakering and Shoeburyness are all regular walks as I have family over that way but I have yet to walk at the naze peninsula

 

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