The Essex Coast - Tollesbury to Maldon

Tollesbury to Maldon

The seventh and last stage of a weeks walking along the Essex Coast between Manningtree and Maldon.

Due to the limited buses between Tollesbury and Maldon we took the decision to walk this in reverse as we did not want to miss the last bus back to Tollesbury from Maldon at 4:30. Doing this would then give us more time to take in the sights along the Blackwater estuary. Although this was the last section on this occasion we returned a few years later to continue from Maldon and onto Purfleet.

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Essex Coast - Maldon to St Lawrence Walk Summary

A walk along the southern side of the Blackwater estuary from Maldon to St Lawrence

This 16 miles walk provides great views of the Blackwater estuary with vast open panoramas of the tidal river. Mudflats and gulleys provide havens for wildlife and there are numerous old dilapidate river craft that sit decaying into the mud, forgotten and forlorn.

The path navigates around the numerous creaks and inlets that abound this southern side of the estuary. The path uses the compacted river defence banks which makes it hard on ones feet and offers no shelter from the elements. Given a brisk breeze and light showers, it can take its toll on ones enthusiasm as the path winds in and out of the creaks through to Maylandsea, at times seemingly navigating in the wroing direction.

This specific route does offer a shortcut out of Maylandsea by following the St Peters Way path. This links Lawling Creek and Mayland Creek and provides a short but welcome change of scenery.

The route ends at the Waterside Park in St Lawrence. This provided touring accommodation for those wanting to explore this coastline. Having said this, the park was taken over in December 2017 and it is uncertain whether touring sites are still available. Recent Trip Advisor reports are not encouraging.

Note that public transport in this area is very limited and most major roads can be choked with traffic especially at rush hour. There is a limited bus service between St Lawrence and Maldon.

Few of the pubs and bars offer any real ale and it was a unexpected discovery to find that the modern Blackwater Bar provided a very good example of St Austells Proper Job ale. Admittedly this is far from its Cornish homeland but in the ale desert of this part of Essex it was a just reward for days walking.

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The Essex Coast - Salcott to Tollesbury

Salcott to Tollesbury

The sixth stage of a weeks walking along the Essex Coast between Manningtree and Maldon.

Tollesbury was not an easy location to get to using public transport, therefore we drove down to the village and made two circular walks in a figure of 8, firstly up to Salcott and back, then around Tollesbury Wick marshes. Here we at last saw the sea, the first glimpse since Brightlingsea, with Mersea Island just across the estuary.

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The Essex Coast - Tollesbury Marshes Walk

Tollesbury Marshes Walk

A walk around the Tollesbury Marshes

A rewarding short walk around the Tollesbury Wick marshes.

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The Essex Coast - Manningtree to Maldon

 

The Essex Coastline is arguably the longest of any British county when you take into account all the estuaries that need to be navigated. The total distance can be in excess of 300 miles and encompasses seaside towns, wild and remote marshes and pleasant country paths. There is currently no official footpath around the Essex Coast although there is currently negotiation taking place for the instating of the England Coast Path through the county. This guide provides a coastal route that can presently be used. With the assistance of Peter Catons book 'Essex Coast Walk' and the appropriate OS maps, one can make up a route of ones choice and this is a fine way to explore this part of the British coastline. Our path started along the Essex Way and then used recognised public footpaths and sea defences where possible. When all else failed we had to resort to road, but thankfully there was not too much road walking.

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Essex Coast - Burnham-on-Crouch to Bradwell Walk Summary

A 15 mile walk along the remote Essex coast from Burnham-on-Crouch to Bradwell

Many publications have stated that the section of the Dengie peninsular that borders the sea, east of the town of Burnham-on-Crouch, is the most remote place in the entirety of England. It is true that this isolated area of Essex is far from any major centres of population but walking this coast path one is never completely devoid of the signs of civilisation. Although one may never meet another soul on this lonely path, there are farms and machinery working the fields, haystacks and narrow lanes heading inland. All evidence that civilisation is not far away and, indeed, the nearest town is never more than 5 miles away as the crow flies.

The route is predominantly defence banks with a panorama of flat marsh to one side and acres of flat farmland on the other leaving with just the defence bank the tallest structure around. This leaves one distinctly exposed to the elements and faced with wind and rain it can require additional effort to push onwards. There are wide areas of cut grass on the landward side of the banks which can be utilized as a sheltered walking refuge when the going becomes a struggle or when the top of the bank is overgrown as found it some sections in this instance.

It has to be said that the constant unchanging scenery of this flat landscape can become somewhat monotonous as the miles slowly slip away. The smallest of landmarks then become a haven for curiosity. A sluice gate. A WWII pill box. Discarded tyres and debris in the marsh mud. The skeletal remains of a ship rotting on the marsh. A metal 5 bar gate with numerous plastic pieces of jetsom and flotsam seemingly purposely tied to it cluttering the mind with wonder as to its intentions.

The final part of the walk leaves the coast to navigate up the lanes to the village of Bradwell. There is a bus service from here although buses are few and far between. The D4 service returns to Burnham-on-Crouch. The alternative, as in this instance where accommodation was at St Lawrence is the D1 Service which links Bradwell, St Lawrence and the village of Latchingdon where the regular 31 service proceeds to Burnham-on-Crouch.

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The Essex Coast - Walton-on-the-Naze to St Osyth

Walton-on-the-Naze to St Osyth

The third stage of a weeks walking along the Essex Coast between Manningtree and Maldon

A promenade walk that runs most of the way from Walton through to Jaywick that makes an easy and pleasant afternoons stroll. This was undertaken on the Saturday afternoon with crowds of day visitors making the most of the sea, sun and sand before Autumn ushered in .

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Eye to Hoxne Circular Walk

A 10 mile walk around the Suffolk villages of Eye and Hoxne

Hoxne is said to be where St Edmund was Martyred by the Viking invaders in the 9th century. The village is full of reminders of the gruesome event including the cross which marks the place of the oak tree his assailants tied him to, beat him, fired arrows at and eventually beheaded and the bridge he reputedly hid trying to escape his captors.

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Essex Coast Walk - Manningtree to Great Oakley

A day walk along the Essex Way

A fine piece of walking along the Essex Way to provide some glorious views of the Stour estuary before turning inland to avoid Harwich and Dovercourt. Estuary views, marsh, woodland and open fields make for a varied scene throughout the walk.

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The Essex Coast - Wivenhoe to Salcott

Wivenhoe to Salcott

The fifth stage of a weeks walking along the Essex Coast between Manningtree and Maldon.

This stage of the walk touched the outskirts of Colchester at Hythe where the first bridge across the river Colne is found. Then it was a case of following the river back down to Rowhedge. This part involved a lot of road walking as there is a military range along the banks of the Colne and the next time we would see the coast would not be until Tollesbury.

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Great Dunmow Town Trail

A 3 mile circular walk around the small Essex town of Great Dunmow

With plenty of historic buildings, a fine 13th century church, some great pubs and a fantastic Indian Restaurant this provides any visitor a taste of this ancient town. The walk is simple and easy and one cannot visit Dunmow without discovering the interesting history of the Dunmow Fitch which is the main feature to this walk.

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The Essex Coast - Manningtree to Great Oakley

The Stour Estuary from the Essex Way

This write up has now moved to https://griffmonster-walks.blogspot.com/2021/05/manningtree-to-greatoakley.html. The first stage of a weeks walking along the Essex Coast between Manningtree and Maldon. This first stage followed The Essex Way which pretty much follows the Stour estuary and would be the most convenient way to negotiate this section of coastal estuary. Although the footpath does not hug the coast throughout its route, it gives some good views of the estuary as well as pleasant woodland and field walking. It is well marked and well trod.

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The Essex Coast - St Osyth to Wivenhoe

St Osyth to Wivenhoe

The fourth stage of a weeks walking along the Essex Coast between Manningtree and Maldon.

All weekend the weather forecasters were issuing weather warnings of torrential rain for the Tuesday that we were due to walk this section. As it happened, the rain came down in the night and the walk up the Colne Estuary turned out to be a sunny day and a well worth walk. Even though this was the longest section that entailed some road walking and a couple of errors in navigating it was probably the most rewarding of the weeks walks.

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The Essex Coast - Great Oakley to Walton-on-the-Naze

A 10 mile along the Essex Coast from Great Oakley to Walton-on-the-Naze

The walk follows the edge of the marshes in front of Skipper Island and Horsey Island and the Naze with little views of the open sea. The route is predominantly defence banks that border the creeks and springs that meander through the marshland. There is plenty to see from the wild life to the decaying hulls of wrecked boats that sit disregarded on the mud banks.

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