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This Week's Walks - Archive

Please see the Saturday Walker's Club This Week's Walks page.

This is an archive of walks done by the Saturday Walker's Club. You should only need to use this page if the SWC website is down.

Sunday, 4 December 2022

Sunday Walk - Mudflats and Birdlife on a tidal river, and some Big Skies: North Fambridge to Burnham-on-Crouch

Length: 20.9 km (13.0 mi) [shorter walk possible, see below] 
Ascent/Descent: 126/120m
Net Walking Time: ca. 4 ½ hours
Toughness: 2 out of 10 
 
Take the 09.22 Southend Victoria train from Liverpool Street (09.29 Stratford [Crossrail and Jubilee Line], 09.38 Romford, 09.47 Shenfield), change at Wickford onto the Southminster service (10.00/10.06), arrives North Fambridge 10.20. 
Return trains from Burnham are hourly on xx.10 (73 mins journey time). Buy a Burnham-on-Crouch return. 
 
Serenity, tranquillity, solitude: you’ll find lots of it on this walk on the Dengie Peninsula in Essex, which largely follows the tidal River Crouch eastwards towards the North Sea, on a wide grassy path atop the sea wall, and with the prevailing wind in the back. Far away from any conurbations, you’ll experience wide open and scenic countryside, constantly changing river views, salt marshes, reed ponds, mudflats, creeks, rich bird life, sailing boats and marinas, to then end along the promenade in charming Burnham-on-Crouch, with its plethora of tea options. Flat throughout (apart from the diversion inland for lunch at the good value pub The Three Horseshoes in Althorne), and with exceptionally easy route finding.
 
Shortcuts:  
· It is possible to shorten the walk by taking the train back from Althorne, just before/after lunch.
· You can also cut short the approach to the river from Fambridge station in the morning by using a more direct route (cuts 1.4 km/0.9 mi) or cut the Burnham ending short by using a more direct route to the station (cuts 2.1 km/1.3 mi).
· Taking both shortcuts therefore reduces the length of the walk to 17.4 km (10.9 mi).
· Finally, if you bring your own lunch (no shops along the route) for a picnic by the river, you can cut out the walk inland to the lunch pub, reducing the walk by 2.9 km/1.8 mi. 
 
Lunch: The Three Horseshoes in Althorne (11.5 km/7.2 mi). 
Tea: you are spoilt for choice for cafes, restaurants and pubs in Burnham. For details consult the Walk Directions pdf. 
 
For walk directions, map, height profile, some photos, a video and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.162

1 comment:

Thomas G said...

n=3 on the walk in w=overcast-with-a-cold-easterly-breeze weather.
Just the 1 luncher, who had to beg to get served at the fully booked Three Horseshoes and didn't see the other 2 again after lunch. 16.10 train for the luncher.