Length: 20.9 km (13.0 mi) [shorter walk possible, see
below]
Ascent/Descent:
127/120m
Net
Walking Time: ca. 4 ½ hours
Toughness:
3 out of 10
Take
the 09.35 Southend Victoria
train from Liverpool Street, change at Wickford onto the Southminster service (arr. 10.11,
dep. 10.16), arrives North Fambridge 10.30.
Concerned
about the 5 minute changeover time? (the
Southminster train does NOT wait in case of delays). Take the 09.13 Southend Victoria train...
Return
trains
from Burnham are every 40 mins: 15.40,
16.20, 17.00, 17.40,…, 23.00 (70 mins journey time).
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.
This
walk should be mud-free after the
first couple of field boundaries early on…
For a neutral view on the walk check
the comment dated 16/08/15 here or
check out the photos or even the video on our website.
Shortcuts:
- It is possible to
shorten the walk by taking the train back from Althorne, right before or after
lunch, or to take a bus from the lunch pub in Althorne to South Woodham
Ferrers.
- 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
is at the family-run The Three Horseshoes in
Althorne (11.5 km/7.2 mi). For tea, you are spoilt for choice for
cafes, restaurants and pubs in Burnham (we might even manage to gate crash the
bar at The Royal Corinthian Yacht Club
again in its stunning location overhanging the river estuary…). For details on
all these options consult the Walk Directions.
For
walk directions, map, height profile, some photos, a video and gpx/kml files click here.T=swc.162
2 comments:
n=18 walkers in w=dry-weather-with-low-clouds/mist. The seawall path was unexpectedly muddy in a few places, but mostly fine to walk along. More difficult were the few stiles and the one plank bridge: all slitherey and dangerous, resulting in one comical (injury-free) backwards fall. The route was amazingly quiet today, even by the standards of this remote walk. No other hikers and only very few dog walkers, so we had the scenery to ourselves and the birds.
Mudflats and creeks were exposed for the duration, as we had low tide all the way, making for interesting scenery unlike any other walk I am aware of on this site.
12 pub lunchers and 2 sandwichers walked up to Althorne, the rest continued directly to Burnham. The Three Horseshoes served the - by now familiar - huge portions of tasty, good-value-for-money grub. And they even had space inside for all of us.
2 then took the train from Althorne to Burnham for a mosey.The rest reached the town in time for tea, only to find the first tea shop still shut for year end.
Not to worry, the Quayside Cafe and Restaurant a little further along the promenade served decent cakes and (bagged) tea. Most of the tea-drinkers then joined 4 others for a drink at the Royal Yacht Club (the Corinthians Yacht Club was shut for the day). 17.00 train for the backmarkers.
The two who left the group after lunch enjoyed tea at Royal Burnham Yacht Club with fantastic view of peaceful sea - highly recommended.
Post a Comment