North Fambridge to Burnham-on-Crouch, 15 July

The Walk. Weather permitting, this is a very pleasant walk following the Saltmarsh Coastal Trail along the tranquil tidal Crouch River.  Beautiful East Anglian skies, bird song, boats, fisherman and the fragrance of seaweed.

Although the walk is flattish in the morning, the ground was hard, dry and cracked.  Only one small uphill of several steps to the seawall.  And 1 stile. 

The walk is approximately 10 miles, or 5-6 miles if dropping out at lunchtime.

Trains. Buy return ticket to Burnham on Crouch if you are doing the full walk, or return ticket to Althorne if you are dropping out at lunchtime.

08.55 dep London Liverpool St (please sit in the front carriage). Change at Wickford (arr 9.31, dep 9.36). 09.50 arr North Fambridge

Please use loos on train – none at North Fambridge

Lunch and drop out point.   After approx. 5 miles we will reach Althorne Station which is the drop out point.  You may wish to wait for the train.  Or if you have brought sandwiches, you can have them at the Forest Cemetery further up the road (gentle uphill for about 5 to 10 mins). Alternatively, those dropping out at Althorn can get refreshments at Crouch Ridge Vineyard (crouchridge.com). Telephone: 01621 450450 or Email: info@crouchridge.com  .    

Please contact them directly for menu queries or bookings (ETA 12.45 pm).  The indoor area is a bit noisy (reverberation).  There is a terrace as well as picnic tables.  Can be busy.  Service might be slow. 

Althorne train times: 13.05, 13.45, 14.25, 15.05. (change at Wickford and take stairs to platform for London Liverpool St train). 

Lunch for those completing the walk:  we will continue along busy Burnham Road for about 10 mins and stop at The Three Horseshoes pub – 01621 740307.  No website but plenty of reviews on TripAdvisor.  I did have a quick look at the menu:  paninis, baguettes, fish/scampi and chips, and vegetarian lasagne/salad and Mediterranean vegetable tart/chips/salad.  If you would like more menu details, please call them. 

If you wish to have lunch at The Three Horseshoes, please let me know via walks@morleyramblers.uk and I will book a table.  I would prefer not to spend any longer than 1 hour at the pub. 

Then we will return to the seawall and continue our walk and return to Burnham on Crouch station. No loos.  If we are early, there is a Co-Op for the purchase of drinks and ice creams.  Return train time ? 17.00 hrs

Optional extension – continue on sea wall to Burnham-on-Crouch waterfront.  Pubs, marina, ferry, etc.

The Virtues – lovely walk.  Nice intimate views of the river and surrounds.  Birdsong.  Good play of light.  Changing patterns of the riverbed.

Some parts of the walk have long grass – in case you are wearing shorts. 

The Risks. There is some – but not a lot – of ROAD WORK.   Please, please, please observe single file.  Burnham Road is very busy.  There is a pavement.  It is narrow.

Hemlock  This is a very, very poisonous plant in all its parts.  Normally, far removed from people in ditches or marshy areas.  There are some very tall mature specimens with are very heavy with seed heads and are starting to fall over.  Please DO NOT touch any part of this plant.  Remember Socrates?

Al fresco loos  Please take care if you decide to take cover in a ditch.  It is very marshy and boggy below the sea wall. 

Please contact me if you wish to have lunch at The Three Horseshoes. 

See you soon.

Patricia. Contact via walks@morleyramblers.uk