Ashingdon Circular Walks
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RIVER CROUCH COASTAL COMMUNITY TEAM CROUCH & ROACH CIRCULAR WALKS Three suggested walks around the South Bank are: Hullbridge, Canewdon and Wallasea Island. 1. “HULLBRIDGE PROMENADE WALK” - Alongside the River Crouch and creeks: Start at Hullbridge village or at the Recreation Ground in Pooles Lane. Walk east along Footpath 9 the riverside path and slipways towards Brandy Hole. Go past the Hullbridge Yacht Club, then past mobile homes and many riverside houses. At the Brandy Hole restaurant, the path veers right and runs inland beside a new heavy steel sea wall, then the path curves left beside the salt marshes. Soon, it crosses over the long slipway from the river into the Brandy Hole boatyard. On the other side of the slipway, the footpath turns right, then left towards and underneath a long line of trees heading east. The paths winds through the trees with marshes on the left. You then come out into the open and the route continues winding left and right roughly northeast along the top of a ridge, firstly with marshes on the left, then marshes are on both the left and right. At this point, there used to be a quayside for Hockley village with a lane down from Lower Road opposite Church Road and from the marsh, there was another footpath Footpath 8 heading southeast to The Dome. If you continue to the end of the ridge path, there used to be a bridge across the creek for the path going around the Brandy Hole over to Footpath 12 in Ashingdon Parish to get to South Fambridge. You will see many types of sea birds, waders, farmland birds, birds of prey and sometimes seals resting in the creeks. The Brandyhole is a curiously patterned area of marsh caused by its ancient use for salt beds and oyster farming. These and the other nearby creeks are spawning grounds and a life giving haven for many types of fish including bass, cod, whiting and many other valued species of fish. Now turn around and retrace your steps past the Boatyard to the restaurant and if you wish to see the countryside, follow the Kingsmans Farm Road in front of the houses. The road turns left then right, look left at the ancient timber framed Kingsmans Farm. Continue west, pass the caravan park on the right, where the lane turns sharp right, Long Lane. Footpath 6 to Cracknell’s Farm goes left, but keep going right, along the lane, it will take you along Pooles Lane to the Recreation Ground. Cross it to the River Crouch, then turn left into Footpath 9 and walk beside the river. At the village ford slipway, go left by The Anchor pub restaurant, then turn immediately right. Go past the Smuggler’s Den Club, walk west along the riverside path, Footpath 9, through Kendal Park woods, past the many slipways with boats moored and go to the edge of the village opposite Fenn Creek. You can continue alongside the river another 1.80 km (1.10 miles) to Beeches Road, or 3.00 kms (1.80 miles) to Battlesbridge with its antique centres, pubs, cafés and hotel. This is a tidal river route with marshes, marine birds, boats and views of farmland. Total distance: 6.10 kms (3.80 miles). Time: 1.10 hours - Via Hullbridge and Brandy Hole Total distance: 12.00 kms (7.20 miles). Time: 2.25 hours - Via a visit to Battlesbridge 2. “CANEWDON TO RAYPITS WALK” - Canewdon Village to the River Crouch: Start in Canewdon village near the Anchor Inn pub and shops, go east 50m and opposite the school, turn left into Footpath 4. After 900m, the path bears left, then it turns right towards the River Crouch and Upper Raypits. Footpath 25 gives access to the Crouch sea wall on the western side of Raypits beside the pond. Along the sea wall, Footpath 22 runs both west and east. From the sea wall, view the wide curving river, the marshes on the left and the Bridgemarsh Island nature reserve on the other side. The old name for the River Crouch was “The Huolne flete (or flumen)”. The return journey can be along a different path, go through Raypits, turn right, take Footpath 4 heading southwest in the direction of Ashingdon Minster high on its hill 3.80 kms (2.35 miles) away. After 1.15 kms, nearly to Pudsey Hall, the path turns west and it turns left into Footpath 1. It turns left again, then right, then left heading east to Bolt Hall. At Bolt Hall, turn right heading southeast, the footpath crosses the lane to Bolt Hall and Upper Raypits, then it crosses a large field diagonally over Beacon Hill to St Nicholas Church in Canewdon. Cross Church Hill and go through the churchyard, you will see an ancient lock-up in a cage on the left. Continue down the High Street to the Anchor Inn pub, shops and the bus stop. This is a rural, riverside route with farmland, birds, adders, marshes and hilltop churches. Total distance: 5.20 kms (3.25 miles). Time: 1 hour 10 minutes. 3. “WALLASEA ISLAND WILD COAST WALK” - RSPB Riverside & Island Walk: You can start on Wallasea Island either near the marina and boatyard with its bar and café where you can park, eat and drink, then walk east along the sea wall footpath. Or you can continue 1.60 km (1 mile) along the island past Grapnells Farm, down to the RSPB car park, walk up the sea wall with views of marshes, creeks and Burnham-on- Crouch town opposite. Then continue to go east 3 km (1.80 miles) to Wallasea Ness on the River Roach with views of Foulness Island opposite and spread out beside you on the right are the new Jubilee Marshes opened by RSPB to allow the flow of sea water to marine habitats for the first time since about 1650 when Dutch engineers reclaimed the islands from the sea for farming. At Wallasea Ness, there is a bird watchers hide shelter to view wildlife. Now turn around and retrace your steps past the unloading machinery of the soil landing wharf and after 1.60 km (1 mile), turn left and walk south along the new sea wall 2.00 km (1.25 miles) across the island to the south east corner to beside the River Roach at Devil’s Reach where there is another bird watchers hide shelter to view wildlife. Now turn around, retrace your steps and return to the RSPB car park, or continue onto the sea wall to walk back westwards to the marina, if that is where you parked. The nearest bar and café is in the Marina, or go to the pub and shops in Canewdon 4.80 km (2.95 miles) west. This is a rural, riverside route with farmland, birds, adders, marshes and hilltop churches. Total distance: 8.00 kms (4.95 miles). Time: 1 hour 30 minutes - from RSPB site. Total distance: 12.00 kms (7.45 miles). Time: 2 hours 30 minutes - from the marina. © Glen Dryhurst, 2016 .