seaboard and nicknamed the Cowes of The atmosphere here is like no other and the East, hence it comes as no surprise the saint’s word - “In this place the word that it has four yachting clubs (and the is revealed to you” – still reverberates. A Royal Corinthian Yacht Club’s home is six-mile waymarked Wildside Walk round considered an Art Deco masterpiece). the promontory leads through the SSSI, passing grazing ponies, rare coastal To get a real feel for the very special flora, breeding coastal birds (the Bradwell beauty of the area I strongly recommend Bird Observatory is located close to the a walk along the northernmost chapel), old WWII pillboxes, 7th century fish promontory where the misanthropic traps and Shell Beach - a 30-acre treasure Saxon chapel of St Peter’s (or St Peter- trove of mostly oyster and cockle shells. on-the-Wall) at Bradwell looks out over Today, the location of remains mudflats, cockle spits and hovering a major archaeological site and part of 2. church 5. St Lawrence Rural Discovery Church kestrels and hen harriers. St Peter the National Nature Reserve. It’s Rebuilt in 1878 to a design by F This active rural parish church, situated Ad Murum is reputedly the oldest a hugely important conservation area Chancellor but incorporating some on a hilltop overlooking the Blackwater complete church in that is with 750 acres lying below sea level and features of the 14th Century Church in Estuary provides exhibitions and still in regular use and is the scene of protected by sea walls. The starting and the south porch and doorway. The interior community activities. Light refreshments an annual ecumenical pilgrimage on end point for the circular walk is the car has a 15th Century font and a brass and available. the first Saturday of July each year. Its park for St Peter’s chapel. sword of Sir Arthur Harris who died in 1631. Tel: 01621 779319 construction by St Cedd, who sailed from Lindisfarne to preach here, marked both Attractions along the route 3. St Mary’s church 6. St Peter-on-the-Wall an end to Saxon pirateering and the 1. Burnham-on-Crouch Museum By Paul Gogarty, one of the country’s marshland whether they’re writers, It has often been referred to as the St Peter’s on the Wall is probably the first foothold of Christianity in the South. A local museum, situated on the Quay, leading travel writers and author of The painters, filmmakers or holidaymakers (the cathedral of the marshes. A church was oldest surviving church in England. It The chapel was built from the walls of devoted to the history of the Dengie Coast Road – A 3,000 mile journey round landscape reputedly gave Hitchcock the first recorded on this site in 1155 although is also the sole monument to Celtic the Roman fort of Othona in 654AD - an Hundred area from Neolithix to the present. the edge of England . idea of The Birds, & Orwell used it as setting the current St Mary’s Church is of 14th Christianity in (the former kingdom intimidating fortress at the mouth of the The museum consists of two floors of exhibits for Martian landing in War of the Worlds). century origin. Construction was mainly of the East Saxons). The chapel was built Blackwater that was erected to protect of maritime, agricultural, industrial and social Bounded by the North Sea and the rivers of ragstone although there are traces by Bishop Cedd around 654AD, almost the estuary from the Saxon pirates. Today, history. The archive contains photographs, Crouch and Blackwater, the Dengie For the active, there’s walking, cycling, of roman bricks which may have come entirely of Roman material from the fort the location of Othona remains a major drawings and documents. There is a regular is a beguiling mix of the country’s horseriding and aquatic sports at the from a roman villa which is rumoured to of Othona (a small display inside explains archaeological site and part of the programme of special exhibitions. richest arable farming, thatched and Bradwell Outdoor Centre. For foodies have stood nearby. its history). Othona was one of the nine Dengie National Nature Reserve. Tel: 01621 782184 weatherboarded villages like the sublime there’s some of the country’s finest Roman forts built along the south east www.burnham.org.uk/museum.htm , and moody end-of-the-earth seafood and a food trail linking local 4. Mangapps Railway Museum coast to repel Saxon invaders. The fort saltmarshes. farm producers. And in Burnham-on- Extensive collection of railway relics of all has long since been eroded by the sea Crouch, the major town of the Dengie, kinds, working steam and diesel locos, and buried inland. Evening services are In Burnham-on-Crouch, the major town In centuries long gone, Dengie Fever you get the lot – great places to stay carriages, wagon, historic buildings and held every Sunday during July and August was something farmers’ wives worried and eat, riverside walks and pubs, art 1 of the largest collections of signalling at 18.30 hrs. of the Dengie, you get the lot – great about contracting as they assisted galleries, gorgeous Georgian homes equipment open to the public. Most of Tel: 01621 776203 places to stay and eat, riverside walks their husbands in the mosquito-infested and even an eccentric octagonal bell the collection is under cover. Train rides www.bradwellchapel.org swamps. Nowadays Dengie fever is tower, Burnham’s best known landmark, through pleasant countryside. Special and pubs, art galleries, gorgeous something everyone, happily contracts you have to duck your head under events include Santa special trains during as soon as they step into this wonderfully on the High Street. Burnham is the December. Georgian homes and even an eccentric remote land of mussels, markets and major yachting centre on the eastern Tel: 01621 784898 octagonal bell tower www.mangapps.co.uk

Wildlife Trips Getting to Burnham-on-Crouch Essex Lady Essex Arriving by Road • SAFFRON WALDEN The seal and wildlife trips organised in If you are travelling from London or the south, DEDHAM • conjunction with the RSPB who provide a • THAXTED • HALSTEAD MANNINGTREE • HARWICH • take the A12 from junction 28 of the M25. • COLCHESTER guide for some of the trips. They are ideal Leave the A12 at junction 18 and take the A414 GREAT DUNMOW BRAINTREE • • for those who don’t like rough seas as the towards Danbury followed by the B1010 to STANSTED AIRPORT CLACTON-ON-SEA • WITHAM creeks are very sheltered. Private hire for Burnham-on-Crouch. HARLOW • • • BRADWELL wildlife and photography trips as well as • Arriving by Train Map 1 fishing trips for the more adventurous. • WALTHAM ABBEY Burnham is served by a regular National Express • BURNHAM-ON-CROUCH • LOUGHTON • BRENTWOOD Tel: 01702 258666 • BASILDON East Anglia rail service directly from London • ROCHFORD www.ladyessex.com Liverpool Street. For more information LONDON • SOUTHEND-ON-SEA please call 0845 600 7245 or visit • THURROCK • TILBURY Nature Break www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com Activities 4. Mistral Yachts 8. Bradwell Outdoors 1. Royal Corinthian Yacht Club Bareboat or skippered charter of modern Land based activities including: archery, Explore the wealth of wildlife in and around Travel information can also be obtained by calling 0871 200 2233 or visiting www.traveline.org.uk Designed by Joseph Emberton in 1930 yachts for up to 8 persons. Evening mountain biking, canoeing, crabbing, Foulness Island and nearby Wallasea winning national architectural award cruises from Burnham-on-Crouch. sailing available for young people and Island aboard an ex RNLI Lifeboat. The trips offering magnificent views of the River Tel: 01621 743853 adults at our waterside site. Dinghy, offshore are escorted and are suitable for all ages. Accommodation Crouch. Racing for dayboats and dinghies, www.mistralyachts.co.uk and powerboat training also available. You will cruise to parts not accessible by car or on foot where you can enjoy birds 1 Mangapp Manor 3 The Oyster Smack Motel training for cadets and optimists - strong Tel: 01621 776256 HHHH Silver Award B&B HHHH Inn Junior Club. Large restaurant and bar with 5. Burnham-On-Crouch Golf Club www.essexoutdoors.org/bradwell.php and seals in their own environment without Burnham-on-Crouch CM0 8QQ Burnham-on-Crouch CM0 8HR terrace. Visiting yachtsmen welcome. Superb 18 hole riverside course with disturbance. Tel: 07769 676735 Tel 01621 786496 Tel: 01268 491540 www.mangappmanor.co.uk www.theoystersmackinn.co.uk Tel: 01621 782105 stunning views over the . http://beehive.thisisessex.co.uk/ 2 The Railway Hotel www.royalcorinthian.co.uk Tel: 01621 782282 HHHH Silver Award B&B www.burnhamgolfclub.co.uk wildlifecruises Burnham-on-Crouch CM0 8BQ 2. Royal Burnham Yacht Club Tel 01621 786868 The most prestigious yacht club in south 6. Elmwood Equestrian Centre www.therailwayhotelburnham.co.uk east England with a magnificent view over Qualified instructors cater for all ages and the river Crouch, open 7 days a week stages. Very good hacking, long distance all year. Active junior section with a full and beach rides. Introduction to riding - Tourist information programme of sail & seamanship training. lead rein for the very young. Burnham Tourist Information Centre Visiting yachtsmen always welcome. Tel: 01621 784330 Tel: 01621 784962 www.visitmaldondistrict.co.uk Tel: 01621 782044 www.rbyc.org.uk 7. Medway Farm Equestrian Centre Indoor / outdoor menage and hacks 3. Burnham Sailing Club mostly off road. Family club with pleasant and friendly Tel: 01621 744277 atmosphere. Excellent training for strong www.medwayfarm.com junior section. Competitive Wednesday evening racing for cruisers, dayboats and dinghies. Varried social programme. Good facilities and views of the river. Tel: 01621 782624 www.visitessex.com www.burnhamsc.org Sensational saltmarshes and blissful sailing The

Total distance of main route is 21.6km/13.4miles Short walks A 10km/6.2miles B 9.1km/5.6miles C 13.1km/8.1miles D 17.8km/11.1miles E 23.1km/14.3miles F 16.5km/10.2miles G 8km/4.9miles

6 A Attractions along this route 1 Burnham-on-Crouch Museum 2 Creeksea Church 4 8  3 St Mary’s Church 4 Mangapps Railway Museum 5 St Lawrence Rural Discovery Church 6 St Peter-on-the-Wall

B Activities 1 Royal Corinthian Yacht Club 2 Royal Burnham Yacht Club 3 Burnham Sailing Club 4 Mistral Yachts 5 Burnham-on-Crouch Golf Club 6 Elmwood Equestrian Centre 7 Medway Farm Equestrian Centre 8 Bradwell Outdoors

Accommodation for details see overleaf 1  The Oyster Smack Motel 2 The Railway Hotel 5  3  Mangapp Manor

C Places to eat 1 The Contented Sole Tel: 01621 786900 www.contentedsole.co.uk 2 The Quayside Restaurant Tel: 01621 783350 www.quaysiderestaurant.co.uk 3 The Galley Tel: 01621 786496 www.thegalley.biz 4 The Green Man Tel: 01621 776226 www.greenmanbradwellonsea.co.uk

D E

7

3 6 4 F 2 3 5

2 1 G 3 4  This map is intended as a guide only. Please refer to relevant OS Explorer maps for specific details.

3 1 1 2 Key  2 1 Walking Route 1 Short walks Place of worship Telephone in rural area Public House National Rail Reproduced from Ordnance Survey mapping with the permission of the 0 Kilometres 1 2 3 1 controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office © Crown Copyright.  Accommodation Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution 1 Restaurants or civil proceedings. Essex County Council. Licence no: 100019602, 2006 0 Miles 1 2