Ruth Livingstone
My book: Walking the English Coast
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Winfield’s Award
Killer Cows: Killer Cows
A Tale of Three Walks: close encounters with cattle.
cornered by herds of cattle
Chris’s Story: a scary encounter with cows and a bull
The bull appeared in front of the gate… about two metres away.
A Farmer’s Story: charged by cattle
I trust cows, but I know when they turn…
Tag Archives: british
30. Fobbing to Tilbury
“Or, if you walk into the village, you may be able to catch a bus.”
“I am not allowed to travel by bus,” I tell him.
If he thinks this is a little odd, he is too polite to say so.
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28. Great Wakering to Southend to Leigh-on-Sea
Southend is full of sunlight but I am surrounded by warning signs. I am forbidden from walking along the beach – first by Ministry of Defence warning signs and later by an oil spill. I scratch my insect bites and have some close encounters with blackberry bushes, before becoming trapped in deep, dark stairwell …. Continue reading
26. Burnham on Crouch to Rochford
I am planning to make good progress over the next few days. Who knows, I might even manage to leave Essex. With 350 miles of coastline, Essex has the longest coastline in England. I was not aware of this fact before I encountered its miles of estuaries ….
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25. Tillingham Marshes to Burnham on Crouch
The Dengie peninsula is flat, marshy and has a coastal walk 17 miles in length. I suffer my first serious bout of boredom …. then I see a mirage, a strangely decorated gate and discover an enormous mushroom. Continue reading
Posted in 04 Essex
Tagged Blackwater, britain, british, coast, coastal, Dengie, england, Essex, Essex Coast, marsh, mirage, mushrooms, photography, pill box, public right of way, River Crouch, Tillingham, UK, walk, walker, walking
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22. Maldon to Maylandsea
Here is Byrhtnoth, the Earldorman of Essex, bold and fierce, looking out to sea. I see Bradwell Power Station ahead of me and realise am making little progress. I worry about snakes and twisted ankles …. then my phone dies. Continue reading
21. Tollesbury to Maldon
This walk starts under wide, empty skies and follows a meandering, sea bank. What is the story behind the lonely bench in this isolated spot? Later, I meet a semi-naked man, friendly sheep and excited children on bicycles.
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Stage 20. Old Hall Marshes to Tollesbury
Bradwell Power Station looms menacingly on the horizon. There is the threat of rain and strange colour-changing light. My trousers look like an insect graveyard – sticky webs with spiders, flies, butterflies, beetles, ladybirds… Little flies extract their revenge on behalf of the insect kingdom, attacking my upper arms. Continue reading
Posted in 04 Essex
Tagged Blackwater, britain, british, coast, coastal, england, english, Essex, hiking, insects, light, marina, marsh, nature reserve, nuclear, path, photography, pier, power station, rain, ships, Tollesbury, walk, walker, walking
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Stage 19. West Mersea to Peldon to Old Hall Farm
This is a day of highs and lows – and of unanswered questions. What has caused the death of all these little crabs? Why am I forced to play “chicken” with uncoming cars? And what is the purpose of that large, menacing building in the distance? Continue reading
Stage 18. Jaywick to West Mersea
“Ferry,” says a male voice.
“Can you come and pick us up please?” I ask. “There are two of us and a bike.”
After a moment’s hesitation, the man says in a somewhat irritated tone, “I am not a taxi service you know.” Continue reading
Posted in 04 Essex
Tagged beach, beach huts, Brightlingsea, britain, british, coast, coastal, coastal erosion, cycle, cycling, cyclist, england, Essex, ferry, Mersea, path, photography, Point Clear, seafood, shells, walker, walking
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