Tag Archives: marsh

29. Southend to Basildon to Fobbing

I hesitate outside the dark mouth of the gloomy alleyway. For the first time on my whole journey, I feel very uneasy. I am not concerned about tides, or mud, or even snakes. It is the thought of ….. Continue reading

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27. Rochford to Great Wakering

My husband joins me and we discover a minature railway and enjoy a grand view of Barling Tip. I acquire – and lose – a walking stick, get sprayed by stinking marsh water and nearly step on a “snake”. Continue reading

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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

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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

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Stage 16. Harwich to Kirby-le-Soken

The heat is relentless – more like Spain than England – and the air is hot and close around my face. My chest feels tight and I am having trouble breathing. I hear the sound of horse hooves behind me and have to force myself not to stop. There is horsey breath coming over my shoulder…. Continue reading

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Stage 6. Cley-Next-the-Sea to Sheringham

The waves crash beneath us and spray fills the air. The wind howls and tries to blow us off the bank. I am reminded of how very fragile this coastland is and what little protection we really have from the force of the sea.
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Stage 5. Wells to Cley-Next-the-Sea

The wind is fierce and cold. Across the marsh we see huge sea waves breaking at Blakeney Point. We stop and eat bananas, sitting on very soft, spongy tufts of grass. So soft, we could fall asleep …. Continue reading

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Stage 3. Thornham to Burnham Deepdale

Now the rain begins to fall. I wrap my camera in plastic bag and stuff my iPhone into my bra. I am a little damp. I can’t resist taking lots of photographs of boats. Yesterday it was beach huts, today boats. Continue reading

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