Tollesbury, Salcott and Essex Marshes

The walk begins just outside Tollesbury, a small village on the River Blackwater. From the start, there are long views over the yacht marina and the estuary. Though decommissioned Bradwell Power Station appears on the horizon, it is unobtrusive and soon lost to sight as you pass a lake and turn off down a fine, green, hedged lane. You swing around the southern outskirts of Tollesbury, past the entrance to Mell Farm and through fields to the recreation ground, with splendid views south over the Blackwater Estuary.

The walk then turns inland past the War Memorial. In the town square are the parish church and some beautifully pargeted houses. Pargeting — the art of decorative plasterwork — is an old craft particularly associated with East Anglia.

After leaving Tollesbury across some fields, your path crosses the line of a defunct railway known locally as "The Crab and Winkle Line", a section of the Kelvedon and Tollesbury Light Railway which ran from Kelvedon to Tollesbury. The walk then leads over the delightfully springy grass of Tollesbury Turf Farm, on the way providing delightful views over Salcott and its church (as well as a ruined church nearby). You may want to stop off for refreshments in the village.

From the village of Salcott (Salcott cum Virley), you join the low grass-covered seawall above Salcott Channel, an inlet from the River Blackwater. In summer the ground is covered with thrift, and later sea lavender and sea aster, and there is a definite salt tang in the air.

From this point on, the most interesting aspect of the walk is the bird life. Waterfowl, waders, and seabirds throng the marshes and the muddy margins of the creeks and inlets, while the call of the curlew haunts this strange and beautiful landscape of pools dappled with sunlight or reflecting silver skies.

After a short walk along the sea wall, you pass Tollesbury Wick Nature Reserve, run from the renovated Old Hall Farm (if you have made an appointment, a warden will show you birdwatching hides on the marshes). Rejoining the sea wall, you pass Old Hall Creek and wind your way back towards Tollesbury.

Just before finishing the walk, you may want to stop off at Tollesbury Marina for refreshments in a truly beautiful setting.

Acknowledgment: Text derived from the Out and Out Series; Discovering the Countryside on Foot. Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.