The Walk In Clacton
Cre Moonin
It is worth extending the walk, as just to the north of Walton is the Naze - a peninsula. It is a prominent site for migrating birds and has a small nature reserve. See SWC Walk 98 - Walton-on-the-Naze Circular. This makes a 21.5 km (13.4 mile) walk.
Frinton is famously well-to-do. Historically it was just the church and a few farms but in the late 1800s Richard Powell Cooper had created this golf course and stipulated the quality of housing to be built in the town and also prohibited boarding houses and pubs. The town attracted many well known figures including Winston Churchill who rented a house and the Prince of Wales who played golf at the golf course. The first pub opened in 2000. The manually worked level crossing gates often cut off the town from the rest of the world and there were protests when Network Rail removed them and replaced them with automatically operated gates.
Soon I came to a breakwater, Burnt House breakwater, where the sea reached the sea wall, so I had to put my shoes back on and head up to the promenade to continue. After the breakwater there was little sand again, just wet firm sand and so rather than sit on the beach the sea wall and beach huts were proving more popular, so much so that the beach huts were on 3 levels now, there were so many.
The cliffs got higher for a while, but as I neared the end of the spit they became lower again, with the remains of trees that had fallen over the cliffs, along with concrete foundations of some sort of building that presumably once stood here.
I made my way along the shore here and was pleased to find, as I had hoped that there was a proper path you were welcome to walk around the edge of the spit. The public right of way ended on the north eastern corner so I was hoping I would be able to continue along the north and western coasts, rather than turn back, as had turned out to be the case.
After that I headed for the station at Walton-on-the-Naze. The rail route splits at Thorpe-le-Soken with a line to Clacton and another to Frinton and Walton-on-the-Naze. However the Walton side is only served by trains to Colchester, which stop at every station so I changed onto a faster train through to London at Thorpe-le-Soken. The train I took was a little late so I had to run to make the connection, as the guard kept one of the doors open for me.
I enjoyed this walk very much. It had a great variety, from the lovely sandy beaches lined with a promenade and beach huts around Clacton, Frinton and Walton to the more rural cliffs of the Naze and then followed by the creeks and marshes of Hamford Water. It had been so nice to be next to the sea, but I knew that next time it would be a long walk inland around the marshes to get around Hamford Water so I made the most of being next to the sea whilst it lasted!
Thank you for commenting Francis and very glad this bought back some memories for you! I can well imagine the change in temperature between Essex and the Scottish Highlands coming as a bit of a shock, I certainly get caught out sometimes with the temperature even in the summer. If you make the return I hope you enjoy it. It must have been nice to be able to walk the coast every day and I did enjoy the Naze especially there.
Making the most of the last of our Summery days we're heading to the coast once more for a lovely 7 mile walk starting in Clacton On Sea and finishing in Walton on the Naze (see travel options in the Meeting & Times section)
This is a pleasant route along the sea wall from Clacton to Walton. The sea wall is mostly below street level in the built up areas meaning there is little traffic noise. However once past the residential area, the sea wall is actually higher than the neighbouring land, so that there are lovely views across Holland Haven Country Park.
As we progress north past the beach huts of Frinton-On-Sea you can, tides permitting, walk along the smooth firm sands all the way along the coast to Walton. With sea breezes, the occasional aroma of frying chips, great company and plenty of ice cream and refreshments along the way, I hope to take you on a lovely day out getting you to the end in time for a nice pint of your favourite tipple before you make your way home, unless your favourite tipple is gin - you might want something smaller than a pint...or perhaps an ambulance?!?! :)
Walk 5km from the Memorial Gardens down and along the seafront, back up the slope at Holland on Sea (opposite The Kingscliff Pub) and walking back along the top promenade to finish back at the starting point.
Starlight Walk is a commemorative event and the 6 registration fee covers the cost of your lantern pack being made and sent to you. As part of your registration you'll also receive a fundraising page link from Enthuse. If you are able to fundraise as part of your walk that would also make a huge difference to Sands and will show further support for your local Sands Group, Clacton-on-Sea Sands.
This 1870m (one mile and a bit) walk takes you from Martello Bay along the lower promenade up to Clacton Pier, then onto the upper promenade through the stunning gardens, working your way back to the start point. On average the walk will take between 20 - 30 minutes, and you could burn up to 360 calories!
The walk begins on the Promenade in front of the Beach Diner Caf (CO15 1BW) along from the Toby Carvery Restaurant, Martello Bay and the green sign pictured above (Tendring Healthwalks Main Sign) indicates the starting point and shows the route the walk takes.
Stroll along the 'Blue Flag' award winning seafront and take in the breathtaking views out to sea.
Turn left again and return back through the beautiful, award winning gardens in the upper promenade. Be amazed at the breathtaking flower beds (from spring to autumn) and take a look out to the North Sea at the viewing area.
There are a number of ways to find out about where you can walk in the area - please refer to Essex County Council's website which provides information about Public Rights of Way. Some suggested walks listed below - click on them to download the details. However, please check the Essex County Council website before embarking on any of these suggested walks just in case there are any accessibility issues etc.
Open Access (commonly known as The Right to Roam) is now available across England, which means you can walk across certain mapped Access Land. The GOV.uk website provides information for you to search for open access land: -of-way-open-access-land
This activity is delivered by Community Voluntary Services Tendring (CVST) as part of their Healthier Independent Longer Lives (HILL) project. It is designed to help people lead healthier, more independent and active lives. This is a fun walk for all ages and abilities. We stop for a refreshment at the of the walk, so come along and make new friends in your local community, have fun and get active!
This activity is delivered by Community Voluntary Services Tendring (CVST) as part of the lottery funded Healthier Independent Longer Lives (HILL) project. It is designed to help people lead healthier, more independent and active lives.
This friendly group is a great way to get outside and enjoy the local area. Come along to meet new friends and get active. There is a refreshment stop during the walk and the walk starts from different places so make sure you call first!
Refreshed by the drink, I head southwards toward Frinton. On the promenade are people enjoying this wonderful day. The tide is high and the beach is covered with water, making the promenade the main area for walking, sitting and playing. There are beach huts, doors open, with chairs and tables out on the promenade.
When I reach Holland-on-Sea, the promenade becomes crowded again, with beach huts and people. I am tired and want to find a pub for lunch, having pre-arranged to meet my husband here. So, I leave the beach and climb upwards to a wide promenade that runs above the beach. There are houses to my right, but no sign of a pub. The promenade is also a cycle way. I wonder if I will meet my husband cycling along?
After lunch, I carry on towards Clacton Pier, descending down to the beach again and walking along the sea wall for a while, before, tired by the noise and crowds, I climb back up to the promenade. Clacton is surprisingly pleasant. There is a park up here, with gardens and benches to sit on. And here there are good views of the pier and its small amusement park. It may be shorter than Walton, but this is a much nicer pier.
Carrying on, I leave Clacton behind, passing another Martello tower and head towards Jaywick. The beach becomes wider with more shingle. There are jet skis buzzing on the sea. On the path, the people become fatter and have tattoos. The dogs become larger, straining on leashes. Cars drive past pumping out loud music. Instead of beach huts, there are small, tatty beach houses. Their gardens are untidy with broken toys, old furniture and discarded rubbish. I see broken windows, boarded up windows, and windows open with music blaring out.
The sea wall becomes a wall, instead of a walkway, and I am forced to walk along a narrow road, flattening myself against the wall every time a car drives past. There is broken glass on the road. This is not pleasant.
Two large women in leggings and t-shirts are approaching. They are accompanied by two skinny men who have dogs on choke chains. One of the dogs keeps lunging towards the garden of a beach house, where another large dog is standing against the fence on his hind legs, barking. The dog on the chain pulls his master with each lunge, causing the man to lurch across the road at regular intervals. As I pass, one woman says, in an Essex accent made for a comedy show,
I pass some of the last of the Martello Towers on this stretch of coast. Further on, there is a commotion ahead. I am approaching a place called St. Osyth Beach. Here people are sitting on the beach wall. There is music playing. As I approach, I realise there is an open-air karaoke bar in full swing. It is 6:30 pm.
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