Saltmarsh - Tollesbury
Saltmarsh Trail at North Fambridge
Causeway to Northey Island, the site of the Battle of Maldon

Walking the Saltmarsh Trail

The Saltmarsh Trail, which stretches for 75 miles, can be undertaken as a single challenge, or broken into a series of interesting walks

Make no mistake, if you choose to run or walk the Saltmarsh Trail in its entirety, it will challenge you both physically and mentally. Ultra-marathons take place on this route, with a cut-off time for walkers of 30 continuous hours, which gives you some idea of the magnitude of the undertaking!

There are limited facilities along the route – part of the challenge is the isolation – so make sure you have emergency supplies, head torch and a mobile phone, plus a map or GPS, if you are planning to cover the whole trail in one hit.

But you don't have to be an endurance runner to enjoy the Saltmarsh Trail - because there are villages and towns along the route it can easily be broken into shorter walks. If you are planning on doing the trail over several days, or just dipping in and out, you will find facilities in the following locations:

Near Salcott – there are no facilities in Salcott itself, but you’ll find self-catering accommodation at Ship Ahoy Cottages, almost right on the sea wall near the Old Hall Marshes nature reserve, and luxury all-inclusive short breaks at Potters Resort Five Lakes nearby.

Tollesbury – you will find toilets in Woodrolfe Car Park and various cafes and pubs by the waterside. Tollesbury Marina has a campsite and Harbour View Bistro & Bar. A short walk into the village centre leads to more facilities, including shops and a pharmacy.

Goldhanger – if you head off the sea wall and into the village there are a couple of pubs, The Chequers Inn and The Cricketers, serving food and drink.

Osea area – as you pass the causeway to Osea Island (private) you will find two seawall cafes, Osea View Café Bar and the Beach House Bar. Camping and glamping is available at Osea Leisure Park and luxury accommodation at Osea Island Resort.

Heybridge Basin – there is a selection of pubs and cafes around the seawall.

Heybridge – the route passes briefly through the built-up area of Heybridge. Here you will find supermarkets with customer toilet facilities, fast food, cafes and restaurants. There are several options for accommodation here, including a Travelodge.

Maldon – the route heads towards Promenade Park, passing two riverside pubs, The Queen’s Head and Fish on the Quay. In the park itself there are toilets and cafes. Detour into the town centre and you will find several pharmacies, places to eat and drink, shops and hotels.

Mundon – a short walk from the sea wall, Mundon has a pub, the Mundon White Horse, and there are glamping pods at Southey Creek Glamping.

Maylandsea – there are pubs and cafes near the seawall and a few shops, including a pharmacy, slightly inland.

St Lawrence/Steeple Bay (around the halfway mark) – there’s a pub on the seawall, The Stone Inn, plus The Dairy Store convenience shop and St Lawrence Inn slightly inland. Static caravan accommodation is available at Steeple Bay Holiday Park.

Bradwell Marina – there are public toilets and the Munchies cafe at Bradwell Marina and The Green Man pub at Bradwell Waterside

Othona Community – accommodation and food may be available at the Othona Community (must be prebooked).

Burnham-on-Crouch – Burnham is the second largest town along the route and you will find a wide range of food and drink options, shops including a supermarket and pharmacy, public toilets and overnight accommodation, including camping at Silver Road Caravan Park and Creeksea Place Caravan Park.

North Fambridge – The Ferry Boat Inn is a pub restaurant with rooms, plus there’s the River Breeze Café Bar in Fambridge Yacht Haven.

Transport

Some of the areas along the walk are extremely remote with no car access or parking. If you are travelling by car for day walks, you will find convenient public car parks at Tollesbury, Heybridge Basin, Maldon, and Burnham-on-Crouch, plus smaller car parks or street parking at Goldhanger, Heybridge, Mundon (near the church), Maylandsea, St Lawrence, Bradwell Waterside, Bradwell near St Peter-on-the-Wall Chapel and North Fambridge. There is no public parking at Salcott.

Part of the route runs along the railway branch line from Wickford to Southminster, with convenient stops for walkers at North Fambridge, Althorne and Burnham-on-Crouch. There are various bus routes that might be helpful, including the Hedingham service 95 which runs from Maldon to Heybridge, Heybridge Basin, Goldhanger and Tollesbury; First Bus 31, 331 and 332 services between Maldon and Burnham-on-Crouch and Hedingham D1 and D2 which connect Maldon with Bradwell-on-Sea, Steeple and Maylandsea.

Our top suggestions

If you just want to dip your toe into the Saltmarsh Trail, we have put together some short, circular walks that take in some of the flavour of the area in our Walk it Local collection of family friendly strolls, as well as other slightly longer walks from our collection. You can download them here: Goldhanger Through the Ages, Heybridge Towpath & Seawall, Maylandsea Meander, North Bradwell Pirates and Pubs, Burnham & Creeksea Stroll, Fambridge Seawall Stroll or explore all our walking routes below.

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Blue House Farm Nature Reserve

Blue House Farm was bought by the Essex Wildlife Trust in 1998 with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and many other donors.
RSPB Old Hall Marshes Nature Reserve

An opportunity to see an abundance of coastal wetland bird species in their natural environment.
Statue of Byrhtnoth

One of the highlights of a walk around Promenade Park is to walk along the extension, which stretches out into the water (or the mud) and leads to a seating area at the end. There you can also see at close hand the statue of famous Saxon leader Byrhtnoth (sometimes written as Brythnoth, Brithnoth, Britnoth or Byrthnoth) who fought back against a Viking invasion. Ultimately he lost, but his bravery in battle was commemorated in the epic Old English poem The Battle of Maldon. The battle was fought in 991AD, and following the thousand-year anniversary, The Maldon Culture Company raised around £100,0000 to commission a lasting memorial to the district's hero, and artist John Doubleday was commissioned to create a statue of the great warrior.
St Lawrence Bay / Stone beach

St Lawrence Bay, also known as Stone, is undoubtedly the most beautiful beach in the Maldon District, and the broad sweep of shingle and sand is worth the effort to get to. If you travel by car you will need to park at Jubilee Field car park as you come into the village on the left - don't be tempted to attempt to drive closer to the beach, there really isn't anywhere else to park, and it's only a 10-minute walk. Refreshments (and toilets for customers) are available at The Stone Inn right on the sea wall and St Lawrence Inn opposite the car park and there is a convenience store for picnic supplies.
The Chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall

This ancient Saxon chapel is the oldest church in England built by St Cedd in 654AD, it is one of the most restful and spiritual buildings in the country, a place to bring you peace and tranquillity. The old Saxon quote on the Chapel sign ‘In this place the word is revealed to you’ is certainly true. The Chapel is situated at one end of the long distant walk ‘St Peters Way’. The Chapel is right on the coast and has stunning views a must for walkers and those keen on photography.

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Tollesbury & Old Hall Marshes - Self-Guided Walk No. 4.4 / 4.5

Address

Tollesbury, Essex, CM9 8QU

Tollesbury

SALTMARSH COAST WALKING FESTIVAL - 6.4 or 10.2 miles. A fascinating walk around Tollesbury and the surrounding marshes. This walk has plenty of stunning views, historic sites and bird-watching opportunities! Tollesbury nowadays is a renowned sailing…
Dog Friendly Fridays - Wildlife Walk

Address

Hackman's Lane, Purleigh, CM3 6RN

Telephone
01245 329358

info@stowmaries.org.uk

Purleigh

Every Friday. Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome is opening up its peaceful wildlife walk for well-behaved dogs and their owners every Friday. There is free entry to the walk and visitors and their four-legged friends are welcome to buy lunch or other…
Around and About Althorne Walk

Address

Althorne, Essex, CM9 6DG

Althorne

A pleasant 5.02 mile circular walk around the village of Althorne. The walk includes a short stretch along the River Crouch before turning inland through the fields and over the railway line before arriving in Althorne.
Sold Out - Special Edition Maldon Ghost Walk

Address

All Saints' Church, High Street, Maldon, Essex, CM9 4PY

maldonghostwalk@gmail.com

Maldon

This event is sold out but don't despair, join our waiting list to receive updates on more exciting opportunities about the Saltmarsh Coast Walking Festival.
Friday 15 September. SALTMARSH COAST WALKING FESTIVAL EVENING EVENT - Special Edition…
Purleigh & Stow Maries Aerodrome Walk

Address

Purleigh, Essex, CM3 6QH

Purleigh

This walk explores the countryside around the hilltop village of Purleigh and provides an opportunity to visit a working vineyard and an historic World War I aerodrome near Stow Maries
Going Beyond the Seawall: Challenges of filming the Essex Serpent - Talk by Harriet Lawrence and Jonjo Stickland

Address

The Blue Boar (Long Room), Silver Street, Maldon, CM9 4QE

Telephone
01621 855888

tourism@maldon.gov.uk

Maldon

Thursday 13 September. SALTMARSH COAST WALKING FESTIVAL EVENING EVENT - TV location manager Harriet Lawrence and marine co-ordinator Jonjo Strickland talk about the challenges of filming The Essex Serpent in the wild saltmarshes of the Maldon…
Burnham to Southminster - Self-Guided Walk No. 6.4

Address

Burnham-on-Crouch station, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8BQ

Burnham-on-Crouch

SALTMARSH COAST WALKING FESTIVAL - 7.2 miles. This attractive linear pub walk takes you from the charming riverside town of Burnham-on-Crouch in a steady climb across the final outlier of the rolling farmland of central Essex, before reaching…
Burnham Town Walk - Self-Guided Walk No. 6.2

Address

Burnham-on-Crouch Library, Station Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8HQ

Burnham-on-Crouch

SALTMARSH COAST WALKING FESTIVAL - 4.6 miles. This largely mud-free stroll follows an easy circuit of the riverside yachting centre giving visitors the opportunity to explore some lesser-visited parts of the town.
A Great Stroll in Little Braxted - Walk it Local

Address

Braxted Bakery, Little Braxted Lane, Little Braxted, CM8 3ET

Little Braxted

3.3 miles. The quiet lanes around Little Braxted make a pleasant walk with plenty to explore along the way, including a richly decorated Grade I listed church, fine old buildings with decorative chimneys and an unusual miniature railway at Braxted…
Maldon Ghost Walk

Address

All Saints' Church, High Street, Maldon, Essex, CM9 4PY

maldonghostwalk@gmail.com

Maldon

Walking tours filled with ghoulish tales and tantalising tidbits of history (with some honest laughs to round it out).
Crouch Valley: North Fambridge to Burnham - Self-Guided Walk No. 7.4

Address

North Fambridge Station, Station Road, North Fambridge, CM3 6NP

tourism@maldon.gov.uk

North Fambridge

SALTMARSH COAST WALKING FESTIVAL - 10.2 miles. This is a long and challenging, linear walk along the scenic River Crouch, using the train service to return to the start. The views of the river and landscape are breathtaking and Butts Cliff is an…
St Peter's Way

Address

Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex, CM0 7PW

Bradwell-on-Sea

The St Peter’s Way is a 45 mile walk meandering through the countryside of Essex, from Chipping Ongar to the ancient chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall at Bradwell on Sea.
Wallasea Island - talk by RSPB Site Manager Rachel Fancy

Address

Azar Persian Restaurant, 159 Station Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, CM0 8HJ

tourism@maldon.gov.uk

Burnham-on-Crouch

Event Cancelled.
Wednesday 13 September. SALTMARSH COAST WALKING FESTIVAL EVENING EVENT - Site Manager at RSPB Wallasea Island for 12 years, Rachel Fancy has seen the Island radically change and grow. At the start of her role, the nature reserve…
Crouch Valley: North Fambridge to Althorne - Self-Guided Walk No. 7.3

Address

North Fambridge Station, Station Road, North Fambridge, CM3 6NP

tourism@maldon.gov.uk

North Fambridge

SALTMARSH COAST WALKING FESTIVAL - 6.7 miles. This is a beautiful linear walk along the River Crouch, using the train service to return to the start. The expansive views of the river and landscape are breathtaking. On the map, follow the "short cut"…
Chigborough Walks

Address

2 Chigborough Road, Essex, CM9 4RE

Telephone
07702244440

chigboroughfarm@gmail.com

An annual pass, £20 per person in 2022, gives permission to use the walking path around Chigborough Farm site, with proceeds going to Farleigh Hospice. Parking is not available, so pass holders must be able to walk to the site. Commercial dog…
Woodham Walter Wilderness - Walk it Local

Address

Bell Meadow, The Street, Woodham Walter, CM9 6RF

Woodham Walter

2.7 miles. This undulating walk explores the pretty village of Woodham Walter and its nearby woodland, known as The Wilderness, plus a visit to the scenic Hoe Mill Lock with its pretty boats and wildlife.
Beeleigh Falls & Maldon from Heybridge Basin - Self-Guided Walk No. 2.4

Address

Daisy Meadow car park, Basin Road, Heybridge, CM9 4RW

Heybridge

SALTMARSH COAST WALKING FESTIVAL - 8.4 miles. This long waterside walk provides the perfect introduction to Maldon and Heybridge’s countryside and riverside, including the seawall, Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation and Beeleigh Falls, returning via…
Tillingham Village & Fields - Walk it Local

Address

West Field car park, North Street, Tillingham, CM0 7TP

Tillingham

2.73 miles. This gentle walk lets you explore Tillingham, with its pretty village green lined with weatherboarded cottages, and the wide-open expanses of the surrounding Dengie farmland. There's a historic church to investigate, and two historic…
North Fambridge Seawall Stroll - Self-Guided Walk No. 7.1

Address

Blue House Farm Nature Reserve car park, Blue House Farm Chase, North Fambridge, Essex, CM3 6GU

North Fambridge

SALTMARSH COAST WALKING FESTIVAL - 3.1 miles. This walk has a bit of everything – the river Crouch, boats galore, an historic pub and farmland. All within the confines of the village of North Fambridge. Enjoy a walk along the seawall, with…
Beeleigh Falls

Address

Beeleigh Falls, Maldon Road, Beeleigh, Essex, CM9 6QA

essex@waterways.org.uk

Beeleigh

Beeleigh Falls is home to a series of water falls, locks and weirs on the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation.

Walking the Saltmarsh Trail

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