Burnham-on-Crouch is a historic maritime town located on the Dengie Peninsula and is known for Burnham Week, which is one of the longest running annual regattas on UK mainland. This charming town is home to rich heritage, a picturesque waterfront, independently owned cafés and restaurants, a historic cinema, four sailing and yacht clubs, excellent museums, and numerous walking routes for you to enjoy. Burnham-on-Crouch is a renowned yachting centre and is also known for its oyster beds and boat building.
HISTORY OF BURNHAM-ON-CROUCH
Very little is known about Burnham-on-Crouch until the Domesday Book of 1086 and the town's name means 'settlement by the stream'. This doesn't refer to the River Crouch, but to the original settlement which centred around a small stream nearly a mile inland. By 1840, a separate village was expanding on the banks of the River Crouch, and later the two communities eventually expanded and merged. In 1253, the Market Charter was granted to the Lord of the Manor of Burnham and largely marks the beginning of Burnham-on-Crouch as a town.
By the end of the thirteenth century, a highly profitable fishery was operating from the town. From this period and until the late nineteenth century, the main industry was fishing, sea trade and oyster breeding. In 1889, the railway came to Burnham-on-Crouch and was built by the Great Eastern Railway. The early twentieth century saw the origins of the Burnham Carnival which began on 5th November 1909 with a bonfire and a torchlight procession. The Burnham Carnival has now been running for over a hundred years and is always on the last Saturday in September.
MAIN WALKING ROUTES
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DISCOVER BURNHAM-ON-CROUCH WALK (2 MILES)
There are more shops, cafés and restaurants along the High Street for you to explore. Continuing along the High Street, turn right down Chapel Road, where you will pass the Town Council Office. After a hundred yards, you will see former fishermen's cottages, then continue along the road before turning right down Whitney Road. At the end of this road, you will see Granville Terrace which has the longest single span wooden roof in Essex, and these fishermen's cottages were built in 1891.
Head back down Whitney Road and Chapel Road to make a right onto the High Street, passing the town's war memorial. After going past Burnham Baptist Church on the right, cross over the road to make a left down Coronation Road, where you can then make your way back to the quay.
BURNHAM-ON-CROUCH TO CREEKSEA WALK ALONG THE SEA WALL AND RETURNING THROUGH RIVERSIDE PARK (4.25 MILES)
At the end of the field, turn left away from the railway line, continuing around the edge of the field. Heading past Creeksea Place Barns on your right, ignore the entrance to the caravan park, and after 100 yards, you will head right onto the waymarked footpath which heads away from the field. Follow this narrow, fenced path until you reach a track, where you will go diagonally right, crossing a stile on the left of the track. Take the footpath for 150 yards across the meadow, and there will be a wooden fence to your left.
You will head over another stile and track, taking the footpath which heads in the same direction that goes along the left side of another meadow. Heading past the gate, lead onto a narrow, fenced footpath which passes several houses on the left. Crossing the drive, head over another stile on the left, where you soon reach the river. Turn left to walk along the sea wall and continue for over half a mile. Then turn left along the sea wall path to follow the edge of the marina, heading past the RNLI station.
Heading around the marina, you will soon reach the footpath on the eastern side. The path will eventually turn left away from the marina to head alongside the River Crouch. You will soon pass Riverside Park, several houseboats and the Crouch Yacht Club. After passing the Burnham-on-Crouch & District Museum, the path twists and turns and you will pass a boatyard and the town's war memorial.
Continue along the quay, heading past the Old White Harte hotel, the Anchor Hotel and the Royal Burnham Yacht Club. After 120 yards past this yacht club, the path takes a right hand bend as it approaches the Royal Corinthian. Turn left here, continue onto Belvedere Road for 150 yards, then turn left onto the High Street. Passing the iconic Clock Tower on your left, continue along the High Street to reach your starting point.
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TAKE THE TRAIN TO ALTHORNE OR NORTH FAMBRIDGE AND RETURN BY FOOT ALONG THE SEA WALL (5 MILES FROM ALTHORNE OR 9 MILES FROM NORTH FAMBRIDGE)
Head towards the large building which is Kennett's Farm, and follow the path as it curves left, then go ahead in the direction of the waymarker, now following the left hand edge of the next field. Passing over the stile at the side of Kennett's Farm, take the footpath as it turns right to go around the back of the Ferry Boat Inn. When you reach the lane, turn left and ascend the grassy bank, passing the front of the pub. Cross the Fambridge Yacht Station entrance and continue ahead on the path to soon reach the sea wall. Heading past the marina, you will continue along the sea wall for four miles, where you will pass the uninhabited saltmarsh of Bridgemarsh Island.
Take the train to Althorne and on exiting the station, head right down the unmade road. Continue straight along this road and you will soon see the River Crouch. Head up the steps by the marina car park and go left along the sea wall, passing the stile. Continue for over a mile, and you will note a small deviation from the river at Butt Cliff. The path will veer left and climb to the top of the cliff where you can enjoy views of the Crouch Estuary.
Nearly a mile after descending the cliff, the sea wall path ends as you near Creeksea. Turn left down the steps, heading through the gate and turning right onto the field edge path. After 250 yards, turn right onto the road which will rejoin the sea wall past the slipway after another 300 yards. Continue along the sea wall, passing Creeksea, and you will soon reach Burnham Marina.
Walking around the edge of the marina, walk south to rejoin the sea wall by the river. As you continue along, you will see Riverside Park to your left and you will pass the pubs and houses along Burnham Quay. After passing the Olde White Harte, turn left onto Shore Road to reach the High Street. Heading left up the High Street, you will pass the memorial and Burnham Baptist Church on your left, and further ahead the library will also be on your left. Continue along this road, where you will reach the railway station which is just past the Co-op on the left.
ATTRACTIONS
EVENTS
ON THE WATER

SEAL & WILDLIFE TRIPS
Spend time with Common Seals who are often as interested in you as you are in them. On these seal and wildlife trips, you also might catch a glimpse of Atlantic Grey Seals and Harbour Porpoise. These trips go from the quay at Burnham-on-Crouch and will certainly make for an excellent day out with family and friends.
SAILING
The town of Burnham-on-Crouch is home to four sailing & yacht clubs and has a long history of sailing. These four clubs welcome sailors from Europe and around the world for the famous Burnham Week. It is one of the longest running annual yacht regattas on the UK mainland and dates back to 1892.
From leisure and competitive sailing, to beginners and experts, regardless of experience level you'll be able to find a club that suits you. Many clubs also hold open days and taster sessions throughout the year, so that you can get an idea of what they have to offer.
BURNHAM-ON-CROUCH RNLI LIFEBOAT STATION
The station has two boats, one is an Atlantic 85 B849, the ‘Tony & Robert Britt’, which arrived in August 2011. There is also an IB1, the ‘Ernest & Rose Chapman II’, which arrived in February 2007.
MORE INFORMATION
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WHERE TO EAT
WHERE TO STAY
LOCATIONS NEARBY

Southminster
Southminster is a small town with a population of just under 4,000 people situated in the centre of a peninsula in eastern Essex.
Maldon
Tillingham is a small village and civil parish with 1,015 inhabitants in 2001, increasing to 1,058 at the 2011 Census, located 8 miles from Burnham-on-Crouch and 3 miles from Bradwell-on-Sea.
Maldon
Bradwell-on-Sea is a village and civil parish in Essex, England. The village is on the Dengie peninsula. It is located about 9 km north-northeast of Southminster and is 30 km east from the county town of Chelmsford.
Along the coastline of the Maldon District, five Saltmarsh Coast Hubs are being installed as part of Maldon District Council's Dengie Gateway Project. Aside from Burnham-on-Crouch, they are located in:
These inspirational visitor information points make the perfect starting point for your journey and provide you with engaging facts and details about this fascinating part of Essex's Discovery Coast.

Additionally, audio posts, signage and waymarking will continue to be installed. This work has been undertaken as part of the Maldon District Council’s Dengie Gateway Project funded by the Coastal Community’s Fund.
These inspirational visitor information points make the perfect starting point for your journey and provide you with engaging facts and details about this fascinating part of Essex's Discovery Coast.
Additionally, audio posts, signage and waymarking has also been installed. This work has been undertaken as part of the Maldon District Council’s Dengie Gateway Project funded by the Coastal Community’s Fund.
