Burnham

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.

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HISTORY OF BURNHAM-ON-CROUCH

The town of Burnham-on-Crouch was inhabited thousands of years ago, and archaeological evidence indicates that it was inhabited in the Bronze and Iron Age, as well as the time of Roman Occupation. Red hills have also been found a distance inland and date back to this period. These hills were formed over generations as a result of the byproducts of saltmaking. Their colour is derived from coarse pottery vessels, ash and soil reddened by the heat of fires used to evaporate sea water to produce salt cakes. Several other red hills have been found in the Dengie Peninsula, and one has been recorded up to 5km from the current shoreline.

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

DISCOVER BURNHAM-ON-CROUCH WALK (2 MILES)

Follow the Green path to discover the main attractions of this historic maritime town. The route takes you from the Saltmarsh Hub along the quay, heading past Riverside Park, the RNLI lifeboat station, the Burnham-on-Crouch & District Museum, the town pontoon, numerous places to eat and drink, and the town's four sailing and yacht clubs. Heading off from the quay, the route then takes you up Belvedere Road and then round to the High Street.

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)

Follow the Red Path along the High Street and Station Road, passing the library on your left and then the United Reformed Church. Turn left before reaching the Co-op, heading down Foundry Lane. The road eventually borders the park, and after half a mile it makes a sharp left as it heads towards Burnham Marina. Instead of continuing round the bend, head onto the footpath off to the right. This path soon runs parallel with the railway line for a quarter of a mile.

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)

Take the train to North Fambridge from Burnham-on-Crouch and after arriving at the station, walk down Station Approach and turn left onto Fambridge Road. Continue for a quarter of a mile and before the road makes a sharp right, continue straight ahead onto the gravel track. Walking ahead, you will see the sign for the Blue House Farm Nature Reserve. Continue through the two gates, going to the right of the barn. Heading along the right hand edge of the field, you will cross a stile on your right and then take the footpath which joins from the right.

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.

NORTH FAMBRIDGE TO BURNHAM-ON-CROUCH

ATTRACTIONS

QUAYSIDE

Burnham-on-Crouch's quay, with its historic pubs and red-roofed houses, is known within sailing circles as the 'Cowes of the East Coast.' Along with its pubs, the quay has cafés, houseboats, and the Burnham-on-Crouch & District Museum. Walking along the quay, you will pass its four sailing clubs, the RNLI lifeboat station and Riverside Park.

RIVERSIDE PARK

Riverside Park is the main park in Burnham-on-Crouch and can be reached by a pleasant walk along the quayside. It has won numerous Green Flag Awards and has a naturalised area which boasts an extensive wildflower meadow. The large open space of Riverside Park allows for plenty of room for children to play, as well as for picnics.

RIO CINEMA

The Rio Cinema is the only full time historic cinema in Essex and was built in 1931. The Rio shows the latest films at historically low prices and is one of the cheapest cinemas in the country. This independently owned cinema has two screens, 280 seats, and offers visitors a unique experience in a historic setting.

Dengie Hundred Sports Centre

The newly re-furbished Dengie Hundred Sports Centre is a Community Sports Centre, committed to delivering fantastic facilities and service. Choose from our wide range of classes, activities and facilities.

WELCOME TO BURNHAM-ON-CROUCH

HISTORY OF BURNHAM-ON-CROUCH

MAIN WALKING ROUTES

DISCOVER BURNHAM-ON-CROUCH WALK (2 MILES)

BURNHAM-ON-CROUCH TO CREEKSEA WALK ALONG THE SEA WALL AND RETURNING THROUGH RIVERSIDE PARK (4.25 MILES)

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)

ATTRACTIONS

EVENTS

ON THE WATER

SEAL & WILDLIFE TRIPS

SAILING

BURNHAM-ON-CROUCH RNLI LIFEBOAT STATION

WHERE TO EAT

WHERE TO STAY

LOCATIONS NEARBY

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