Soubur four

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This is a great route with a variety of different environments and lots of off-road walking, both coastal and woodland, and views of the 'côté de Crouch' vinyards. The route includes slopes, steps and various types of gates. It's identical to Soubur three except for a small diversion to avoid a dodgy stretch of road walking.

I walked this in two bites in late March after a wet winter travelling east to west but I’ve described it below in the west-to-east direction suggested by the name.

From the Railway station starting point take a short walk up Hullbridge Road to its junction with King Edward’s Road. There’s a convenience store and chemist here should you need to stock up (long stretches of this walk offer no shops or refreshments).

Where King Edward’s Road meets Hambert Road you’ll see a sward of grass sloping upwards directly ahead take this to reach the Burnham Road (B1012). Vehicles can travel fast on this road and there’s no controlled crossing but the visibility is quite good and it shouldn’t take too long to find a gap in the traffic to cross.

The route proceeds through a metal gate and up Bushy Hill along a dirt track, look out for the right turning. There’s a short section through woodland where bluebells put on a show in season. Out of the woodland, the path follows the field edge to the junction of Crows Lane and Woodham Road. (This is where Soubur three proceeds directly ahead - a shorter route for sure if you are happy with the risk).

Turn north and go uphill on Crows Lane (this is road walking but this is a quiet road). Look out for a footpath going east along the southern edge of a copse. When the copse ends take the footpath south to meet the Woodham Road again, practically opposite the next piece of the route. You'll be passing one of the new vineyards of the Crouch Valley.

Cross the road when traffic allows and take the off-road path going south which shortly joins an east-bound track along the route of the old Maldon West railway line. This is a fine stretch in an Essex Wildlife Trust reserve with woodland canopy arcing overhead. You’ll also pass through the Three Rivers Golf Club, so don’t be surprised to see some caddies being pulled across the way.

The track crosses some roads, you need to take a southerly turn onto the second one - Honey Pot Lane. This gentle, quiet lane terminates back at the B1012 (Lower Burnham Road). This road remains busy here, on the south side of the road there’s a grass verge which is suitable for the short stretch to Rookery Lane.

Rookery Lane is a no-through road to traffic and another wonderfully quiet lane to walk down. At Grooms Farm, the route turns eastwards. [A thus-far unconfined element of the England Coast Path proposes a route to South Woodham Ferrers using the farm track westward here]. The made road of Rookery Lane ends but a bridleway continues eastwards. Look out for the southerly turn onto a path going over the railway track (if you’ve had enough at this point continuing straight on will take you to Fambridge railway station).

This southerly track eventually reaches Church Road. If you need refreshments look out for the earlier turn east to Fambridge Yacht Haven where you’ll find the River Breeze Cafe And Bar.

Ferry Road will take you to the coast and past the Ferryboat Inn (colloquially known as the FBI) your last chance at food and drink for many a mile.

The coast path here goes through Blue House Farm, another Essex Wildlife Trust reserve and a favoured haunt of birders. EWT has conveniently placed some benches along the way. Before long, and tide permitting, Bridgemarsh Island become visible in the Crouch and remains your companion for quite a way.

When you reach Bridgemarsh Marina you are not far from Althorne railway station should you wish to break your journey. The next stretch offers up tiny beaches when the tide recedes. As the path goes through the Stokes Hall estate it rises up slightly away from the river, if the tide is out a short scramble down provides a short alternative route beside the ‘Creeksea Cliffs’ where there’s no seawall and the clay crumbles into the intertidal. Sharp eyes can find prehistoric shark teeth here. Before reaching Creeksea itself private claim on the coast forces you inland again and across a field to Ferry Lane.

Here the route turns south and returns to the coast (f you want a quicker route to Burnham station and/or to find refreshments at the Parlour Cage by Creeksea Place turn north instead then east before the railway bridge).

Passing Creeksea Sailing Club, this bit of coast is a favoured wild swimming spot - but avoid the outgoing tide. On a spring tide, Ferry Lane can flood here for a short while. On reaching Burnham Yacht Harbour you need to walk between the RNLI station and the boats on blocks. Swallowtails Bar and Restaurant offers refreshments here. The mapped route takes you across Riverside Park and along suburban streets to Burnham on Crouch railway station - but why not carry on along the coast path to the pleasant hostelries of Burnham Quay instead? My recommendation is the White Harte Hotel. If it’s coffee you are after try Peaberries on the High Street.

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