Walk stats
- Distance9.4 km · 5.9 mi
- Elevation+54 m
- Duration2 hr 15 min
- DifficultyModerate
- Route typeLinear
- TerrainFlat sea wall, field paths and farmland tracks; exposed in places
- Best seasonSpring to autumn; clear winter days for birdlife
- DogsDog friendly; keep on lead near grazing livestock and nature reserves
About this walk
This linear walk traces a quiet stretch of the Thames Estuary in south Essex, starting at Coalhouse Point where the river broadens towards the sea. From the foreshore the path follows the sea wall, with open estuary views on one side and grazing marshes on the other.
Heading inland you pass the Church of Saint Catherine before the route picks out the site of a Roman pottery, a reminder of how long this corner of Essex has been worked and lived in. The way then crosses field-edge paths past Bluehouse Farm, with the broad skies and low horizons typical of the Essex marshland coast.
The walk finishes at Mucking, close to the former hamlet above the estuary. Nearby Stanford Warren Nature Reserve and its wetland offer a worthwhile extension for birdwatchers, while Linford Wood provides shaded contrast to the open marsh. With only 54 m of ascent spread over 9.4 km, the going is gentle, though the exposed sea wall can feel bracing in any wind off the Thames.
Route map
Route line drawn from OpenStreetMap footpath data. Numbered markers are waypoints on the route; amber star markers are points of interest a short detour away.
Waypoints along the route
6 waypoints along the way
- 1
Start: Coalhouse Point
- Start
The start of the route.
- 2
Coalhouse Point
- 3
Church of Saint Catherine
- 4
Roman Pottery
- 5
Bluehouse Farm
- 6
Finish: Mucking
- Finish
The end of the route.
Worth a short detour
Points of interest just off the route, look for the amber markers on the map.
Stanford Warren Nature Reserve
~199 m off the route
Stanford Warren Wetland
~336 m off the route
Linford Wood
~350 m off the route
The Ship
~313 m off the route
Tandridge Park
~352 m off the route
Route & waypoint data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).