A new 85 mile stretch of the England Coast Path has opened in Essex.
The new stretch will take you from Tilbury to Wallasea Island, passing through Southend-on-Sea along the way, and gives walkers the chance to see a number of different landscapes, including saltmarsh and vast grasslands.
It means visitors to the area will now be able to explore 50% of the Essex coastline via the England Coast Path (ECP).
One of the most enjoyable parts about staying at one of the best motorhome sites is exploring the area and taking in some of the beautiful views on offer in the region.
Highlights along the new stretch of the route include the chance to take in a variety of views, ranging from Tilbury’s towering ships to industrial landscapes, while you’ll also get to take in tranquil marshes and spot Kent’s Hoo Peninsula.
The route also goes past Canvey Island. Here, you’ll walk past an oil terminal where construction was abandoned during the 1970’s oil crisis, and since then, nature has reclaimed it. The seven square mile island now includes diverse grassland habitats and is home to weevils, a ground beetle and moth which had previously been recorded as extinct in Britain.
The RSPB Nature Reserve at Wallasea Island has been built with materials from the Crossrail project, and is a great place to head to for nature lovers, with birds ensuring visitors in the spring and autumn months get a truly wonderful sight.
Another highlight includes Two Tree Island Nature Reserve, which sits opposite Hadleigh Castle. It’s famous for the small waders and brent geese that reside there.
There will also be a chance to visit England’s longest pier, as the route stretches through Southend-on-Sea, also home to blue flag beaches,
History lovers are sure to enjoy seeing Tilbury’s former artillery forts too, which are now connected by the ECP.
Marian Spain, CEO of Natural England said: “The England Coast Path will be the longest coastal walking route in the world once complete, accessible to all via public transport and walkable in all weathers and by people of all abilities. I’m thrilled that today Natural England is opening this latest section, which takes us another step closer to being able to walk all the way around England.”
“This stretch passes through areas rich in seaside heritage: industrial heartlands, coastal communities and nature reserves where precious wildlife, from flocks of wild geese to rare insects, thrive.”
“Running from Tilbury to Wallasea Island via Southend-on-Sea it will directly connect half a million people to the coast allowing many more people to experience the benefits of connecting with nature.”
We recently sat down with Marian Spain to discuss the 70th anniversary of our National Nature Reserves, as well as finding out about some of the habits caravanners can adapt to help the natural world.
Images courtesy of Natural England
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