The Broomway and Foulness Island walk
Fabled tidal road off the coast off Essex across Maplin Sands to Foulness Island.
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JonCombeMay-14
The Broomway warning notice
The Broomway is a tidal byway out to Foulness Island over Maplin Sands at the mouth of the Thames estuary. The route is so called because it used to be marked by branches of Broom placed at regular intervals on the route. However these have long since gone and the path is now unmarked. The path is dangerous because the tide comes in as fast as you can run and there are quick sands and mud in places if you stray off the route. Foulness Island itself is part of a firing range and most of it is "out of bounds" to the public with the exception of the south east corner of the island, which has a couple of villages and farms. The only road to the island can only be used by MOD permit holders, so the only way for the public to reach the island is by boat or by walking the Broomway.
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The Broomway at Wakering Stairs
The start of the Broomway as it heads out onto Maplin Sands.
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The Broomway at Wakering Stairs
Heading out onto the Broomway at Wakering Stairs over the mud flats of Mapin Sands.
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The Broomway on Maplin Sands
View out over the vast expanse of mud and sand of the Thames estuary at low tide from the Broomway. The object on the horizon is a wrecked boat.
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The Broomway on Maplin Sands
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Asplins Head
The jetty onto Foulness Island at Asplins Head.
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Broomway warning sign on Foulness Island
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Path to Shelford Head on Foulness Island
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The Broomway at Asplins Head on Foulness ISland
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The quay on Foulness Island
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Foulness Island from the quay
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Foulness Island from the quay
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Foulness Heritage Centre
The heritage centre occupies the old school house. The school closed in 1988.
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Fishermans Head, Foulness Island
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Fishermans Head, Foulness Island
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Old military shells at Fishermans Head, Foulness Island
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Houses on Foulness Island
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Derelict barn on Foulness Island
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The church on Foulness Island
The church is now disused and derelict. I believe it closed in 2008. The spire leans slightly as it is suffering subsidence.
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The former George and Dragon pub, Foulness Island
The pub closed in 2007.
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Footpath on Foulness Island
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