The Broomway and Foulness Island Walk
Fabled tidal road off the coast off Essex across Maplin Sands to Foulness Island.
Photos
Add your photos to the SWC Group on Flickr, and tag them:
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.
foulness essex coast island swcwalks freewalks walk166 coastwalk170 14240103575
The Broomway at Wakering Stairs
The start of the Broomway as it heads out onto Maplin Sands.
foulness essex coast island swcwalks freewalks walk166 coastwalk170 14053460188
The Broomway at Wakering Stairs
Heading out onto the Broomway at Wakering Stairs over the mud flats of Mapin Sands.
foulness essex coast island swcwalks freewalks walk166 coastwalk170 14053469359
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.
foulness essex coast island swcwalks freewalks walk166 coastwalk170 14053531117
The Broomway on Maplin Sands
foulness essex coast island swcwalks freewalks walk166 coastwalk170 14053518230
Asplins Head
The jetty onto Foulness Island at Asplins Head.
foulness essex coast island swcwalks freewalks walk166 coastwalk170 14053499009
Broomway warning sign on Foulness Island
foulness essex coast island swcwalks freewalks walk166 coastwalk170 14236841471
Path to Shelford Head on Foulness Island
foulness essex coast island swcwalks freewalks walk166 coastwalk170 14260328163
The Broomway at Asplins Head on Foulness ISland
foulness essex coast island swcwalks freewalks walk166 coastwalk170 14053510729
The quay on Foulness Island
foulness essex coast island swcwalks freewalks walk166 coastwalk170 14053513829
Foulness Island from the quay
foulness essex coast island swcwalks freewalks walk166 coastwalk170 14217010906
Foulness Island from the quay
foulness essex coast island swcwalks freewalks walk166 coastwalk170 14239877044
Foulness Heritage Centre
The heritage centre occupies the old school house. The school closed in 1988.
foulness essex coast island swcwalks freewalks walk166 coastwalk170 14260354233
Fishermans Head, Foulness Island
foulness essex coast island swcwalks freewalks walk166 coastwalk170 14053596057
Fishermans Head, Foulness Island
foulness essex coast island swcwalks freewalks walk166 coastwalk170 14053600907
Old military shells at Fishermans Head, Foulness Island
foulness essex coast island swcwalks freewalks walk166 coastwalk170 14239901634
Houses on Foulness Island
foulness essex coast island swcwalks freewalks walk166 coastwalk170 14260393053
Oldest brick house on Foulness Island
Although it has seen better day! The building is Grade II listed.
foulness essex coast island swcwalks freewalks walk166 coastwalk170 14260394193
Derelict barn on Foulness Island
foulness essex coast island swcwalks freewalks walk166 coastwalk170 14237962862
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.
foulness essex coast island swcwalks freewalks walk166 coastwalk170 14053614150
Footpath on Foulness Island
foulness essex coast island swcwalks freewalks walk166 coastwalk170 14239935044