A haunting landscape, all the more captivating because of unbelievably rich remnants apparently almost wherever you look. Layer upon historic and prehistoric layer. All mediated by a marvellous guide with a rare feel for such places. Terrific.
Your best yet! I started having butterflies as you walked down to Wakering Stairs. I walked from Shoeburyness to Thorpe Bay 2 years ago. You have to stop every 100 yards, there was so much to see, from multiple notices, beautiful houses for the officers stationed there, plaques, weird constructions, fortresses, beams stretching out into the sea, ponds, viewing platforms and seaweedy beaches. One of my favourite walks ever. (It's good for kids too - if you know a bit about military history)
I watched this film in the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep. The Broom Path was even more spooky at 3am! I did enjoy it John, can't wait to see where we go next.
Lovely work John, thanks. When I was a boy in the early 60s staying with my mum's parents in Herne Bay, we used hear booming in the distance sometimes, and my grandfather would say that they were practicing 'at Shoeburyness'. For some reason I've always remembered that.
We retired to further round the coast to Jaywick, and some days the booms travel across the open seas rattling our properties, those well above sea levels anyway, used to it all after 18 years but its alarming for newbies and holiday makers here.
Just after WWII, my mother and her sister used to live in Westcliff. They had (both passed now) lots of tales of things out there in the sands and not just round that far... Plenty of people "lost" walking out on the sands around Southend too. Nice to see this and the music fits it well. Look forward to the next walk.
Excited about this vid recently did Tilbury docks to East tilbury Last weekend started at Burfleet went upto the castle on the hill and then Leigh and westgate ended up riding out on the train on southend pier.Today went to Sheerness amazing walk on isle of sheppey you been there John sir
Excellent John,was at shoeburyness in early September,walked round the old barracks,have been on foulness for one of their open days,see the broomway further up the island,tried getting on potton island as well but has a military checkpoint.
Your videos and walks are awesome. The coast is a lovely part of Essex,totally underrated. I now live in Sydney Au and really miss our beautiful countryside. Keep on posting please I’m right there with you.
As a young child on holiday at Walton on the Naze, I well remember how flat the sand is, how far out the tide goes and how damned fast it came back in. Run... Run... RUN!! Still, happy days. :) Great walk. Thanks John. Regards.
I have done this walk, the other way around though, Shoeburyness to Westcliff. It’s an amazing walk. I need to do the Shoeburyness to Great Wakering next time. Geoff Marshall does mention those train tracks in one of his ‘All the stations’ videos. I walked from Leigh on sea to Hadleigh castle a few weeks ago, that’s another great walk. Thanks for this, I thought that after East Beach it was almost impassable. Thank you for showing us the way. Great video as always
Oh my goodness. My day out from East End as a child. Hard boiled egg and tomato picnic. My Dad told me many stories of MOD, it became a family BBQ meet and Now my walk most days from Westcliff. How have I never heard of Wakering Stairs so that’s my next adventure thank you John.
What a fab walk john...the scenery at 17.50 reminded me of farmland in America...the lone house with all the wooden fencing and golden fields...gorgeous at dusk...thanks again...
What a landscape! Reminds me of Derek Jarman and his book Modern Nature. Also the beginning of Heart of Darkness. Thankyou again for another wonderful walk John !
For me, this is the best video that you’ve made to date. I know it was made a while ago but I just adore your storytelling, especially at the end when you were talking about how deadly the Broomway is…..Just fantastic work John, thank you 🙏🙏
What a great walk John total surprise. The pictures of the broomway with the setting sun on the sand was brilliant. I never pictured Essex could be so beautiful. Thanks buddy
Great Stream John Great Wakering looks a nice place I have not been there before I have onky been as far as Shoeburyness. Years ago I use to walk from the Cockle sheds at Leigh on Sea with my late Father to Southend on Sea. Had some Seafood at Osbornes in Leigh and Rossi's ice cream at Westcliff. Thank you for the stream John Best wishes Stay safe Regards Lee
Oh wow, how did I miss this? I'm from Southend but never been brave enough and never without a guide. Must say I've spent my whole life in these waters, and don't appreciate it enough. Your video is wonderful. Sad times for Southend right now.
Great video John. I have been there several times and if you go further on you will come to Barling village which is of interest to me as my surname is Barling. I believe many years ago salt was transported from there. Bob.
Lovely video John. Walking the Broomway is on my bucket list after reading Robert Macfarlane’s account of it. But I think finding guides is increasingly difficult. The description of the tide coming in faster than you can run is scary. I remember walking around the Isle of Sheppey and whilst having a sandwich being surprised by the booming sound of artillery being fired from Shoeburyness. It must be strange living with that noise most days. A small reminder the sound of past wars? Would recommend doing Sheppey one day (only a bit of trespassing involved). It’d be great to see an Isle of Grain video sometime. I remember walking along the cliffs near Lulworth Range in Dorset and spent artillery shells were all over the path. Good thing to steer clear on days when they’re firing!
The RSPB nature reserve at Rainham, was one of those army rifle ranges, back in the 80's, now all the snipers have gone and been replaced by Snipe. You can still see some of the targets on the site.
fairplay, I've seen the distance the tides can cover between Southend, Shoeburyness and the estuary of the Blackwater river from the air, if you got stuck with the tides coming your in Deep Trouble.
Hi John. Welcome to my home town 😊 If you want to know more about the coast here, my dad is 85 and grew up in Shoebury and worked on the ranges. I walked the Broomway a couple of years ago. Was sublime! Would love to share experiences with you 😊
Love your content, served me well in lockdown to go through your uploads so thank you. Chuffed to see you in my hometown. You can always see the Mulberry Harbour even in high tide, you maybe spotted it when in Thorpe bay, it looks like an upside ship that’s broken it’s back. I walked out to it with the tide one morning with my friends, occasionally swimming through some of the gullets before getting back onto the sand bars, great experience but also so scary, won’t be rushing back any time soon. You can also walk out to the end of the boom at Shoebury East Beach. Had my first experience of quick sand there too, also not rushing back to experience that too. The MOD is about 5 miles from where I live and some days you can hear and feel the ordnance get detonated. I’ve always wondered how the Shoebury and Wakering residents put up with it. Look forward to the next upload and hope to see you back in Southend to document more of the history, I’m glad the sun showed it’s face for you too!
Brilliant John! I can vouch for the danger around Shoeburyness, spent a lot of childhood swimming there at East Beach and walking out on mud flats. If you walk parallel to the Boom, (Anti Submarine pier) you eventually get to a deep channel of water in front of you. If you don't watch out for the time, the tide appears to come in sideways and you can get cut off. We were there in early 70's when a heavy sea mist came down, and two kids were still out on the flats, as it began to get dark. Coastguard called out, luckily they had got aboard a moored boat, and were safe and well. The mud there can be treacherous in certain spots, especially near the Sewage Outfall! Great place for a family pleasure beach! Loved the history of the ancient earth works, didn't know about it.
Fascinating walk Johm to a part of the East Coast I always associate with some wild parts of Britain which you showed.Glad there was no cannon fire and hope you got back home ok.Marvellous!!
Oh my John what an amazing treat thank you for this fascinating walk . The broom way is a legendary place the stories of which are told so well in Rachel’s book Estuary . You have brought those stories to life in this film so well . Brilliant 😊👍
Hi John, I love your videos. I live on the Central Coast of California and have only just discovered your channel. I call you the John Muir of the United Kingdom and love your passion and energy you put into your walks. Keep them coming please.👍
We were absolutely riveted...pushing you on so we could see the view...we had never heard of the most deadly path,thank you so much for sharing this with us.
Another great video John. I’ve done a few photo shoots around shoeburyness a very strange place I thought. The gunners park area is residential now so are are surely always accessible. I’m very interested in exploring further up to wakering stairs but I thought it was a complete non-no when you get the other side of shoeburyness beyond East beach.
John I was stationed at the Horseshoe Barracks shoeburyness up to the mid 1960,s it was very interesting for me to watch your presentation, from what I remember there was a public beach area between the 2 parts of the MOD land then no access. to get heavy ordinance onto foulness island there was a concrete causeway that could only be used on low tide i believe this was called Hosea,s headway the bridge could not take the weight
I first chanced upon John's video of the lost Fillebrook. A route literally through my childhood. Unknown to me that river is under the driveway leading to my mates flat and the explanation of the pathway from Francis Road to Dawlish Road/Sidmouth Park. Now he's popped up again practically walking past my house in Southend! :)
Truly brilliant John - and total dedication by walking back to Shoeburyness in the dark to catch your train back to London town. However, it really was worth it, because that twilight light over the Maplin Sands was extraordinary, and an unforgettable highlight. Thank you for sharing your wonderful walk with us. Take care, Paul.
Brought back memories of frequent trips to Wakering Stairs with my late brother, who would harvest a large amount of winkles to be boiled up at home. Also the sea birds you saw were most likely Canada Geese - the Stairs are one of their gathering areas before they migrate.
Brilliant John, thank you. If you can ever track down Deakin's radio broadcast ' The House', BBC i believe, It is absolutely superb .... probably my favourite all time radio broadcast. A masterclass .
@@JohnRogersWalks If anyone can find it it's you John .... it's stunning. I think it's the property of 'the estate' now :( Although 'The Garden' may still be available somewhere. Well worth the research. Thanks for another fine upload.
Strange because I had a dream about walking around there just last night. A path around it. I did manage to get around it in my dream. Yet I have never been to that area at all. Oh, and I didn't watch your vid before today. Watched it just now.
Great stuff sir, you're in my kingdom there ha! East Beach one of my favourite writing/thinking spots - the photography on my album features the gun battery & that weird lookout place - there is something eerie about that part of the coast as evening comes around & you caught it really well in this video - there is also, of course (apart from the dangers you describe) the fabled SS Richard Montgomery out there somewhere - an ammunition ship that sunk with its cargo of explosives - worth investigating its story...
As always thank you for the ramble. It's easy to imagine Roman, Saxon, Danish, or German boats sailing by the shore. You always find the hidden gems in any landscape. I wonder if you've ever visited a place and not liked it?
