Wallasea Island
This walk visits the lovely Wallasea Island on the Essex coast.
The area is a RSPB nature reserve with marshland, lagoons, sea views and lots of birdlife to look out for. Keep your eyes peeled for avocet, black tailed godwit, marsh harriers and spoonbill as you make your way along the footpath. You may also see seals in the water at certain times of year.
You can start the walk from western end of the island by catching a ferry from Burnham on Crouch on the opposite side of the river. There's also a RSPB car park near here too. A public footpath then runs east along the northern edge of the island, with lovely views over the River Crouch. At the eastern side of the island there are views over to Foulness Island which lies at the opposite side of the River Roach.
Postcode
SS4 2HD - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsPlease click here for more information
Wallasea Island Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Wallasea Island Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Wallasea Island OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Wallasea Island Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Dog Walking
The island is a nice place for a dog walk but you are advised to keep them on leads for the duration of the walk.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
To continue your walking in the area you could try the circular Burnham on Crouch Walk which takes you around the pretty harbour to Creeksea.
The Roach Valley Way also skirts the western edge of the reserve. You can pick up this waymarked footpath to explore the River Roach estuary where there are more good bird watching opportunities. The trail visits the little village of Paglesham which lies just to the west of the island. The village is a pleasant place for a stroll with trails along the river and Pagelsham Creek. There's also a fine 17th century pub for refreshments afterwards.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Old sea wall, Wallasea Island. This remote corner of Essex has seen a change in policy by DEFRA in the battle against coastal flooding and erosion. The old wall would be too costly to repair so the sea has been allowed to reclaim the area for the first time in 400 years. Nearly 250 acres of Wallasea Island have been flood to creat a wild life haven.
Saltmarsh between Overland and Grassland Points with remains of boat and new warning triangle for the benefit of construction traffic on the "New Wetlands" project.
"New" wetland, Wallasea Island. High tide Tide gauge and sluice on new sea wall south of Grassland Point.The channel running north was a former borrow dyke now open to the Crouch through a breach in the old sea wall between Grassland and Fleet Points.
Wallasea Wetlands This is the start of the Wallasea Wetlands Creation Project managed by the RSPB and DEFRA. It involves “managed retreat” the sea walls were breached in 2006 to create lagoons and saltmarsh that are wildfowl havens
Top mud - Wallasea wetlands. New mud spread on the new wetlands to form the upper marsh. Unfortunately a tide doesn't appeared to have reached it yet. Dried out in late winter and not holding much promise for the next growing season.
Islands and lagoons - Ringwood Point. New Wallasea wetlands south of Ringwood Point. View from the new seawall.