Strolling along the Colne

The Colne is one of the shorter estuaries and certainly the narrowest, which gives good views of the opposite bank. Most of the western bank is inaccessable to anyone not in the military, so this walk started in Fingrinhoe, then north through Rowhedge to Hythe in Colchester where the tidal range ends. The walk along the eastern bank from Hythe to Brightlingsea is one of the best in Essex, taking you past the University of Essex campus, the delightful village of Wivenhoe and along a disused railway line to Alresford Creek. Wivenhoe was once an active port when very large ships towered over the nearby houses.

At the end of the Colne is Brightlingsea, a historic Cinque port, infamous in the 1990's for the live export of animals, prompting protests by local people and over-zealous policing/police brutality. Today, it has a huge marina and some posh development on the quayside. It is a rather quaint holiday destination, with colourful beach huts and an outdoor swimming pool. I had a very nice tea there with my friends.

Not really on the coast is St Osyth, a little town full of listed buildings. The cream of the crop is the Priory Gatehouse. The Priory itself is owned by developers and is up for sale, much to the dismay of the local residents. It's well worth a visit and has a couple of fine tea shops.

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