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Eastwick Head

Coastal Marsh, Saltings in Essex Rochford

England

Eastwick Head

Houses near Courtsend The houses and other buildings in this area east of Courtsend was known by the rather fanciful name of White City!
Houses near Courtsend Credit: Trevor Harris

Eastwick Head is a coastal marsh and saltings located in Essex, England. It is situated on the eastern coast of the country, near the town of Eastwick. The area is characterized by its unique ecosystem, featuring a combination of salt marshes and mudflats.

The marshes of Eastwick Head are rich in biodiversity, providing a habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal species. The salt marsh vegetation includes plants such as sea lavender, sea aster, and cordgrass, which have adapted to withstand the high salt content of the soil. These plants not only contribute to the aesthetic beauty of the area but also provide an important food source for many bird species.

Speaking of birds, Eastwick Head is renowned as a haven for birdwatchers. The area serves as a crucial stopover point for migratory birds, with thousands of them passing through during the spring and autumn seasons. Birds such as curlews, redshanks, avocets, and oystercatchers can be spotted feeding in the mudflats or nesting in the salt marshes.

The marshes and saltings of Eastwick Head also play a vital role in coastal protection. The vegetation acts as a natural buffer against erosion caused by tidal forces and storm surges, helping to stabilize the coastline and prevent flooding.

In addition to its ecological significance, Eastwick Head has become a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors can explore the area on foot along designated trails or take part in guided tours to learn more about the unique ecosystem and its importance in the region.

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Eastwick Head Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.588334/0.92264444 or Grid Reference TR0291. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Houses near Courtsend The houses and other buildings in this area east of Courtsend was known by the rather fanciful name of White City!
Houses near Courtsend
The houses and other buildings in this area east of Courtsend was known by the rather fanciful name of White City!
The northern end of The Broomway Until the 1920's the only way onto Foulness - apart from by boat - was on this byway known as The Broomway (from the way it was marked in the past)- obviously at low tide only! From here at Fisherman's Head, it goes across the mud until it reaches an area of firm sand over half a kilometre from the shore. There it turns southwest and runs parallel to the shore for about six miles until it reaches land at Wakering Stairs. There are (or were) paths to the west to other spots on Foulness - Eastwick Head, Rugwood Head, Asplins Head and Shelford Head.
The northern end of The Broomway
Until the 1920's the only way onto Foulness - apart from by boat - was on this byway known as The Broomway (from the way it was marked in the past)- obviously at low tide only! From here at Fisherman's Head, it goes across the mud until it reaches an area of firm sand over half a kilometre from the shore. There it turns southwest and runs parallel to the shore for about six miles until it reaches land at Wakering Stairs. There are (or were) paths to the west to other spots on Foulness - Eastwick Head, Rugwood Head, Asplins Head and Shelford Head.
Looking north from Fisherman's Head Towards Northern Corner. Behind the seawall and outside of the fenced MoD area, Foulness locals including have created a wildlife area.
Looking north from Fisherman's Head
Towards Northern Corner. Behind the seawall and outside of the fenced MoD area, Foulness locals including have created a wildlife area.
Seawall and borrowdyke north of Fisherman's Head View north to Northern Corner.
Seawall and borrowdyke north of Fisherman's Head
View north to Northern Corner.
Fisherman's Head A fret rolls in on a light easterly breeze and a flooding tide over the northernmost causeway linking the Broomway to Foulness Island. The very poor visibility here when the rest of the island is bathed in warm sunshine is a stark reminder of the danger presented to the foolhardy by this unforgiving shore
Fisherman's Head
A fret rolls in on a light easterly breeze and a flooding tide over the northernmost causeway linking the Broomway to Foulness Island. The very poor visibility here when the rest of the island is bathed in warm sunshine is a stark reminder of the danger presented to the foolhardy by this unforgiving shore
Fisherman's Head, Foulness Contrast this with the view obtained just a month before. See <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5809124">TR0392 : Fisherman's Head</a>
Fisherman's Head, Foulness
Contrast this with the view obtained just a month before. See TR0392 : Fisherman's Head
View of seawall south-west from Fisherman's Head, Foulness
View of seawall south-west from Fisherman's Head, Foulness
Sea shore north-east of Fisherman's Head, Foulness
Sea shore north-east of Fisherman's Head, Foulness
View north from Fisherman's Head, Foulness The watery area seen here is a man-made 'scrape' constructed to attract nesting birds.
View north from Fisherman's Head, Foulness
The watery area seen here is a man-made 'scrape' constructed to attract nesting birds.
Track along the sea wall Track, and public footpath, running just inside the sea wall on Foulness Island. Note also the borrow dyke to the left.
Track along the sea wall
Track, and public footpath, running just inside the sea wall on Foulness Island. Note also the borrow dyke to the left.
The Broomway The Broomway is a track (a Public Right of Way) over Maplin Sands which provides access between Foulness Island and Great Wakering via Wakering Stairs. It was the only means of access, other than by boat, between the island and the mainland until the 20th century. It is accessible only at low tides, and is bordered by dangerous soft muddy sands, some of which act as quicksand. Over the years many people have died on The Broomway, either due to the incoming tide or by being caught by quicksand. The Broomway is connected to Foulness and the mainland by a series of constructed hards or headways over the soft sand. In older times the track was marked by a series of stakes, which resembled upturned brooms, hence the name "The Broomway". Although the track is a Public Right of Way - parts are classified as Byway Open to All Traffic, others as Public Footpath - access is controlled by the Ministry of Defence which has a large installation on Foulness. Access can be suspended at any time. Guided tours of The Broomway are available from Nature Break Wildlife Cruises <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://www.wildlifetrips.org.uk/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://www.wildlifetrips.org.uk/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
The Broomway
The Broomway is a track (a Public Right of Way) over Maplin Sands which provides access between Foulness Island and Great Wakering via Wakering Stairs. It was the only means of access, other than by boat, between the island and the mainland until the 20th century. It is accessible only at low tides, and is bordered by dangerous soft muddy sands, some of which act as quicksand. Over the years many people have died on The Broomway, either due to the incoming tide or by being caught by quicksand. The Broomway is connected to Foulness and the mainland by a series of constructed hards or headways over the soft sand. In older times the track was marked by a series of stakes, which resembled upturned brooms, hence the name "The Broomway". Although the track is a Public Right of Way - parts are classified as Byway Open to All Traffic, others as Public Footpath - access is controlled by the Ministry of Defence which has a large installation on Foulness. Access can be suspended at any time. Guided tours of The Broomway are available from Nature Break Wildlife Cruises LinkExternal link
The Broomway The Broomway is a track (a Public Right of Way) over Maplin Sands which provides access between Foulness Island and Great Wakering via Wakering Stairs. It was the only means of access, other than by boat, between the island and the mainland until the 20th century. It is accessible only at low tides, and is bordered by dangerous soft muddy sands, some of which act as quicksand. Over the years many people have died on The Broomway, either due to the incoming tide or by being caught by quicksand. The Broomway is connected to Foulness and the mainland by a series of constructed hards or headways over the soft sand. In older times the track was marked by a series of stakes, which resembled upturned brooms, hence the name "The Broomway". Although the track is a Public Right of Way - parts are classified as Byway Open to All Traffic, others as Public Footpath - access is controlled by the Ministry of Defence which has a large installation on Foulness. Access can be suspended at any time. Guided tours of The Broomway are available from Nature Break Wildlife Cruises <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://www.wildlifetrips.org.uk/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://www.wildlifetrips.org.uk/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
The Broomway
The Broomway is a track (a Public Right of Way) over Maplin Sands which provides access between Foulness Island and Great Wakering via Wakering Stairs. It was the only means of access, other than by boat, between the island and the mainland until the 20th century. It is accessible only at low tides, and is bordered by dangerous soft muddy sands, some of which act as quicksand. Over the years many people have died on The Broomway, either due to the incoming tide or by being caught by quicksand. The Broomway is connected to Foulness and the mainland by a series of constructed hards or headways over the soft sand. In older times the track was marked by a series of stakes, which resembled upturned brooms, hence the name "The Broomway". Although the track is a Public Right of Way - parts are classified as Byway Open to All Traffic, others as Public Footpath - access is controlled by the Ministry of Defence which has a large installation on Foulness. Access can be suspended at any time. Guided tours of The Broomway are available from Nature Break Wildlife Cruises LinkExternal link
The Broomway The Broomway is a track (a Public Right of Way) over Maplin Sands which provides access between Foulness Island and Great Wakering via Wakering Stairs. It was the only means of access, other than by boat, between the island and the mainland until the 20th century. It is accessible only at low tides, and is bordered by dangerous soft muddy sands, some of which act as quicksand. Over the years many people have died on The Broomway, either due to the incoming tide or by being caught by quicksand. The Broomway is connected to Foulness and the mainland by a series of constructed hards or headways over the soft sand. In older times the track was marked by a series of stakes, which resembled upturned brooms, hence the name "The Broomway". Although the track is a Public Right of Way - parts are classified as Byway Open to All Traffic, others as Public Footpath - access is controlled by the Ministry of Defence which has a large installation on Foulness. Access can be suspended at any time. Guided tours of The Broomway are available from Nature Break Wildlife Cruises <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://www.wildlifetrips.org.uk/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://www.wildlifetrips.org.uk/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
The Broomway
The Broomway is a track (a Public Right of Way) over Maplin Sands which provides access between Foulness Island and Great Wakering via Wakering Stairs. It was the only means of access, other than by boat, between the island and the mainland until the 20th century. It is accessible only at low tides, and is bordered by dangerous soft muddy sands, some of which act as quicksand. Over the years many people have died on The Broomway, either due to the incoming tide or by being caught by quicksand. The Broomway is connected to Foulness and the mainland by a series of constructed hards or headways over the soft sand. In older times the track was marked by a series of stakes, which resembled upturned brooms, hence the name "The Broomway". Although the track is a Public Right of Way - parts are classified as Byway Open to All Traffic, others as Public Footpath - access is controlled by the Ministry of Defence which has a large installation on Foulness. Access can be suspended at any time. Guided tours of The Broomway are available from Nature Break Wildlife Cruises LinkExternal link
The Broomway - Fishermans Head This headway leads from Foulness Island to the Broomway.
The Broomway - Fishermans Head
This headway leads from Foulness Island to the Broomway.
Track along the sea wall Track, and public footpath, running just inside the sea wall on Foulness Island. Note also the borrow dyke to the left.
Track along the sea wall
Track, and public footpath, running just inside the sea wall on Foulness Island. Note also the borrow dyke to the left.
Track along the sea wall Track, and public footpath, running just inside the sea wall on Foulness Island. Note also the borrow dyke to the left.
Track along the sea wall
Track, and public footpath, running just inside the sea wall on Foulness Island. Note also the borrow dyke to the left.
Rochford Hundred Vintage Tractors and Engines In a big field at Churchend. They have these on Foulness every summer.
Rochford Hundred Vintage Tractors and Engines
In a big field at Churchend. They have these on Foulness every summer.
Farms and fields of Foulness Island Looking across the fields to Churchend village from Courtsend.
Farms and fields of Foulness Island
Looking across the fields to Churchend village from Courtsend.
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Eastwick Head is located at Grid Ref: TR0291 (Lat: 51.588334, Lng: 0.92264444)

Administrative County: Essex

District: Rochford

Police Authority: Essex

What 3 Words

///certainty.headsets.camera. Near Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex

Nearby Locations

Eastwick Head

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Located within 500m of 51.588334,0.92264444
Created By: dmgroom_coastlines
Source: PGS
Lat/Long: 51.591233/0.926246
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Lat/Long: 51.5910127/0.9252806
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Lat/Long: 51.589757/0.9232057
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Lat/Long: 51.5890908/0.9222127
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Lat/Long: 51.5882626/0.9210771
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Lat/Long: 51.5877284/0.9203134
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Lat/Long: 51.5868811/0.9191235
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Lat/Long: 51.5863287/0.9183347
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Created By: dmgroom_coastlines
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Lat/Long: 51.586229/0.918657
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Lat/Long: 51.585958/0.917847
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Lat/Long: 51.585563/0.917247
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Lat/Long: 51.590561/0.9245372
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Eastwick Head
Alt Name: Pattison's Head
Place: locality
Lat/Long: 51.5887073/0.9211744
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The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.
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