Walton-on-the-Naze

 Walton-on-the-Naze

Walk to the Naze Tower - 12th July 2023

The week of 10th July saw us head to Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex for a short holiday. It's a nice old fashioned seaside resort. The town is a little run-down, caught in a bit of a time warp, though there is a bit of redevelopment happening. The pier is in need of some TLC - though the arcade was humming - but the beaches are fantastic, bounded as they are by the sea walls and, on many stretches, the colourful beach huts and it suits me fine. 

Midweek, while the rest of the family were having a more relaxed day, I decided to take a walk along the front towards the Naze Tower. I had no intention of going all the way, still wary of over-working the knee, having already played on the beach with the kids and walked up and down the pier, as well as around the site we were staying out, so I started out fairly sensibly. 

The weather was perfect; sunshine, fluffy clouds, glistening sea. I left the road, took the few steps down to the prom that ran in front of the colourful beach huts and began a leisurely bimble towards the cafe in the distance. I met a lady sitting outside one of the huts who was only too happy to pass the time of day and then I ambled on, the cafe getting closer. 

Hipkins cafe top left of photo

There was a slope up to the cafe itself, Hipkins, with tables outside and again a rather old-fashioned interior. But that's what so nice. I ordered a tea and found a seat looking out to sea and relaxed in the sunshine. 

Looking back towards the pier

Somewhat refreshed, I decided I may as well walk on a little further. The sea wall was higher along this stretch and there were more numerous groynes into the sea. And to the left, the under-cliff began to rise up, the slopes covered in brambles and other wild flowers, with a few hollyhocks that had seeded themselves, along with red hot pokers. There was a profusion of butterflies. And then the Naze Tower could be seen some way above on the skyline. Shortly, the path ahead became host to what looked like virtually a whole school descending, the pupils carrying rucksacks and clipboards and some with striped metal poles. I discovered they were doing a project on coastal erosion. On my first day in Walton I had been approached by a trio of schoolgirls who were conducting a survey on the same subject and wanted my opinion on the town's sea defences, clearly an important subject these days. I waited for the last of the students to pass and decided I had come this far, I may as well go up to the Tower itself. What I hadn't bargained on were the five or six flights of concrete steps that led up to it. But I made it and took some photos of the tower before going inside. 

I didn't bother with the cast iron spiral staircase that led to the upper floors, but did buy a rather nice painting of fishing boats before walking across to the Essex Wildlife Trust Discovery Centre where they had a shop and cafe. I bought a cold drink and sat outside for a much needed break. 

So, again rested, did I go to the main road and catch a bus back or walk? Considering the fine nature of the day, I decided to keep walking. A cut across the grassed car park led to a little private road with some very picturesque houses. A couple were busy in the garden and I asked if the path continued on at the end. Yes it did, so I soon found myself walking across the cliff tops, once again surrounded by butterflies. There were paths intermittently leading back down to the beach, but I kept on for a few minutes until one path in particular took my fancy. 

There's nothing quite like ambling down to the sea between hedgerows and I was instantly reminded of such a path at the Lizard on Cornwall. Happy memories.

Once back at the sea front a retraced my steps, pausing to sit a while on some steps down to the beach and watch the clouds sailing and musing on the rather large phallic symbols the boys from the school had drawn in the sand, probably after the teachers had passed ahead, before finally making my way back to park site and meeting up with the family again. 

A beautiful day and a beautiful walk.

More photos, as always, in the gallery