Creeksea - Burnham-on-crouch, essex
Paddle Boarding at Creeksea: A Serene Escape
Nestled along the stunning Essex coast just west of the sailing town of Burnham-on-Crouch, Creeksea is a hidden gem of tranquility offering the perfect launch site for your paddle on the River Crouch. The River Crouch offers picturesque scenery, an abundance of wildlife and expansive skies.
Getting There
Place these coordinates into google maps 51.62740808643849, 0.789497634993184 and just before you reach Burnham-on-Crouch turn down Ferry Road which is marked with a white sign post to Creeksea and follow this road till you meet the river.
Location and Parking
The best place to park is parallel to the River Crouch on Ferry Road where you will find a limited number of free parking spaces which fill up quickly on warm sunny days so be sure to arrive early! You must watch the tides as the river can often come over and flood the road here leaving your car in a very sorry state so make sure you keep an eye on the water level around high tide and avoid parking here around high tide on days when the tide is predicted to be very high. If you get the timing and tides right this is one of the best launch you will ever find as you can pump your board up and pop it on to the river in the water directly next to where you are parked! Please note there is a gated private car park you will pass just before you reach the river - this is for members of creeksea sailing club only.
Help what do I do if all the spaces are taken or the road is flooded?!
There is a turning circle at the end of the road or if the road is flooded you may have to reverse until you can find a suitable turning area. Head to the Parlour Cafe which you would have passed just after the railway bridge on Ferry Road and get your self a drink or some delicious cake and head back a bit later and see if there are any spaces. Alternatively drive into Burnham-on-Crouch and Park at Burnham Riverside Car Park, Burnham-on-Crouch CM0 8PN and launch at the beach for an alternative launch location on the River Crouch (only a good launch site at high tide or you will be mud wading).
What do I need to know about paddle boarding on the River Crouch?
License - You must purchase a River license from https://crouchharbour.uk/dues/ which costs a very reasonable £5.25 for one Paddleboard for a year.
Other Water Users - The river can get busy in the Summer with yachts, sailing and motor boats so please be alert and give other water users a wide berth and follow the rules of the river passing on the right. Opposite the launch site to the east on the other side of the river is Baltic Wharf where large cargo ships dock. Keep clear of this area especially when the ship is departing or arriving as they will not be able to see you.
Conditions - Watch out for wind! Being a large exposed estuary with very flat surrounding geography you need to be careful going out on the river on anything but a very still day as gusts make it very difficult!
Safety - The tides can be very strong so make sure you assess the conditions before hand and always wear a buoyancy aid. I also strongly recommend a quick release waist leash as there are a buoys and moorings which pose a risk of entanglement in the strong currents.
Which way should I paddle?
Head East for a more advanced paddle as you may come across more water traffic and will have to navigate passing the Burnham yacht harbour where there is a constant stream of boats coming in and out. Once you have passed the yacht harbour you will have lovely views of the town of Burnham-on-Crouch and if you fancy and an adventurous paddle keep going past the Royal Burnham Yacht Club and out the the estuary where you may see seals or even a porpoise if you are lucky!
Head West for a shorter paddle towards creeksea cliff (0.8m) where you can stop off at the beach which makes a perfect picnic spot! You can quite often find sharks teeth on the beach if you look carefully enough. You can continue to paddle upstream for a longer paddle towards Althorne and Bridgemarsh Island if you are after more adventure.
Refreshments
The Parlour Cafe on Ferry Road makes a perfect place to stop before or after your paddle and is located on Ferry Lane just after the railway bridge. CM0 8PJ - https://parlour-cafe.co.uk
Cherish your paddle memories with our River Crouch Art
