GPS Cycle and Walking Routescycle iconwalk icon

Hamford Water National Nature Reserve

1.55 miles (2.5 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap Follow the Naze wildlife trail on this walk in the Hamford Water National Nature Reserve. The area is an internationally important site for migrating birds and includes the famous fifty million year old cliffs made up of London clay.
You can park at the Naze Centre on Hall Lane to pick up the nature trail. The centre is known as the gateway to Hamford Water, the most easterly peninsula in Essex. The trails lead north from the car park to the lake and John Weston nature reserve. It's a splendid place for wildlife watching with thousands of wildfowl to look out for. These include Dark Bellied Brent Geese, Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat. Also keep your eyes peeled for Common and Grey Seals in the less disturbed areas of Hamford Water.
The site also includes the 18th century Naze Tower. The navigational tower, was constructed to assist ships on this stretch of coast. You can climb the 111-step spiral staircase to the top of the tower for splendid views of the surrounding coast countryside. 
Local cycle route 150 runs along the coast to the reserve from Walton-on-the-Naze train station.
Our Walton on the Naze Crag Walk starts from Naze Tower car park. It takes you to the coastal defences around the eroding cliffs before heading along the prom to the pier.

Postcode

CO14 8LE - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Hamford Water OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Hamford Water Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby

Photos

Naze Cliffs, Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex - geograph.org.uk - 3399527

Naze Cliffs, Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex. This photograph shows the devastating effect of the constant east/north east winds of late. The beach is scoured away exposing the cliff to erosion. The base of the cliff is formed of London Clay, the upper part is formed of Red Crag

The Naze (geograph 3482288)

The Naze Tower.

The Red Crag cliffs at Walton on the Naze - geograph.org.uk - 1428440

The Red Crag cliffs at Walton on the Naze. These well known fossil bearing cliffs are the home of the famous "Left Handed" Whelk. 

Hamming it up on the Naze - geograph.org.uk - 1390211

Hamming it up on the Naze. This temporary transmitting station was part of an international VHF/UHF radio amateur contest. The object is to contact as many other radio hams as possible in a 24 hour period, extra points are gained for distant contacts.

View from The Naze Tower - geograph.org.uk - 3588337

View from The Naze Tower

Car Park, Walton on the Naze, Essex - geograph.org.uk - 4188344

Car Park, Walton on the Naze, Essex

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Hamford Water.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Hamford Water.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)