Mill Beach

The shingle beach at Mill is one of those stretches of Essex coast that rewards you for actually stopping rather than just driving past Maldon. It's not dramatic or showy - just a proper working waterfront where wooden groynes divide the shore and small boats bob about at their moorings. The beach itself is largely pebbles, which means it drains well and stays firmer underfoot than the sandier spots along this stretch.

You'll spend your time here pottering about really. Families with younger kids might find an hour enough before the novelty of shell-hunting and rock-pool poking wears off, though older children and adults who like a quiet wander will get more from it. Walkers should definitely come - the Thames Estuary Path runs right along here, and the views across the water toward the Blackwater estuary are genuinely calming on a clear day.

There's no formal entrance or admission charge that I'm aware of. Just turn up, park nearby, and walk onto the beach. Early morning is best if you want to avoid the holiday park crowds, especially during school holidays when Mill Beach Seaside Resort and Osea Leisure Park nearby can get lively.

It works well as a morning stop while staying at any of the parks in the area. You're only three miles from Steeple Bay if you're based there, and the beach offers that rare thing - a bit of genuine quiet on the Essex coast without the carnival atmosphere of the bigger resorts. Bring proper shoes though; the pebbles are unforgiving barefoot.