Burnham-on-Crouch

Thames sailing barges still line the waterfront here, their rusty masts catching the light from the River Crouch. This working sailing town has salt in its veins - proper yachting territory where the Royal Burnham Yacht Club sets the pace and Premier Sailing keeps the tradition alive.

Mangapps Railway & Museum draws steam enthusiasts with its collection of vintage locomotives, while the Burnham-on-Crouch and District Museum tells the story of this maritime community. The real draw though is the water itself. Crouch Harbour remains one of the finest sailing centres on the east coast.

Beyond the quays, the landscape opens into proper Essex marshland. The Saltmarsh Coast Trail winds through these wetlands where curlews call and the horizon stretches endlessly. Wallasea Island Wild Coast project has transformed old farmland back into coastal habitat - fascinating to see nature reclaiming the land.

For something completely different, hunt out the HMS Beagle remains and Beagle Viewpoint. Darwin's famous ship ended her days as a customs vessel on these very waters. The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin overlooks it all from the town centre.

Getting here means catching the branch line to Burnham-on-Crouch station - one of those lovely rural railways that feels like stepping back in time. The nearest big town is Chelmsford, about 45 minutes north.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks like Riverside Village or Steeple Bay makes perfect sense. You're close enough to walk into town for dinner but far enough out to enjoy the wide skies and marsh views. The sailing season runs April to October, but winter here has its own stark beauty.