The Wild Side of Essex: Exploring The Naze and Walton Backwaters (Day Trip)

Tour Code: GBR169

A fascinating exploration of the Naze and Walton Backwaters focussing on its special wildlife and geology. From birds, coastal plants and insects, mammals, fossils and much more!

1 days from
£60 (land only)
book now

Highlights

Summary

Summary

Join all-round naturalist Chris Gibson for an exploration of the far north-east of the county of Essex, a place of interest to all, from birdwatchers to geologists. Much of the day will be spent on the headland of Naze itself, providing the chance to explore the cliff-top bushes, grassy slopes, beach and cliffs. The picturesque Red Crag cliffs are of international significance and reveal the story of our past 50 million years. A walk along the beach will give an opportunity to search for fossils, including sharks’ teeth, whale bone and Ice Age seashells.

Heading into the embayment of Hamford Water (also known as the Walton Backwaters – or to afficionados of Arthur Ransome's ‘Secret Water’), we will explore low sand dune and salt marsh habitats, and mudflats and grazing marshes as we return to the car park along the sea wall around Walton Hall Marshes.

This day will suit anyone with a broad set of interests in the natural world, brought to life by a tour leader who spent his career putting Essex on the wildlife map. The natural interests will vary with the seasons, but whatever is happening around us, whatever the weather, the geology will always be there! The length of the walk will be 6-8 km on easy going terrain, starting at 9am and finishing at around 5pm. For anyone wishing to travel by train, the meeting point is 30 minutes’ walk north from Walton-on-the-Naze station.

We have scheduled some departure dates which can be taken back-to-back with The Wild Side of Essex - The Colne Estuary.

What you will see on any walk will be very different from the same walk in a different season, so why not plan on returning? Please see our 'Detailed Information' below for further details on each season.

From birds to bugs to botany, galls to geology, this day will lift the lid on the sometimes surprising ‘wild side of Essex’.

  • A huge range of interests covered – birds, botany, entomology and geology
  • Explore the headland of Naze for birds, rare plants and insects, waders and wildfowl
  • Walk along the beach and search for sharks' teeth
  • Unrivalled local knowledge from expert leader Chris Gibson

Winter (Nov-Feb):
Waterbirds feature heavily over winter, with Bar-tailed Godwits, Sanderlings and Brent Geese prominent among a whole host of other wildfowl and waders, and hopefully also Kingfishers and raptors, including Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, Merlin and Barn and Short-eared Owls. Mammals could include Harbour and Grey Seals, with an outside chance of an Otter. Smaller birds on the beach and in the bushes might include Rock Pipit, Stonechat, Cetti’s Warbler, Snow Bunting, Twite and very likely some impressive flocks of Starlings, while seawatching could produce Red-throated and Great Northern Divers, Eiders and Common Scoter. While plants in flower will be few and far between, the salt marshes and sand dune habitats retain much of botanical interest through the winter, each hosting a suite of species specially adapted to the environmentally stressful conditions. If not too frosty, the maritime grassland will continue to produce fungi and flowers, and even attract a few butterflies and other insects in winter sunshine. Whatever, an abundance of fresh air is guaranteed!


Spring (Mar-May):
As spring progresses, the estuarine waterbirds decline in number, although those that remain begin to assume breeding plumage; Brent Geese in particular stay in good numbers through the spring months. Summer migrants are returning, starting with Sand Martins (which breed on the cliffs) and Wheatears in March, going right through to Swifts and (maybe) Spotted Flycatchers in May. Seawatching is likely to produce migrating terns of several species, and Mediterranean Gulls, with a good chance of Harbour Porpoise if the sea state is sufficiently calm. As with seals, Porpoises can be seen all year round, but may be disturbed at busier times of the year. The Red Crag cliff slopes have good displays of Colt’s-foot and in warm weather, Green Tiger-beetles; sand dunes equally come into bloom early, with spring annuals such as Small Forget-me Not and Sea Mouse-ear. The sand dunes also support one of the strongest Black Oil-beetle colonies in Essex and as spring advances, Green Hairstreaks will be on the wing. Patches of flowering Alexanders are likely to be a focus for insect action.


Summer (Jun-Aug):
The saltmarshes reveal their botanical riches, with swathes of Sea Pink and Sea Lavender; indeed, interesting plants are everywhere, from Sea Spurge on the dunes, to Bird’s-foot Fenugreek in the maritime turf, as the sea walls light up with Grass Vetchling and Sea Clover. Sea walls in particular abound with butterflies, especially browns and skippers, while dragonflies are at their peak, starting with Hairy Dragonfly in June to the hawkers and darters of high summer. Harbour Seals will be breeding in the Backwaters, as too the birds – Oystercatchers and Redshanks on the beaches and marshes, Common and Little Terns, warblers in the scrub and reedbeds, and Sand Martins on the cliffs. By July, the first returning waders, usually in smart summer plumage, start to drift through, while tern movements offshore can be very impressive, sometimes accompanied by skuas.


Autumn (Sep-Oct):
Salt marshes are in the full flush of autumn colour, with several species of Glasswort, and the last flowerings of Sea Aster and Golden Samphire, hopefully attracting butterflies and the rare Sea Aster Mining-bee, while reedbeds and grazing marshes will provide opportunities for birds such as Cetti’s Warblers. Willow Emerald damselflies, Common Darters and Migrant Hawkers are likely to be flying, and wherever there is flowering Ivy, it will be attracting late season butterflies, hoverflies and bees. If the preceding weather has been conducive, we may encounter an array of fungi, especially waxcaps in the clifftop turf and dunes. Being autumn, migrant birds may turn up anywhere – although not guaranteed – and could include chats, warblers and the first winter thrushes. The clifftop can provide a great vantage point for visible migration, from finches overhead to Gannets offshore. Waders and wildfowl numbers are building in Walton Backwaters, with Brent Geese moving in as autumn progresses, and Sanderling and Bar-tailed Godwit on the beach.

DETAILED INFORMATION
Day Trip Location

Day Trip Location

Reviews
Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost
Wed 19th Mar – Wed 19th Mar 6 £60
Book Tour Show Details
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£60
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Chris Gibson
Chris Gibson

Tour Leader: Chris Gibson

Chris is an experienced and enthusiastic all-round naturalist, based in Essex, though still a Yorkshireman at heart. He recently retired (early!) from a long career with Natural England, during which he worked on such varied projects as the notification of SSSIs in Essex, offshore wind developments and the issues surrounding the potential reintroduction of Eurasian Lynx to the UK. Although a conservationist by profession, and an ecologist by training, everything Chris have done has been linked to his life-long passion for natural history. In 2009 he was lucky enough to receive the David Bellamy Award of the British Naturalists’ Association, recognising ‘a naturalist of distinction’. He’s also written and co-written many books and articles. Now he has the time and opportunity to return to his roots as a naturalist, and to do what he does best – trying to enthuse others about the natural world. 

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UK Day Trips Led by Expert Naturalists


We are delighted to offer a series of Naturetrek Day Trips which visit a wonderful selection of reserves and habitats across the UK, each guided by one of our expert naturalist tour leaders, many of whom are leading our Day Trips on their own ‘local patch’! Meeting at around 9am, and exploring largely on foot until around 5pm (though note that specific Day Trip timings do vary slightly by location and season), these trips are designed to spend a full day out in the fresh air, in search of a wide range of special British wildlife.


Whether you would like to explore a new area in the company of a local, expert naturalist tour leader, try a guided wildlife day out for the very first time, or perhaps you simply wish to spend the day learning more about your own local wildlife, you will find yourself most welcome on one of our Naturetrek Day Trips. We also offer days out specifically aimed at beginner birders and amateur wildlife photographers, and some trips even extend after sunset to allow us to take you on a guided tour of the night skies above. Whatever the trip focus – be it birds, botany, fungi, photography, butterflies, dragonflies, geology or a mix of just about everything – your leader will take you to the very best places to search for wildlife, and will share their knowledge generously along the way.


Our Day Trips have been fully risk assessed, and all activities are carried out in line with UK government and industry Covid-19 guidance. Most Day Trips from 17th May 2021 onwards will have a maximum number of 7 people, with a handful, such as cruises with a slightly higher number. We have also been certified as 'Good to Go'; the domestic tourism industry standard mark for Covid-19 protocols. Your safety is paramount, and we will be complying fully with UK government guidance throughout all of our Day Trips.


 


How to Book


The price for all our standard Naturetrek Day Trips is £50 per person and payment is by debit card only. You can book online, or you are very welcome to book over the phone by calling us on 01962 733051. Some Day Trips operate seasonally, and we are continuing to add additional departure dates for our fully booked Day Trips, so if you would like to be added to our wait list for any of these trips please just email info@naturetrek.co.uk or register your interest via the tour page.


 


Joining Instructions for Day Trips




If you, or someone that you have been in close contact with, has displayed symptoms of Covid-19 in the 14 days prior to the Day Trip, or if you receive an alert from NHS Track and Trace, you MUST NOT JOIN the Day Trip. Please let us know in the Naturetrek office as soon as possible and we will be happy to refund you in full.


    

  • Upon booking we will email you with a designated meeting point and confirmed timings, along with contact details for your tour leader.
    • 

  • During some Day Trips we will each use our own vehicle to move the short distances in between sites (group transport is not provided).
    • 

  • Please do not bring your dog, or other pets, as they may disturb the wildlife!
    • 

  • Please bring your own lunch.
    • 

  • Please bring plenty of water, snacks, hand sanitiser, tissues, your own face covering (this will not be compulsory whilst we are out in the fresh air and wide open spaces throughout during the day but may be required to enter toilets, visitor centres, etc.) along with anything else that you might need for the day. You will need to be able to carry everything yourself. Suitable footwear (walking shoes or walking boots) will be essential, along with sensible layers and waterproofs plus sun hat and sun cream or woolly hat and gloves etc., depending on the weather forecast.
    • 

  • Wherever possible, we will try to arrange comfort breaks during the day. On some of our more remote Day Trips this isn’t always possible, and on those occasions you will need to be prepared for the odd ‘bush stop’! If this is likely, we will alert you in the joining instructions beforehand. Please be stringent with hygiene when using public facilities.
    • 

  • We ask you to respect minimum social distancing AT ALL TIMES (currently 2m where possible between households at the time of writing, but could be updated at any time). To help ensure this, we ask group members and tour leaders not to share optics, field guides or any other equipment.
    • 

  • Finally, please do share your photos and favourite wildlife sightings with us … we love seeing them! Tweet @naturetrektours, Instagram @naturetrek_wildlife_holidays or find us on facebook.com/naturetrekwildlifeholidays
    • 




Tailormade Day Trips

Should the dates we offer not suit you, or should you wish to have a private, tailored Day Trip, we will be delighted to arrange this for you. Please just call Georgie Head on 01962 733051, or fill out our quick enquiry form and we will get back to you. For inspiration for a Tailormade UK break, please see our Tailormade UK holidays.




Reviews: 


'The Naturetrek £50 days out have been a lifesaver this year. What better way than to spend a day in the open with four other like minded people in the company of a brilliant guide who can tell you all about the geology, flors and fauna of the area. I’ve been on three of these days with more booked for the future. The days are full, meeting at 9.00am and not finishing until 5.00pm, maybe slightly earlier in the darker winter months, with about 45 minutes for our picnic lunch but never have I ever looked at my watch and wished the time would pass more quickly. Quite the opposite in fact, the time passed so quickly I was amazed when we found ourselves back at the car park. Value for money? Yes, definitely. Thank you Naturetrek.'
VB – The Naze and Walton Backwaters (Essex)

‘The Upper Teesdale Day Trip was brilliant and Andy Bunten was an exceptional guide. So very knowledgeable and an expert spotter, but equally important he had great communication skills so that no-one felt remotely patronised or afraid to ask the most basic of questions. The organisation of the day was impeccably planned too. This was my first Naturetrek outing but I have friends who regularly use you and have spoken of your trips in glowing terms. So I will certainly look at your website and I will hope to travel with you at some point in the future.’ 
 KS – Teesdale


‘We had a lovely day on Monday; Matt was terrific - particularly with us being beginners at bird watching! The other attendees were very interesting and one in particular was extremely knowledgeable. So we learned a lot - just got to remember it now! We are looking at the other day trips available to see if we can do another one.’ 
 Ashdown Forest


‘I wanted to write to thank you for organising your new Day Trips. It’s an excellent idea and something to give hope to many people, who are keen to get out and about, and to experience the beauty of nature closer to home. Our trip to the Ashdown Forest on Friday was excellent. The weather was kind to us, a lovely sunny, English summer day, but it was our guide, Matt Eade, who made it special. Quite how Matt managed to arrange Goshawk, two Honey-buzzards, Hobby, Treecreeper, and a whole host of other species was remarkable.
 Spotted Flycatcher is the personal favourite of my husband Simon – and Matt knew where to find two of them. Simon was over the moon!  


It was a top day. Matt was informative, very knowledgeable, engaging, encouraging, always happy to help, provide insights and share his knowledge and experiences. He paced the walk just right, thoughtful about short breaks where needed. I worked for 8 years as a Tour Director around Europe and I know how exceptionally hard it can be to keep everyone happy!’ 
 Ashdown Forest


‘The trip exceeded our already high expectations. Andy Bunten was kind, humorous, thoughtful and his knowledge of the wildlife truly exceptional. It was a real pleasure and privilege to be in his company.’ 
 KE – Teesdale


‘So nice to be on a Naturetrek trip again and had a thoroughly enjoyable day with Russ and our other companions. Everyone just got on even though we had not met before. Looking forward to our next day trip!’ 
 LD – Smardale


‘We had a great day, thank you. Matthew Capper was an excellent guide, giving us a wealth of information about the ecology, conservation and social history of the area as well as the wildlife, and having an amazing ability to detect birdlife out of nowhere.  The Lammergeier before we'd even left the meeting point was of course spectacular, but it was Matthew's commitment to searching for the birds and Mountain Hares which impressed me even more.  We also appreciated his patience and good humour, and his determination to make sure that all 5 of us got to see everything. These day trips are a brilliant idea. We are really looking forward to our next Naturetrek Day in a couple of weeks.’ 
 AB – Peak District



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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

Enquire
Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!