Walk this way... around the Naze, Essex

The route: Start at the Naze Tower in Walton-on-the-Naze. Take the coastal footpath north, over undulating grass (a former medieval field system) and past Walton Hall to your left. Continue through the woods until you hit the sea wall – about 20 minutes’ walk from the tower. Turn left and walk along the Tarmac part of the wall. Once the Tarmac ends, turn left again, with fields to your left and salt marshes to your right. About a mile later, you face Hedge-end Island. Take a large left turn and follow the Walton Channel south, until you reach a slipway surrounded by boats. Turn left for the footpath into Walton. At the fish and chip shop, turn left up Naze Park Road to return to the tower.

Why go? This circular walk around the Naze (the north point of the Tendring Peninsula) passes through a wide range of landscapes - the blustery North Sea coast, fields, creeks and salt marshes - and culminates in the seaside town of Walton-on-the-Naze. Views of industrial Harwich and Felixstowe to the north contrast with delicate wildlife species en route.

How long will it take? About two and a half hours (around three and a half miles). Shorter routes and guided walks are available: call The Nazeman Education Trust on 07732 986688 (www.nazeman.fsnet.co.uk).

Stamina required? In dry weather, the going is easy, but rain leads to claggy ground.

Refuelling options There are no pubs on the Naze, but the Naze Links Café by the car park (01255 671437), open every weekend, serves bacon sandwiches and cakes.

What else can I see? The 86 foot-high Naze Tower, an art gallery and visitor attraction, is open April to October (01255 852519, www.nazetower.co.uk). Also, you can fish off Walton Pier, one of the longest in the UK (01255 672288, www.waltonpier.co.uk).

Wildlife highlights Look out for ducks, warblers, raptors and waders. You may see water voles in the creeks or hares inland. One of the rarest coastal plants in Britain, the sea hog's fennel, is found here, as is the fisher's estuarine moth, which feeds on this herb.

And for kids? Walton Pier has funfair rides and ten-pin bowling, or scour the beaches at low tide for fossilised shark's teeth.

Getting there Walton-on-the-Naze is half an hour's drive from Colchester. After Harwich, take the A133, then the B1033 and B1034. Walton's train station links to London Liverpool Street. There are buses from Colchester and Clacton (see www.onerailway.com and www.traveline.info).

Where to stay The Bufo Villae Guest House is located centrally in Walton, with three en-suite rooms and a beach hut for guests to hire (01255 672644, www.bufovillae.co.uk).

Don't miss... Take binoculars to spot marsh or hen harriers, short-eared owls, little egrets, avocets and plovers.

Walton TIC 01255 675542 (Easter to mid-September); Clacton TIC, 01255 686633; or 0845 600 7373, www.realessex.co.uk.

OS maps Landranger Map 169: Ipswich and The Naze; Explorer Map 184: Colchester, Harwich and Clacton-on-Sea. Click here for the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map Service

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