If you have a spare Saturday or Sunday and don’t know where to go then why not consider Burnham-on-Crouch for a day out.  It’s got something for everyone. – This sounds like I’m writing for the Burnham Tourist Board but I’m not.

We quite often spend the weekend in the Maldon district area and one of our favourite places to visit for a day out is Burnham-on-Crouch.  It’s a lovely historic town situated on the banks of the River Crouch in the Dengie 100 peninsula in Essex Marshland.  The town is 20 miles from Chelmsford.

Burnham is best known for its yachting and is home to one of the oldest marina’s in England, housing a 1930’s Yacht Club which is just one of the 117 listed buildings in the town.  There is also a really quaint 1930’s cinema called Rio which is worth a look when your visiting.  At first we were not sure if it was still a cinema or if it had been turned into a museum but it is still a cinema and is showing all the latest films.

The attractive high street has small cottages as well as some interesting shops.  One landmark you can’t help noticing is the Clock Tower which is Burnham’s best known landmark.

From the High Street if you head to the Quay and turn left  you will see the Quayside restaurant which is our favourite eating place when we visit Burnham.  We enjoy sitting outside eating our meal and taking in the lovely views overlooking the River Crouch   The food can definitely be recommended here.  It’s so peaceful just sitting people watching. The town attracts hundreds of sailing boats in the summer so there is always something to see on the river.

From the Quayside restaurant looking out towards the river we turn right to start our walk.  You will pass Ye Olde White Harte Hotel which is a really beautiful old building built in the 1600’s.  The food looks good here also although we haven’t tried it yet.  There are always plenty of people sitting at the tables and chairs outside or on the hotel’s jetty which overlooks the river. 

Going past the hotel there are many interesting buildings, tea rooms, antique shops and moored houseboats to look at. 

The Riverside Park has something for everyone with a well equipped play area for children and young people.  Picnic areas with tables overlooking the River Crouch, formal and informal sports pitches and ample seats to sit and enjoy the views.  The exposed riverside location means plenty of opportunities for kite-flying.  There is even a small sand beach along the Riverside footpath.

The long grassed area and reed beds are a haven for wildlife, butterflies and wild flowers.

The Park was awarded a Green Flag in 2007 which is an award for National Standard for excellence in parks in the UK.

You can take a river cruise on the River Crouch. And this is something we are planning next time.   Two trips in particular stand out, one takes you upstream to Battlesbridge, the other river cruise goes out to the sandbanks where you can view the seals – great for the kids to see.

If you like walking then you can continue along the sea wall for miles (20+ miles infact).  You can walk to North Fambridge in the South to Mundon in the north.  A really great walk for nature lovers and bird watching.

There are numerous events going on in the town during the year: 

Burnham Carnival Week, held annually on the last Saturday in September, and ending with a torchlight procession.  The carnival takes place in the High Street and Quay with stalls, sideshows and displays.  The entertainment this year (2009) will  include punch and Judy, a skilled juggler, tight rope act, gymnastic display and fun fair.  Team Guinot River Display, Europe’s only professional aerobatic team with fly stunts and loops including a wing walker riding un-harnessed on one of the planes.

RiverFest  is a month long music festival that takes place each June culminating in two days of live open air music at Millfields when live musicians entertain the crowds at Burnham Riverside Park on Saturday and Sunday.  There are a variety of styles of artist to appeal to all tastes.  The weekend is sponsored, so is free of charge even though the artists include some well known names.  For more information on next years Riverfest go to the website although they have only just had this years festival so next years details will not be showing up yet.  You can take a look at the pictures though.  I have emailed and asked for next years dates so that I can make sure they are in my diary.  http://www.burnhamfestival.com

Burnham Week is held in August and is when sailing enthusiasts converge from all over the country on the 15 mile stretch of water from the town to the open sea. 

The Mangapps Railway Museum is within a few minutes walk of Burnham on Southminster Road.  It’s a large working museum with trains, carriages, buildings, memorabilia, rides and steam days.  http://www.mangapps.co.uk/

There are three car parks in Burnham all of which are free of charge – station Road j/w Millfields – Riverside Park (follow the road into Millfields, past the Dengie 100 Sports Centre and the past the Caravan site – Burnham Yacht Harbour (Accessed at the end of Foundry Lane).

If you have visited Burnham-on-Crouch please let us know what you thought of it by leaving a comment below and also if you have tried any of the pubs or restaurants and can leave a short review.