Essex Byway

[JueOmega]

Has this ever been Driven / Sailed

[Trugga]

Trailwise has the following information:

Historic Name : The Broomway

Restriction type : Other official restriction. Duration : Permanent.
Description : Subject to military closure at any time

PRoW (Definitive Map, etc.), Roads and Highway Authority records :-
BOAT RoW Ref: Great Wakering 30 / Foulness 16 Status: Byway Open to All Traffic (BOAT)
Highway Authority : Essex County Council

WARNING. Byway goes across Maplin Sands and can be dangerous - seek local Guidance. Lane is within MOD Danger Area - for current information on access information within the Foulness/Shoeburyness Danger Area call 01702 383383.



Wakering Stairs danger sign
This warning sign regarding the Broomway has been placed fairly recently following renewed interest in the fabled 'Broomway', an ancient path through the sea that can only be accessed at low tide. Since the Southend Evening Echo put together a group of ramblers to traverse the path, many people have tried to follow suit, ending up in the coastguard having to rescue several people. Don't try it! See my other pictures of the Broomway.

Lawrence

[Drift]

You could go here for a tidal crossing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=e ... 39pLUsgbcE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=e ... -UXHj5ZVEo

[BadBoy]

You could go here for a tidal crossing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=e ... 39pLUsgbcE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=e ... -UXHj5ZVEo

No you couldn't. It's got a TRO on it due to erosion caused by what you can see in these vids

I live about 10miles from here and I've done the Broomway once, several years ago as a passenger
You need a minimum of 3 vehicles for safety reasons.
Mud tyres are a must
You have about 1 1/2 hours each side of low tide to make the run (you can do it in 10min if you get some speed up, but best taken slowly) and you must check the tide heights as even at low tide it can be under water but is still driveable without a snorkel.
It is best done early in the morning or late evening during the summer.
Also please be aware that if you do get stuck and are not well prepared that you may as well say good bye to your motor. This has happened
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_JT4UjHzOk

If anyone is interested in doing it, please PM me and I can arrange access and advise suitable times to do it

It is well worth the trip here to do it. Driving along in 6" of water, 1 mile away from dry land is an experence I've never forgotton

[Drift]

I believe those guys got some sort of permission to cross the ford it was well publicised at the time, think it was a year or two ago.

[gregster]

We do quite a bit of "coastal driving" the other side of the thames to you badboy...but in honestly i wouldnt wade one of my cars in sea water, not for risk of loosing to the tide...but to the certainty of loosing to rust!

The sea is a killer when it comes to cars...my fourtrak used to play on the beach/mud a fair amount, I washed it all down everytime...but the rust, it is terminal. Bear in mind you can only clean some of it...your frame will be full of sea water and rot from the inside out!

Wade a car in the sea...definatley sell it very soon afterwards foggers...

To do a run like that above, I would club together and buy a barely legal fronty for a go...and then break it for spares on ebay after to recoup the cost!
Just a thought anyway guys...

If you look on a map we have done warden bay/leysdown to minster on the else of sheppey, down the beach, cliffs mud etc loads of times and it is cool, but needs local knowledge or can be very dangerous!
Sometimes stop overnight halfway in the middle of nowhere and have bbq, and a bit of fishing.
Can be a mission if something goes wrong though, my mate did his clutch in an SJ and ended up doing 3 miles of cliff climbing and rock crawling with him in tow in my landcruiser. Ripped the tank out of mine..drove the last mile running on a 2 litre coke bottle full of diesel cable tied to the battery!

My "get out of jail free card" was we know most of the farmers with land at the top of the cliffs, so worst case can borrow a tractor and an emense length tow to get out if really screwed!

[BadBoy]

but in honestly i wouldnt wade one of my cars in sea water, not for risk of loosing to the tide...but to the certainty of loosing to rust!

Bear in mind you can only clean some of it...your frame will be full of sea water and rot from the inside out!

Wade a car in the sea...definatley sell it very soon afterwards foggers...

Appreciate what your saying Greg, but this one is fairly safe.
The broomway is normally passable 2 hours after high tide (if you have a snorkle ), and clear for water after 3 hours.
On a summer day, hit it at low tide and the only sea water you'll find is in the odd puddle.
The vid shows them driving it about 2 hours after the tide went out.
When I went with them it was virtually dry with no water to speak of. You could even walk on the mud without fear of getting muddy although the cars did sink a couple of inches if parked for more than 10min off of the causeway.

Even still, I stand my my comment that being 1 mile out to sea, driving your car is an experience you'll not forget in a long time and if your ever down this way it's worth doing.

[Roo]

Has this ever been Driven / Sailed

You mean drive in the Danger Area ?? hmmm

[Sir-Doris]

At a guess without being able to read the map too well Id say it warns of fast moving tides

[BadBoy]

It is a danger area due to the MOD testing ground next to it.
The only access is via crossing the firing ranges therefore you need MOD permission to drive on the roads & byways on Foulness island.
It has nothing to do with the tides.
Hope that answers your questions

[Dupe]

get a boat & a hard hat no problems

[john (smifffy)]

if i was to go bait digging and left a mess like that i would be chased by the authorities

how did they get away with it

[lotusfrontera]

You could go here for a tidal crossing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=e ... 39pLUsgbcE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=e ... -UXHj5ZVEo

No you couldn't. It's got a TRO on it due to erosion caused by what you can see in these vids

I live about 10miles from here and I've done the Broomway once, several years ago as a passenger
You need a minimum of 3 vehicles for safety reasons.
Mud tyres are a must
You have about 1 1/2 hours each side of low tide to make the run (you can do it in 10min if you get some speed up, but best taken slowly) and you must check the tide heights as even at low tide it can be under water but is still driveable without a snorkel.
It is best done early in the morning or late evening during the summer.
Also please be aware that if you do get stuck and are not well prepared that you may as well say good bye to your motor. This has happened
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_JT4UjHzOk

If anyone is interested in doing it, please PM me and I can arrange access and advise suitable times to do it

It is well worth the trip here to do it. Driving along in 6" of water, 1 mile away from dry land is an experence I've never forgotton

Some of you older Foggers should recognise the driver of the defender "Tango", used to be a member on here when he had a 2.0 SWB.

[BadBoy]

He now has a bright orange 90
Does look good tho