Nearly 900 people took part in this year’s Saltmarsh Coast Walking Festival, enjoying 35 guided walks across the Maldon District over 10 days of exploration, heritage and adventure.
Highlights included boat trips along the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation, guided tours of Northey Island with National Trust experts, RSPB-led walks around the reserves at Wallasea Island and Tollesbury Old Hall Marshes, and special access to Beeleigh Abbey and Creeksea Place for garden tours. Visitors also enjoyed wine tasting and vineyard walks around Purleigh.
The Festival continues to grow in popularity, with participation doubling since the first event in 2023.
Alongside the daytime walks, the festival featured evening events, including Maldon Ghost Walks, talks on local brewing history and Maldon’s lost railways, and special appearances by celebrity speakers Julia Bradbury and James Lawrence.
Cllr Richard Siddall, leader of Maldon District Council, said: “The Festival is a fantastic way to showcase the Maldon District’s stunning landscapes, wildlife, and heritage. There’s no better way to appreciate our beautiful area than by exploring it on foot.”
Festival co-ordinator Chris Harvey added: “We’re thrilled by the success of this year’s event and we’re already planning for 2026, which we promise will be bigger and better than ever.”
Anyone interested in receiving updates about next year’s Saltmarsh Coast Walking Festival can register at: www.saltmarshcoastwalkingfestival.co.uk
The Saltmarsh Coast Walking Festival received £10,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. it is delivered by Maldon District Tourism Group in partnership with Maldon District Council along with our festival partners from: National Trust, Ramblers Association, RSPB, Essex Wildlife Trust, Maldon & District CVS, Active Maldon, Maldon Town Council, Maldon & Heybridge Heritage Harbour, Maldon Heritage Group, Maldon Man Cave, Ticket Tailor, Caroline Coastal FM and SMC Radio online.
