Saltmarsh Coast Walking Festival 2026
​​​​Welcome to the Saltmarsh Coast Walking Festival
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Shake off the festive season and step into the New Year with fresh air, beautiful landscapes, and a little midwinter magic. The Saltmarsh Coast Midwinter Mini-Festival returns with seven invigorating guided walks designed to get you moving again after December’s indulgences.​
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Maldon's Secret Open Spaces and Lanes (4.3 miles)
10:30am
​Sunday 25th January
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Discover some of little byways and paths which weave through the historic riverside town of Maldon. There's also an opportunity to visit a community food forest project, the Friary Walled Garden and a "secret" memorial garden. The walk includes a stop for lunch at the Queen's Head on the Hythe.
A Lost Railway Line and a Miniature Railway (4.9 miles)
11.00am
Sunday 25th January​​
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Enjoy a scenic walk from the hilltop village of Cold Norton, perfect for walkers and railway enthusiasts alike. Discover the hidden Beacon Hill Miniature Railway, cross the scenic Three Rivers Golf Course, and follow a beautiful track on a disused railway line back to the village, with an optional pub roast lunch near the end.
The Woods and Lanes of Southminster (2.4 miles)
11.15am
Sunday 25th January​​
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The Woods and Lanes of Southminster (2.4 miles) EEnjoy a delightful stroll through Southminster, full of unexpected highlights. Explore a hidden woodland with wooden sculptures, take in sweeping Dengie countryside views, admire historic houses, and finish with an optional lunch at an award-winning microbrewery and restaurant.
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Get Involved!
Here's a great opportunity to be part of the acclaimed Saltmarsh Coast Walking Festival! Volunteering means you’ll be a key player in making this year’s Festival a success. You’ll also have the chance to connect with some amazing people and make the most of Maldon's great outdoors!
SELF-GUIDED WALKS
Our self-guided walks cater to those who prefer to explore at their own speed.
In addition to a thorough route description, we offer a vibrant PDF filled with detailed information about the walk and highlights to discover along the journey. Our walks are categorised as Easy Going, Moderate, Long Distance, or Very Long Distance, with extra details about features like stiles, steps, gates, and any muddy or uneven terrain. Just click the map marker below to visit our self-guided walks section and choose as many as you like! You'll have plenty of options to enjoy!
Picture This!
No matter the weather—let’s hope for sunshine!—our Walking Festivals promise visitors stunning countryside views and fascinating spots to explore. If you’ve taken any memorable photos during our guided or self-guided walks, we want to showcase them! Simply click the button below to go to our Walkers' Gallery and share your pictures.
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Tollesbury
Beeleigh Falls
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Chelmer & Blackwater Canal
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Goldhanger
Maldon Maritime Walk
Crouch Ridge Vineyard
What Makes Us Special
Local Expert Guides
Our knowledgeable guides are passionate about sharing their love for this beautiful region with visitors from all over the world. Whether you're interested in history, or simply soaking up the local atmosphere, our team is here to help you make the most your time in Maldon District.
Handpicked Walks
Our carefully chosen programme of guided and self-guided walks is designed to cater for all ages, levels of ability and interests. We've made sure to include refreshment stops at some of the best pubs, cafes and even vineyards along the way. Whatever you choose to do, prepare for an enjoyable and enriching experience.
Evening Entertainment
During the festival, a programme of evening entertainment
with guest speakers, looking at some of the rich history and heritage of the area along with some unique one off talks across the district.
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Self-Guided Walks
We've got you covered! You can download our comprehensive PDF routes for all our popular walks. Click the link below to view our 2024 menu of self-guided walks and enjoy!
Testimonials
Shirley on the
Maldon Ghost Walk
"Brilliant walk, very interesting, thoroughly enjoyed it as did our two granddaughters"
Julia on
National Trust Northey Island Walk
"This was really interesting - so much important work taking place on our doorstep that I wasn't aware of. Many thanks to the National Trust guide Matt for making it enjoyable and informative afternoon"
Siobhan on the
Heybridge Basin Walk
"Such a wonderful informative walk, thank you all so much for being a great bunch, a special thanks to our walk leader Chris for being so full of knowledge and getting me to buy pies, they were really as good as you said they were!"
