Wickford to Southminster
For Battlesbridge, Woodham Ferrers and Burnham-on-Crouch. 
The river estuaries along the Essex coast are internationally important for vast numbers of birds which find food and shelter across the tidal saltings. So bring your binoculars as the Crouch Valley line travels right through this important habitat. Look for flocks of dunlin, lapwing and plovers in winter, as well as thousands of waders, ducks and geese. Your journey takes you to the major yachting centre of Burnham-on-Crouch with many historic buildings on the waterfront and footpaths along the estuary. The next station is Southminster, and both are ideal places to hire a bike and explore the surrounding countryside and the lonely little St Peter’s Chapel at Bradwell.