The bleak walk 1 hour from London named ‘Britain’s most dangerous path’ that’s claimed more than 100 lives


If most people were to think of Britain’s most dangerous path, images of clifftop tracks or deep ravines would come to mind.

Not a walk on the beach.

Except one hour from London is a path along the sand that’s claimed more than 100 lives over the years.

The Broomway, as it’s been called as long as anyone can remember, connects the Foulness Island to the rest of the Maplin Sands.

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The Wakering Stairs, the start of the Broomway

The start of the route lies just east of Shoeburyness, Essex.

Until a road bridge was built over Havengore Creek in 1922, this perilous path was the only way to reach the desolate stretch of coast.

Officially it’s a ‘Byway Open to All Traffic’ but calling this a road is far too generous.

It’s a spit of sand only accessible when the tide is out.

Because the ground is so flat, the usually slow ebb and flow of the tides is accelerated with water said to rise faster than a person can run.

Surrounding the Broomway are whirlpools and patches of sinking sand that can easily trap unsuspecting walkers.

If the mist comes in, as it often does in this part of the world, the path can be lost leaving travellers to stumble around blindly until they are trapped by the inevitable rising tide.

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It’s name came from the bundles of sticks (brooms) which were used to mark the route but since the road was built these have disappeared.

Sixty-six of those who have died on the path are buried in the nearby Foulness churchyard, serving as a grim reminder of just how dangerous this route is.

Edwardian tabloids nicknamed it ‘The Doomway’.

Nowadays the correct and safe way is nothing more than a compass bearing or the guidance of an experienced local.

So anything but a walk on the beach really.

Is there a story in your corner of the city you think MyLondon should be covering? Please get in touch at charlie.jones@reachplc.com





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