A walking welcome to Essex: Writers and refugees walk from countryside to coast

Despite the current political climate, our section of the North Essex coastline has a rich history of welcoming travellers. We held a welcome walk, with sound, painting and poetry

This story is part of our Tales from a Slow Way series, funded by the Pilgrim Trust. Each ‘Tales’ award includes a donation to the organisation as well as a project fee to the creative. Tendring Community Writers’ project donation went to Rama, (Refugee, Asylum Seeker and Migrant Action) in Colchester, a voluntary organisation working with refugees, asylum seekers and people with no recourse to public funds.

By Faye Rathe, Essex-bred, first-generation chip eater, sociologist, writer, performance poet, producer, and founder of Tendring Community Writers

The Slow Ways Walk day and following workshops together inspired writing, reading, dialogue, photography, storytelling, cultural sharing and connection, poetry, artwork, audio recordings. This collection of work and play will be produced as a map design for new walkers and visitors to the area.

We wanted to introduce our local landscape and stories to people new to the area, while listening to their stories and experiences. We stopped at local landmarks along the way to look, listen, picnic, and write.

A thoughtful, neighbourly introduction for anyone moving to or staying in a new place can be a generous stepping stone along the way to moments of independence, connection, wellbeing, curiosity and creativity.

Despite the current political climate, historically this section of the North Essex coastline does have a rich history of welcoming travellers, sailors, ex-city-dwellers, tourists, day-trippers, families, those in need of health or care recovery, rehabilitation, and refugees.

The natural assets and landscape of this part of the world will continue to welcome any who wish to travel here, seemingly until the battling North Sea or building developers claim the final share.

The walk got featured in the Clacton Gazette, and here is the booklet we made for the walkers.

The Slow Ways route from Frinton-on-Sea to Walton-on-the-Naze.
Map credit: Leaflet | Slow Ways Contributors, © OpenStreetMap contributors

My story of the walk

A group of North Essex writers invited a group of refugees to take a long, slow walk together at the seaside, from station to sea front.

Twenty of us walked and talked together, over a two- to five-mile stretch, excited and ready to explore a snippet of Essex countryside and coast.

A meticulously designed matriarchal military operation, with itinerary and activities planned, lunch packed, cameras and notepads at the ready; these hosts were taking their roles very seriously, determined to ensure fun in early Easter sun!

Duly prepared to expect the unexpected, we began a typical unsteady start, with our arrival eyeballed by the decorated wall face of Winston Churchill, and locked toilets at the station platform.

Regardless, mouth engines ready to run, we easily erupted into conversation whilst dilly-dallying through residential roads filled with grand 1900s architecture. Some slipped through alleyways towards the library and high street; others taking a longer route, edging towards the greener open spaces of rural farmland.

Over a small-stream footbridge, through a narrow, grassed and muddied path, we crossed the border of Frinton Tennis Club to a more endemic land. A home to farm soil and stream; a place for raising kith and kin of vegetation, wildlife, animals and human.

Taking pause for rest and writing at the sign for the ‘Maize Maze’ (a deserted pumpkin patch), the freshly formed troop hiked further into the farm, greeted by horses and a serene duckpond. From there, a left, led by the stream towards the sea-front, sparkling in the distance.

On the approach to the now longed-for shoreline, a stealth venture through the prized Frinton Golf Club range. A point to note for other wanderers and walkers: proceed with caution here! Remain wary of any golfers, flying balls, speeding buggies, and sunken sandbanks; heed the black posts in situ which signal the way through.

With a scale of the sea wall steps, our ambitious walkers made it to 12 o’clock. Savouring the cooling air of the Essex coastline, hankering for a well-earned al-fresco lunch on the town’s gifted greensward.

Replenished and regrouped, we resume walking, anticipating an easier stroll ahead along the promenade towards Walton Pier.

Sights and sounds of the beach offer the perfect opportunity for shared joy of the simple pleasures in life, a memory-maker whether travelling solo or with others.

A chance to collect thoughts and coastal objects, or swap stories and knowledge.

Posing and taking photos with a polaroid for pocket-keepers with a backdrop of colourful beach huts, discussion turned to information seeking of the best swimming spots, tide times, sea fishing and beach hut hire for a return trip to Walton.

After an essential ice cream stop, striking lights and music attracted exploration of the newly refurbished Walton pier. A quick dance to electronic house beats, back across the boardwalk, through the flashing arcade, and onto our final feast at The Nose.

Nestled within its cooling enclaves, final dinner service preparations hum away in the kitchen, as we settle into this sheltered space to listen, share readings and reflections together.

A day filled with melting and moving moments, spending time with new people, walking in nature, exploring new places… my only regret is missing the rapturous outbreak of karaoke on the return train to Colchester!