Alice, a lovely wooden boat that belongs to the Herring family, making its way up the River Roach © 2016 Nick Skeens

The River Roach runs southwards from the River Crouch.

The northern entrance to the Roach is about two miles east of Burnham on Crouch.

It wends its way via a number of channels and creeks – Yokesfleet and Potton – down to the Thames estuary via the Havengore lifting bridge, which links the north shore of the Thames to Foulness Island.

It is an unspoilt part of Essex, positively Dickensian in its marshy seascapes, remote and blessed with solitude.

It has a number of beautiful creeks – Shelford and Barlinghall – in which you can spend a summer’s night aboard a boat, listening to the calls of the wading birds. Barlinghall Creek leads to Little Wakering Creek. But be warned, the creek you are in is likely to dry out at low tide – so be prepared.

It is also known for its seal colony.

See also HMS Beagle.