| Horsey Island is an island in the Walton-on-the-naze | | | | journey were the Sevylor Ranger inflatable kayak, a |
| backwaters in Essex, England. | | | | sit on top kayak and a Perception Sundance. |
| It is mentioned by Swallows and Amazons author | | | | As the island could be paddled around in a matter of |
| Arthur Ransome and Hamford Water at the top of | | | | several hours we planned to set off on a Friday |
| Horsey Island is the setting for his eighth book, Secret | | | | afternoon, set up camp halfway round the island and |
| Water. | | | | return the next morning. A 4.00pm departure time was |
| Walton-on-the-Naze backwaters offer some of the | | | | agreed when the tide would be at its highest and |
| most beautiful and picturesque scenery in the Essex | | | | would allow us to paddle our kayaks clockwise around |
| county and with its many low lying islands and creeks it | | | | the island. Kirby Creek at the southwest point would |
| is an ideal location for kayaking. Although tidal, paddling | | | | be inaccessible an hour or so before or after high tide |
| in the many creeks is calm and effortless which | | | | so it was important we departed on time. |
| makes it both safe and enjoyable for novice kayak | | | | We were able to load most of our camping and |
| and canoeist and also children. | | | | kayak accessories on the two Sevylor Ranger |
| The island is approximately eight or ten miles round | | | | inflatable kayaks due to their size and ability to carry |
| and is predominantly covered in coastal and salt marsh | | | | ample equipment. The perception kayak also offered |
| plants including the extremely rare Hogs Fennel. It has | | | | plenty of cargo space. The sit on top kayak was only |
| a few sandy beaches but mostly mudflats surround | | | | able to carry the bare essentials due to the very |
| the island. The island itself forms part of a nature | | | | nature of sit on top kayaks. |
| reserve and is home to many rare migrating and | | | | Unfortunately we were unable to depart on time due |
| breeding birds such as Terns, Ringed Plover, Curlew, | | | | to one of the group being held up and it was gone |
| Dunlin, Pintail, Wigeon and Dark-bellied Brent Geese. | | | | 5.30pm before we eventually got underway. Having |
| Only a few miles away and from where Hamford | | | | missed the high tide and together with a strong current |
| Water joins the sea the ports of Felixstowe and | | | | made it impossible to paddle westward towards Kirby |
| Harwich (one of Europes largest and developing ports) | | | | Creek at that time of day. The change of plan was |
| can be seen. | | | | agreed and we paddled off along the Walton Channel |
| Several fellow kayakers and I planned to paddle | | | | which leads directly into the North Sea. |
| around Horsey Island stopping and camping overnight | | | | Paddling along in the early evening summer sun was |
| on one of its beaches. The kayaks being used for the | | | | nothing short of glorious. |