Leigh on Sea has something of a troubled relationship with the tide.
When it’s in, the Essex town can do a passable impression of a pleasant seaside resort, with a sandy beach, happy swimmers and ice cream shops and bars close by.
But come low tide, the shoreline retreats into the far, far distance, exposing a bleak, grey wilderness of mud, stretching as far as the eye can see.
Despite the sea (well, actually the Thames Estuary) being so far away you’d need a telescope to see it, hardy locals know how to make the most of things, striding across the vast muddy plains or plonking themselves into a small muddy causeway.
Here’s some photos from our visit last week – click here to see how different the place looks like when the tide is in.
Stranded boats are dotted all over Leigh Creek.
In the distance you can see the Canvey Island Oil Terminal.
The local police were displeased with some teenagers sunbathing in a non authorised area.
Sliding along a mudbank.
Striding towards the Thames.
The small patch of sand contrasts with the mud flats.
A young woman makes her way across the mud.
The small sandy beach area.
Young people in the forbidden sunbathing zone!
[Tech note: Almost all photos were taken on an OM System OM3 with OM System 14mm-150mm f4-5.6 II lens. Additional pics taken on Pixel Pro XL 9]
More about Leigh on Sea
- Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world’s longest pleasure pier
- Leigh-on-Sea Folk Festival 2018: Sun, music, mud, beer and flying knickers – photos
- Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival 2017: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and crowd scenes
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