A sweeping sandy beach, fossil-rich cliffs and historic buildings give Walton-On-The-Naze a distinct connection to the coast and history. At The Naze Beach, the focus is on the beach, cliffs and walks along the coast. Other highlights include The Naze Nature Discovery Centre, The Naze’s importance for migratory birds, and buildings with a range of cultural and architectural features. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus on landscape and nature or, instead, architecture and art.
Coast, Geology and Nature
The Naze Beach has a sweeping sandy beach. Visitors can explore its fossil-rich cliffs and enjoy leisurely walks along the coast. The two activities offer different experiences: exploring puts the cliffs and fossils centre stage, while walking is about taking a relaxed stroll by the shore. If you enjoy experiencing the coast not only as a beach but also through its geology and coastline, these two distinct ways to explore it are both available here.
The cliffs are around 50 million years old and designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Their approximate age places their geological history in context, while the designation adds information about their protected status. The Naze is also an important place for migratory birds. Nature enthusiasts can therefore discover two distinct aspects: the cliffs’ long geological history and the area’s importance for bird migration.
The Naze Nature Discovery Centre has a café. From there, visitors can set off on nature and fossil-hunting walks through the public open space at The Naze. Unlike a walk along the coast, these walks focus on combining nature and fossil hunting, with the centre serving as their starting point. If you would like to include the café in your day’s plans, check its opening hours in advance.
Historic Buildings and Art
The Old Lifeboat House was built in 1884 to designs by C H Cooke. Its historic exterior details and open interior have largely been preserved in their original condition. Its architectural character is defined both by the preserved details outside and the open layout inside. The building is therefore characterised not only by its construction date but also by its well-preserved design.
The Martello Tower on Kirby Road is a Grade II listed building dating from around 1810–1812. It is one of the largest of the 11 Clacton Defence Towers. This comparison within the group gives context to the tower in terms of both its approximate construction period and its size; its listed status is another part of its significance.
Naze Tower was built by Trinity House in 1720 and is a navigation tower. It houses an art gallery with exhibitions by artists from East Anglia and has an open rooftop platform offering views across the landscape and coastal waters of Essex and Suffolk. The gallery and platform add different dimensions to the tower’s historic character: art and views of two named coastal regions. The buildings in Walton-On-The-Naze therefore appeal to a range of interests, from architectural history to art and landscape.
Discover more destinations: Bulmer, Stebbing, Earls Colne, Basildon, Burnham-On-Crouch, Harwich, Dedham, Witham
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