Download this guide as docx

Welcome

Bowers Marsh is made up of grassland, marshland, lagoons, and wetland and it's a beautiful reserve for walks through these different habitats. Follow one of the trails and you are likely to see or hear something of interest, from ducks in the winter to a lucky glance of a kingfisher.
 

Level access

The main entrance has level access.

There is level access from the main entrance to:

Old Saltings Wildlife Viewing PointGreat Pound Wildlife Viewing Point

There is level access from the car park to:

Car ParkWetland Trail

Getting here

RSPB Bowers Marsh, Church Road
Bowers Gifford
Basildon
SS13 2HG

Travel by public transport

You can get to RSPB Bowers Marsh by bus and train.
The nearest bus stop is on the B1464 on the number 22 Basildon to Canvey bus route. Walk underneath the A13 via the subway and it brings you out on Church Road, go straight on and walk down the road to the reserve entrance. The bus stop is 1 miles / 1.6 km from RSPB Bowers Marsh.
The nearest train station is Pitsea. The train station is 2.5 miles / 4.0 km from RSPB Bowers Marsh.

Bowers Marsh is between Pitsea station and Benfleet station where there are regular services from Shoeburyness and London Fenchurch Street.

From the Pitsea station exit, turn right at the end of Station Approach and then right down Brackendale Avenue, following the public footpath alongside the railway line until you turn right onto Church Road. Follow Church road to the main reserve entrance. For more information about train times please visit the C2C website before you travel.

 

 

Parking

We have a car park. There are accessible parking spaces. The parking is less than 50 metres from the main entrance. Parking is free.
From the car park to the entrance, there is level access.

By Road:

Follow directions from the A13 for Pitsea. Take the turning towards Pitsea centre/ Pitsea market onto Broadway Link. Turn right onto London Road (B1464 towards Basildon Crematorium), turn right at the mini-roundabout with a brown sign. This is Church Road - go left at the next T-junction and follow the road until you reach the reserve entrance, and just beyond, the car park.

Car Park:

119 spaces

2 Blue Badges

Loose gravel surface.

No steps, slopes or gates to access reserve.

Arrival

Path to main entrance

From the street to the main entrance, there is level access.

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.

Getting around inside

Getting around outside

Designated Walking Trail

Hedgerow Stroll

The trail is 1000metres long. The trail has a hard surface. There are kissing gates on this trail. The trail is sloped. The trail has seats.

This 1 km (0.6 mile) trail is perfect for little legs or a quick breath of fresh air. Look out for butterflies in the summer and birds feasting on berries in autumn and winter. The paths are hard surfaced and level.

All trails are surfaced with compacted granite fines and approximately 3.5 m (138 inches) wide. They are relatively flat, with the exception of a gradient of 1 in 100 to the highest point in the north east corner near to Rookery Farm.

Not pushchair friendly.
 

Designated Walking Trail

Lapwing Trail

The trail is 2000metres long. The trail has a hard surface. There are kissing gates on this trail. The trail is sloped. The trail has seats.

Explore the wetland and grassland on this 2 km (1.2 mile) trail, perfect for the family to explore the reserve. What can you see as you walk past hedgerows, ditches and fields? Keep your eyes peeled and ears open! The paths are hard surfaced with a gentle slope to the north east corner of the reserve.

All trails are surfaced with compacted granite fines and approximately 3.5 m (138 inches) wide. They are relatively flat, with the exception of a gradient of 1 in 100 to the highest point in the north east corner near to Rookery Farm.

Not pushchair friendly.
 

Designated Walking Trail

Wetland Trail

The trail is 5000metres long. The trail has a hard surface. There are kissing gates on this trail. The trail has seats.

This 5 km (3 mile) trail leads you into the depths of the marshland. Immerse yourself in the reserve as you walk past lagoons, grazing marsh and reedbeds. The paths are hard surfaced and level, with the exception of the step access to East Haven viewing point.

All trails are surfaced with compacted granite fines and approximately 3.5 m (138 inches) wide. They are relatively flat, with the exception of a gradient of 1 in 100 to the highest point in the north east corner near to Rookery Farm.

Not pushchair friendly.

Picnic Area

Car Park

From the car park to the picnic area, there is level access. Some tables have space for wheelchair users. You can bring your own food to the picnic area.

Picnic Area

Wetland Trail

From the car park to the picnic area, there is level access. Some tables have space for wheelchair users. You can bring your own food to the picnic area.

Old Saltings Wildlife Viewing Point

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access.

Great Pound Wildlife Viewing Point

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access.

Customer care support

Guide info
Any information, comments and views made available to users via this Accessibility Guide are provided directly from third party business operators. VisitEngland and VisitScotland do not endorse or validate this information. Any reliance on this Accessibility Guide is at your own risk. This guide is not intended to be a substitute for users making their own checks, inquiries and investigations directly with the business operators prior to making any booking or visiting the venue.