The word 'naze' comes from the old English for 'nose' and refers to the original shape of the headland. The high but crumbly cliffs - constantly being eaten away by the sea - are a rarity on the generally flat Essex coast.

The Walk: Begin by heading across to The Naze Tower, built in 1720 by Trinity House as a landmark, and continue northwards across the grassy clifftop, heeding the warning notices to keep well clear of the unstable edge. As the path descends to keep across the top of lower cliffs, Harwich can be seen ahead.

At one point a slight detour has to be made to the left between gorse bushes to a T-junction. Turn right, turn right again at a crossroads and immediately turn left to continue along the coast path.

On joining a tarmac path, bear left on to it to walk on top of an embankment, above pools and marshes and along the edge of an Essex Wildlife Trust nature reserve. Where this tarmac path ends, bear left again to continue along a pleasant grassy path - still on the top of an embankment - above Cormorant Creek and the surrounding marshland. The Naze Tower stands out prominently on the skyline to the left.

The path bends sharp left to keep the broader expanses of Walton Channel on the right and above Walton Hall Marshes on the left.

A few yards before reaching a track in front of a caravan park, turn left and climb a stile above a small pool on the right. Keep ahead to climb another one, and the path bends right to emerge on to a road on the edge of Walton-on-the-Naze.

Turn left gently uphill and where the road bears left - by a sign for The Naze - bear right on to a track and then bear left on to a narrow enclosed path. At the top of steps, turn left to a track and turn right along it to return to the starting point.