Low tide, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex

Many months ago, ceridwen alerted me to The Old Ways, a fantastic book by Robert Macfarlane. In it, he writes about walking the Broomway, an ancient path not far from Leigh, only accessible at low tide and reputedly "the most perilous byway in England".

On Sunday, as part of the Shorelines literature festival, Macfarlane came to Leigh and gave a brilliantly engaging, humorous talk about his trek across the sands to Foulness Island. The hall was packed. It was a privilege to be there.