River Crouch
The River Crouch is a River that flows West to East through the
English County of Essex.
The source is a Noak Bridge,on Noak
Hill Road at Basildon . At this point the River is a small
stream capable of being contained in a concrete culvert as it
passes through new housing estates at Wickford. Although it then
broadens slightly the river remains comparatively small until it
reaches the tidal section at Battlesbridge.
From Battlesbridge the River flows in a wide estuary for 17.5
miles until it reaches the North Sea at Holliwell Point.
Several streams flow into the Crouch but it's major tributary is
the River Roach.
Wildlife and Conservation
The Crouch and Roach Estuaries are of international importance
for wildlife.
The relatively mild climate and abundance of food attract
internationally important numbers of wild fowl and waders during
the winter months.
Nearly twenty-five thousand water
birds visit the estuary each year including nationally important
numbers of shelduck, shoveler and
The Essex Coast provides
over-wintering for around one fifth of the world population of
dark bellied Brent Geese with an average peak of just over 6
thousand birds (about
Nationally important coastal marsh
The tidal flats, saltmarsh
and coastal grassland and ditch systems also support thirteen
species of nationally scarce plant and important populations of
rare invertebrates.
An important breeding population of grey seal can be found at
the mouth of the crouch estuary.
Consequently the area is subject to a wide range of
international, national and regional designations, the Crouch
and Roach Estuary is a Site of Special
Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Special Protection Area (SPA) and
a Ramsar (wetland) site.
Passenger Ferry across the Crouch
A passenger ferry operates from
Burnham to Essex marina in the summer months.
Shipping on the Crouch
The port of Baltic Wharf at Wallasea is sited on the River
Crouch on the opposite bank to Burnham on Crouch.
Click here to visit a page on this web site about shipping on the Crouch
Fishing
There are no longer fishing boats based at Burnham carrying out
out daily commercial fishing.
There are several boast who carry parties of sea anglers for
fishing trips in the Crouch and off the Coastline although many
anglers try beach fishing on the sandy beaches of the coast or
fishing from the River Wall in the Crouch.
Anglers tend to catch codling and whiting during the autumn and
winter and in warmer weather the Crouch is famous for large bass
although mackerel, flounders, plaice, dogfish and garfish are
also common.
Yachting/Sailing
The Crouch is noted for its sailing qualities despite its
comparatively narrow estuary.
Care needs to be taken in navigation as the fast flowing water
in River where shallows are frequent can prove hazardous
especially in adverse wind conditions.
There are numerous anchoring areas both onshore and offshore and
the mud banks offer a suitable overnight base for yachtsmen.
Water Skiing
Water Skiing is unlawful on most of the River Crouch and is
totally banned on the River Roach.
Two areas have been designated as suitable for water skiing