For us Clacton on Sea is a 58 mile, 2 hours 20 minutes drive away along the A120, and then the A133. We drive straight to the sea front, turn right, and drive along the sea front for a few hundred yards past the pier to where the street parking is free, either on the sea front on on the side streets near Nelson Road.

The picture opposite is what greets you after parking the car when you walk back across a wide strip of grass to the cliff top path. You can see the mini fun fair on the pier, and at the end of the large building at the end of the pier there is a large cafe. Strangely, although we have been to Clacton many, many times, we have never been into this cafe. I think this is because we usually get there just on arriving in Clacton, and have not yet bought the morning newspaper that we like to read over our "cuppa".

In this picture, we have gone down to the lower promenade, and are looking backwards away from the pier. Jaywick is a moderate walk away - about 1.5 miles. Its a very pleasant walk that we sometimes take in the afternoon of a visit to Clacton - after visiting the pier, and seeing the town. You come to a lifeboat station, then walk past an attractive golf course with a lake. There is a small airfield behind the golf course, and often small pleasure flights take off and head out to sea just over your head. There is not much in Jaywick, really - but you can get a snack or an ice cream there. It is very run down. House prices are incredibly low - but the area is prone to flooding, so I wouldn't risk it, even a house built on stilts.

In this picture we are standing in the same spot as in the above, but are now looking towards the pier. You can walk towards the pier either along this lower promenade, or along to walkway on the cliff top. The top walk can take you through some very pleasant well set out gardens.

The nearer you walk towards the pier, the more stalls and places to get a cup of tea you come across.

We have now arrived at the pier, and, as it says, it is free entry. The pier was owned by the Kingsman family from 1922 to 1971. It was very recently purchased by the Noble family, and there is a lot of money being spent on sprucing it up, and adding more attractions. There is quite a buzz to the place in summer. I would say its a successful sign of the English sea side re-inventing itself, and fighting back. I like piers, and wish them well.

This is a picture taken from about three quarters way out the pier, looking back towards the town. There is a mini crazy golf course in the front of the picture, and the helter skelter of the fair behind. There are usually folk fishing from off the end of the pier, and you can gaze out at the wind farm.

Its a modernised, traditional wooden walk way pier.

In this picture, we have come up the slight hill opposite the pier, gone under quite an elegant bridge, and crossed the esplanade to what I think is Pier Avenue. This is a short walk to a roundabout - its all restaurants and arcades. There is a large Wetherspoons pub on the corner of Pier Avenue, and the Esplanade which has a funny name - the "Moon and Fishes" I think. Its an attractive looking place on a good site.

This picture is of the roundabout at the end of Pier Avenue. Straight ahead in the main street with M&S, WH Smith (where we get our newspaper), Boots, a large 99p store, etc.

There is a modern multi jet fountain set into the mini square just in front of where people are sitting. The jets of water come on and off in a semi random pattern, sometimes a small stream of water, sometimes a tall column. These are a delight for most children who love to get soaked. Our grand daughter Chloe is fascinated by these - luckily her mum usually has a change of clothes with her.