Thread by @psychojography

The Broomway is often described as Britain's deadliest footpath. Join me for a thread of highlights of a guided winter walk.

We arrive in the dark, parking next to the ominous silhouette of a concrete watchtower. First light reveals the causeway and its warning signs. #estuary

Our tour leader Tom Bennett briefs the small group and we are off across the silt before dawn . As the clouds thicken it's clear we wont get the winter sunrise we hoped for, but this is a spectacular place in any weather. #estuary

We tread on into the dim eerie glow before sunrise, our feet scuffing trails on the skim of surface water. #estuary

Along the route Tom pauses to tell tales of survival and death ( of course) on The Broomway, with its unique triple threat of rapid tides, sinking sands and MOD weapons testing. #estuary

The Maypole marker stands sentinel at the mouth of Havengore Creek. I imagine myself desperately climbing it rung by rung as a cold tide rushes in. #estuary

Onwards from Havengore and into the beautiful and bleak void of The Broomway. #estuary

My conversations with my son Stanley and my friend @DimitriLaunder float between our immediate surroundings to films, the environment, art and parenthood.

Here and there occasional marker posts are the only traces of human intervention remaining between tides. #estuary

The group drifts apart and reforms in varying configurations as we meander across the vast sands. Having walked this invisible path without a guide previously, this journey feels far more safe , relaxing even. #estuary

We take the crumbling jetty at Asplin's Head on Foulness Island, today's destination ( it's a couple of kilometres further to Fisherman's Head). #estuary

Tom relates the history of this ruined test site over a warming cup of tea. #estuary

I tread as far as I dare towards the Island's MOD zone, along the overgrown and sunken causeway. Strange concrete fragments signal from the marsh grasses. #estuary

Time to move on, to ensure we are back before the tide turns. #estuary

On the return leg, the wind and rain pick up. Tom tells me about compass- dependent Broomway walks in the fog. #estuary

A moment of mudflat gothic on The Broomway. #estuary

We regroup at the famous Maypole, before the final push along The Broomway towards Wakering Stairs and home. #estuary

Final Postcard from a walk on The Broomway- a few seconds of whistling wind as rain skims the sand. I'm far from finished with this ghostly zone yet. #estuary

PS Our guide Tom Bennett's website is here. These walks are booked up quickly but he has a waiting list. Really friendly and informative tour. tombennettoutdoors.co.uk