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This location is just off the A137, which you can access from Colchester if you’re coming from the south, or off the A14 is coming from the north.
From the south follow the road past the railway station, and you should come to a level crossing, with a single track road under the railway line. Pass this, and continue north for a little way and you will see a small car park on the right hand side of the road. Again from the north, look out for this car park, it is just after the sluice gates.

Park in the free nature reserve car park; when you are to the west of the line, your car will be visible, but passing to the east side of the line it will be obscured by the railway line, If this car park is full, it is possible to park in the trading estate just to the south of the line, and following the footpath through the estate onto the estuary.

Manningtree has a fast and frequent train service from the north (Ipswich and Norwich), and from London. It is a short walk from the station to this location.

There are no amenities at the location, but Manningtree station’s buffet is famed for its real ale.

Anglia Gen

There are a number of viewpoints where photographs can be taken at this location, but all of them are with the camera pointing north [*1]. Some are better at different points of the day, and whether the tide is up or not. To the east of the line, accessible via a little tunnel under the line, there are a number of different view points, which are accessible throughout most of the day, with only late afternoon/early evening being problematic due to the light. I’ve seen other photographers use small steps to get higher, but I’ve not found this to be useful. When the tide is fully out, it is possible to walk onto the mud flats and take a full side view of the line but be careful, and don’t wear your best shoes.
After midday you are also able to use the west side of the line. It is also possible to take full side on photographs from this side by standing just off the car park.
Normal lenses are better suited in this location, but good use of the 24-70, and 70-200 produces a good range of photographs.
Unfortunately was the water is tidal in nature, it’s never still enough to get good reflection photographs.
Finally, some road noise (from the A137) can be heard from this location, but on the east of the line you will be shielded from it by the railway line. Oh, and if there are breaks in the railway action, there is plenty of wildlife around to keep you entertained.

[*1] It might be possible to get another viewpoint, but I’ve not tried it. On the other side of estuary is a bird spotters hut, which I have seen used in the past. This is accessed from further up the road, and is not a public footpath. On sunny days you will be pointing your camera into the sun, and the hut is cut off from the main land during high tides.

BC

The line here runs north east to south west, so the sun is only on the nose for southbound trains from mid morning. The sun moves to the other side during the afternoon; shots from the east side are possible until around 14.00 or so. Note that it is eventually planned that one Anglia trains will have the loco on the north end of the train - this will happen when all of the mark 2s have been replaced by mark 3s.

Bentley Foot Crossing, Ipswich
Brantham