AN award-winning photographer who has walked almost the entire 6,600 miles of British coastline found the Maldon to Burnham stretch much more extraordinary than he imagined.

Quintin Lake, 45, who reached Burnham on Saturday (28 August) said: "The Dengie marshes are completely unique.

"The colours are incredible and I never expected to have such a feeling of being alone so close to London."

The adventurer also stopped off at Heybridge Basin for refreshment and popped into Maldon town centre to buy the book 'Excellent Essex', by Gillian Darley – from Maldon Books.

"I found Maldon absolutely beautiful," he added.

It has taken more than five years for Quintin, who has more than 10,000 Twitter users following the stunning visual footage of his epic journey, to get close to completing the 10,000km walk.

Each stretch has involved him going off alone with his tent for around two months at a time and he now hopes to reach the place where he started in April, 2015 - St Paul's Cathedral, London - on September 15.

The journey suffered four months' delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but now the end is in sight Quintin's thoughts are turning to what he hopes to achieve. The photographs and scenes shot during the walk will provide the material for both a book and an exhibition, which Quintin hopes will be a travelling one and so return at some point to Essex.

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Soon the self-employed photographer, who has funded the entire journey himself, will be back home with his wife and two young children - with a deeper understanding of this island land acquired on his years of exploration.

"This is my way of getting below the surface," he said.

Quintin's Twitter account can be followed by searching for @QuintinLake and his Facebook page is Quintin Lake Photography.

His fascinating blog, which showcases his photographs from the walk and features television interviews, can be found at Quintin's The Perimeter Blog.