Walk Through Active Firing Range & Britain's Most Dangerous Path | MoD Shoeburyness & The Broomway

Please Note: The walk and video produced was carried out entirely legally and for educational purpose. The public rights of way and our instructions to omit active assets were strictly adhered to.
In this video we take a look at an area not freely accessible to the public - at least not when weapons testing is occurring. MoD Shoeburyness spans from Great Wakering to the mysterious Foulness Island as part of arms development ranges now owned by QinetiQ. We take a walk round the seawall of the Wakering section of the ranges, seeing structures old and new sometimes dating as far back as the Second World War. We also look at Wakering Stairs - the entrance to the Broomway; a right of way as historic as it is treacherous, stretching across the mudflats onto Foulness Island. We eventually make a shocking discovery - that the public path runs right in front of an active firing range target. The path weaves around huge slabs of steel armour plating shot through with enormous bullet holes, coming from an autocannon spotted inland. Without lingering longer than we needed to, we look across the marshes here to find it absolutely littered with shrapnel! These sights were genuinely eye-opening, and we didn't expect to get this up close and personal with the range's activities along the accessible pathways.
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#MoDShoeburyness #TheBroomway #Wakering

[@theonetheonlyjoey]

I work in Shoeburyness and often hear (and feel) explosions from Foulness. Great video, I'll always be curious about this place, so much secrecy surrounding it

[@mrhaggit]

I live Herne Bay Kent across the water from shoebury about 20 ish miles it is visible on clear days and frequently hear explosions and sometimes feel them but not heard them as regularly as used to some 5 years ago is it still as common. A thing? Cheers

[@theonetheonlyjoey]

@@mrhaggit Testing still goes on a few times per week, there's a timetable for it on the Qinetiq Shoeburyness website :) but I agree it does seem slightly less frequent than it was a few years ago

[@marfand7379]

I went there about 20 years ago and saw the abandoned railway carriages you mentioned. It's a bit of an eerie strange place.

[@BeyondthePoint]

I think most of the carriages are now right at the shoebury end. Certainly is but all adds to the character!

[@telemachus53]

A great vid to watch when your in lockdown and can't get out and about. Terrific!

[@hytod]

Really enjoyed the video. Good work lads keep it up.

[@ianreynolds9733]

Great footage and very informative. My grandfather worked at the ranges in world war 2 as one of the war department police (he was too old for conscription) and was living in Wakering quarters. I remember seeing the occasional military train crossing the high street in the 1980’s. Hopefully I will do this walk now I know roughly how to go about it. Good work fella.

[@johnpayne5546]

Interesting video. I worked there in the 1980s and can confirm that Foulness Island is a real wildlife haven.

[@0dd1]

Wow, really interesting video, didn't realise it was a walkable route - know what I'm going to be doing soon! Thanks for the inspiration 👍🏼

[@BeyondthePoint]

Cheers always good to see we’ve inspired to get out and see what’s around them!

[@marklucas5639]

Brilliant and interesting video Liam! Just round the corner from us so we'll have to check it out one day. The Broomway is veeerry interesting...

[@sce235]

Thanks for this. I always loved walking the seawalls in Essex but I always wondered about this mysterious area.

[@simonr6553]

Fascinating video. Back in August I walked the recently established section of the England Coast Path north of Shoeburyness which doesn't go through the range but included much of what you've shown in this video albeit in a different order - the farm, Havengore bridge (but from much further away) and the walk up to the seawall by the River Roach (I thought I was back at the sea at that point, alas not even close!). The route doesn't go past Cupids Country Club but instead goes straight on from Wakering Road along a private road then footpath to the high street in Great Wakering, and then you turn left at the church to go through Wakering Common. After going past Wakering Boatyard and a bridge leading to Potton Island which seemed to be no public access (and would have led to a dead end anyway) I got as far as Fleethead Creek and a track that eventually leads back to Great Wakering via a farm and Little Wakering Hall Lane. To be honest it was a lovely walk, but I turned back because all that meandering around the creeks was getting a bit monotonous and the smell of the salt marshes was becoming a bit overpowering (probably due to a combination of the heat and low tide) but I'm keen to go back there again and explore more of the area with more patience and perseverance, all the more so after watching this video. If I understand right, going by the sign at 4:17 (and I imagine nothing has changed after two years) you need advance permission to access the range despite the existence of rights of way?

[@casuallad735]

I like shoebuyrenss because it’s where you reach the proper open sea when you at Southend you feel like you are just on a big river as you can still see England across from it

[@gsmith6230]

When I was a Kid the slipway at wakering stairs was covered in world war 2 detritus

[@brianperry]

Yes, there was still the remains of beach defences and such, plus beside the road leading to the stairs there were old armoured vehicles, tanks and such.. As kids we would band-line fish off the Stairs.... I don't remember all the signs and barriers..just a red flag to warn of firing....I believe they have been breeding in the last forty years. Hearing gunfire was normal, you could even hear the projectile in flight sometimes. I lived in Great Wakering from 1953 to about 1979

[@eatwalkstitchsleep]

Enjoyed this, I’ve wanted to walk this for a while 👍🏻

[@BeyondthePoint]

Cheers! Worth a look

[@benyere]

My hometown, Love to see you done this, I thought you would have done this years ago when you first started your website, there is a few other sites around Shoeburyness which are interesting

[@buzzabuzza3494]

Wow!!what a superb explore many thanks for sharing a very professional looking video.It’s great to know there’s guys like yourself showing the same interest and enthusiasm for old and new military sites has my brother and I did👏👏👏

[@BeyondthePoint]

Cheers glad to hear it. Very fascinating places!

[@98Blackbess]

Excellent video, as usual. I am surprised that you didn't encounter any of the 1000's of adders that live on the sea wall, but i would imagine they are still in hibernation. Countless people get bitten each year walking along there.

[@paulcrawley390]

I too live on Canvey Island and remember the guns being fired at Shoeburyness, from Canvey you could hear the boom and the ground would shake but not heard or felt anything for years now. When I was a teenager back in the 70's I lived in Laindon and remember lorries with old WW2 tanks on them covered in shell holes and chalk circled around them, the tanks were painted in odd colours as well. Also there were aircraft at the ranges a Victor and some jet fighters and they even had one of the TSR2 aircraft.

[@kevinc179]

Worked on Foulness for about a year in the early 90's amazing place. When the shelling was due you had to be out of way before the time scheduled, needless to say we were late moving and shells went over us into the sea. Didn't happen again.

[@BeyondthePoint]

Cool story thanks!

[@kevinc179]

@@BeyondthePoint BTW thanks for doing the video didn't know about the footpath so will be walking it in the warmer weather

[@paulroossien5322]

Great video liam interesting mod sight hear the armamants on the isle of sheppey regularly cheers atb

[@davehopkin9502]

Good to see one of these "explorer" style videos made with such a responsible attitude regarding safety and the MoD desire for opertional security...... in stark contast with some that seem only want to atagonise

[@terryjkent]

Great video Liam, how long did the whole walk take you?

[@BeyondthePoint]

Cheers! It took about 2-3 hours, not too lengthy

[@skylongskylong1982]

I remember sneaking into the range, and played around the hulk of a old TRS2 in the seventies. At that time they tested captured IRA weapons, and found most of the RPG 7 rounds, were duds, thanks to MOSSAD.

[@stephenhookings1985]

In WW1 MoD (well its predecessor) used to fire shells from Yantlett Creek in Kent, across Southend and onto Maplin Sands. Likely a lot more metal in those sands. To think there were plans to build airport there. I was interested to see the Atlantic Wall is visible there as you went past The Broomway. We have one at Hankley Common in Surrey. Another one in Suffolk. Scotland, Wales and of course your one in Foulness. Likely there are more. Built in great secrecy. For sure would like to see it. Was build to replica plans stolen by French resistance to allow Allies to practice demolition and hence plan D day.

[@PaganPunk]

I Live in Leigh-on-Sea, My Windows Used To Shake When The Ranges Were Used More A few Years Ago!!! ...... Good video

[@BeyondthePoint]

So does mine as far as Canvey!

[@PaganPunk]

@Reaper One love your pic, But don't think my Rhodesian Ridgeback would 😉

[@iannorwood4411]

Very very good

[@colinredburn6574]

Hi Again Liam and thanks for your reply, but i was thinking have you ever done Foulness island i went last year they do a monthly open day once a month either 1st or last sunday of the month during summer months , we just turned up on the day and had to ID ourselves and they gave us a PASS for the day, they have a Heritage Museum over there (situ in old school house) which was very interesting indeed also they run a tractor trip around the island (at a cost) and show you about, the whole thing was very interesting and i'm sure you could make a very good video my mates Dad used to run the 'George & Dragon over there but sadly that has closed now, anyway i'm sure you already know about this but i thought i would just check with you , yours Colin ..

[@BeyondthePoint]

Cheers, I’ve been to the heritage centre that’s great well worth a visit, plus there’s an air raid shelter in the school grounds. The tractor trip would be good don’t know if they are still doing them

[@DavidinEssexUK]

Very interesting. I didn’t realise this was accessible may have to check it out when the weather is better. Did I see some drone footage in the video?

[@BeyondthePoint]

Neither did I for a while! There’s maps on QinetiQ’s website showing the rights of way, but they’re quite clearly signposted. You can only go after firing has ceased which is usually after 5

[@paulafletchaa2613]

Been there a few times .. it's lovely over there

[@colinredburn6574]

Hi Liam, what a very good powerful video very well done and very explanetery and please dont grow that beard as bad as Ian's (iks) . must admit having lived near to the area, i never new this walk ever existed and i shall persue my intrigue and do this lovely walk myself soon in the warmer weather. thanks for all the work you do producing these vids, love them !!!

[@BeyondthePoint]

Cheers Colin! Don’t worry I wouldn’t dare compete with Ian’s legendary mane. Neither did I, I didn’t realise how amongst it all you could legally get. You certainly should it’s not too far, about 3hrs walk with stops.

[@ukchris64]

Only just come across this and find it interesting, anything MOD related that the public can access will always draw my attention, where ever you walk can you see the gunnery targets, or the one thing that really interest me are the remains if still there of the TSR2?

[@suzyqualcast6269]

What kind of rounds ? - > armour piercing, you ought to see the Shermans up in the hills twixt Derbyshire and Staffs, close to Merryton Low Stirling crash site, the area itself an ex MOD live firing site.

[@angelahill7755]

I really enjoyed your video. I was lucky enough to be brought up in Wakering. My family have lived there for generations. I remember hearing the earth shattering guns regularly at my grandparents house in the 70’s. It’s a shame the military can’t clear up their mess. It’s a beautiful landscape. Many thanks for the insight...you did a great job

[@brianperry]

I to was brought up in Wakering.I lived in Twyford Avenue, later Murcer from 1953. hearing, and feeling the concussion from explosions and gunfire was normal wasn't it..

[@lucawits648]

The cemetery of England's favourite King, King John, everyone loved him!

[@chrisplunkett2814]

Surprised you didn't bump into Tom Scott,he likes to hang out there!

[@geraldmartin2729]

Very well made film, beats the usual BBC crap with Matt 'Beeearrker' (yawn). BTW, the exploded debris is not 'shrapnel'.

[@threetailedray]

at 6:01 you can see a long grey warehouse like building, i have explored inside it. it's a radiation area but no clue of any backstory to it?

[@BeyondthePoint]

Interesting. How do you know it was a radiation area?

[@threetailedray]

@@BeyondthePoint around the building are signs warning you of radiation, and laser radiation. but i don't know anything about what the building could be or any history behind it

[@BeyondthePoint]

Wow amazing stuff. Certainly leads to a bit of a mystery. I believe that’s off the footpath so as much as I’d love to I probably wouldn’t risk heading there

[@threetailedray]

@@BeyondthePoint yes its off path & behind a gate but they is ways in, plus it's most likely illegal to film or take photos of the building without permission

[@BeyondthePoint]

Got to be very careful with the MoD stuff. Still a lot of secrets we may eventually get to hear about

[@SamSayaz]

Can i take a moped up that route to the broomway or is it only a footpath?

[@BeyondthePoint]

I’m not honestly sure, look up QinetiQ’s public rights of way guide for MoD Shoeburyness online

[@frequenttuna4819]

@@BeyondthePoint well there is there road out in the sand and water for the adventurous lol

[@MetalMatt2510]

Remember some woman telling me back in 2001 her husband works over there, turns out her husband and me was same Army regiment but different Battalion, told her i left as it wasn't for me back then. Said they are working of Space stuff and satellite tech. Didn't really believe her but looking at the QinetiQ site it does talk about Space, satellite and other tech so maybe there was some truth in it after all. She did joke about maybe see me in space one day, thats why i thought she was a bit odd. lol. Some weird buildings on there if you look on google maps. some look like they go into small hills www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.5795358,0.85723,355m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

[@AB-sg4xu]

"We were overtaken by a speeding, blacked our car with illegal number plates" - must have taken a wrong turn and ended up in Bradford

[@BeyondthePoint]

😂

[@elliefromessex]

My old house was opposite the path where you went down to Cupid's on the way back to your car.. I now live just up the road by the church... I wouldn't live anywhere else, the village is so lovely to live in... Please don't advertise this too widely, we don't want it to be swamped with day trippers... As it says on the tv, this is a local shop, for local people 😂😂😂

[@BeyondthePoint]

Agreed it’s a good tucked away gem, hopefully the restricted access would put too many visitors off. Still worth sharing though! Rural Essex is underrated in my opinion

[@elliefromessex]

Beyond the Point - I was only teasing! I love the entire coastline, the Essex Marshes are beautiful, like being on another planet!! You should do the walk from the sea wall right round to Little Wakering, past Wakering Boatyard... It's bracing!!!

[@BeyondthePoint]

Haha no worries we’re not a fan of places getting too much exposure either. It really can be like another planet, some incredible sights. Ah I think I’ve been there - we walked through great Wakering boatyard and past the bridge to Potton island (that also looks an interesting place)

[@alejandrayalanbowman367]

I was born 1941 in Seaview Drive and lived there on and off until 1960.

[@gsmith6230]

That tower was built late 80s mate ,not the 50s

[@MalcolmOakley]

Yep, my Dad worked for a local construction company and put the scaffolding up.

[@brianperry]

Yes, I remember a concrete 'blockhouse' on the seawall but not that fancy looking tower.. ...Old Wakering Boy 1953-1978.

[@atwogun7751]

Looks grim.

[@Cakeious]

Good video. But bit dramatic for what it is 😂

[@BeyondthePoint]

Fair enough - but I think a sea of shrapnel and munitions that can punch through 5 inch steel all on a public footpath is not an everyday sight!

[@Wargwarn]

Brilliant vid