It can get pretty shallow around the top of Two Tree, so definitely aim to go around the island on the top of the tide (and avoid neaps – 5.3m+ is a decent rule of thumb). Half a km beyond the road bridge, stay left where the creek forks and be careful as there’s some metalwork marking the deep channel. The buoyed deep shipping lane comes in east of Two Tree / Bell Wharf and continues into Leigh Marina: look out for traffic, both leisure and commercial, here and up Hadleigh Ray into Benfleet. Be careful of beach furniture (generally stay offshore of green starboard markers) and mooring lines. On a hot and/or sunny day, an easterly sea breeze can fill in – even if it’s light westerly when you set off – which can seriously chop the water up around Leigh Marsh. Check the wind, weather and tide via our SUP weather page. Don’t forget to pay for parking at Chalkwell (10am to 6pm) as the traffic wardens are pretty efficient!