From the rigging green at Chalkwell Beach, head west (turn right!) past Essex Yacht Club / HQS Wilton and into Old Leigh. At Bell Wharf, either cut straight across to Two Tree Island or carry on up the main shipping channel past the pubs in Old Leigh to turn left after  The Crooked Billet. Follow the creek around the top of Two Tree, under the road bridge, and stay left at the fork. Follow the island’s north coast to turn at its westernmost tip where the creek opens out onto Hadleigh Ray, then paddle back the way you came…

Can only be done on the top of the tide otherwise there’s not enough water to get around the island! Although there’s water at Chalkwell from mid-tide, there’s only enough water at the top of Two Tree in 5.3m+ high tide – not suitable for neap tides. Set off from 45 minutes (6kmph) to half an hour (9kmph) before high tide for tidal assistance both ways. Ideal for moderate westerly to northerly winds if open water feels a bit exposed for the full super-lap. Check tide and wind conditions via our SUP weather page…

It can get pretty shallow around the top of Two Tree, so definitely aim for 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 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. 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 here – 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. Not strictly a hazard, but don’t forget to pay for parking at Chalkwell (10am to 6pm) as the traffic wardens are pretty efficient!