West Mersea Beach

Mersea Island, reached by the tidal Strood causeway, feels pleasingly cut-off and is one of Essex's most characterful coastal spots - a working oyster village with a beach-hut-lined esplanade, moored smacks and creeks winding into saltmarsh. From the air the huts, the boat moorings and the maze of channels behind the island make lovely, textured subjects. Launch from the open foreshore below the huts along Victoria Esplanade at lower tide. Be aware that Mersea Island's council has adopted a drone-usage policy restricting flights from council parks and managed land, so keep your take-off on the public beach and away from the huts and people. The saltmarsh and oyster beds are bird-rich, especially in winter, so don't overfly roosting flocks. There is no airport nearby - Southend lies about 30km southwest - so airspace is clear. Two practical points: the Strood floods on spring high tides and can strand you, so check the tide tables before you commit, and East Mersea's Cudmore Grove Country Park is a quieter alternative if the village is heaving. Low tide with soft evening light over the moorings and creeks is when Mersea looks its best.