You've no doubt heard of the Isle of Wight, the Isle of Skye and the Shetland Islands.

But there's an island much, much closer to London that to those who live there is just as beautiful as any of them.

There's every chance you'll have never heard of Foulness Island, however, and that's probably because visiting really isn't that simple.

It's probably Essex's best kept secret and only a few miles from the busy seaside resort of Southend.

However, it is owned by the Ministry of Defence and as it is used for weapons testing there are strict rules around who can visit, when they can visit and where on the island they can go.

There is a network of footpaths and bridleways that cross the island that are open to the public.

But if red flags are flying that means the island's weapons testing range is active and you are not welcome.

If they are lowered you are good to go but even then there's another major obstacle to worry about.

The Broomway, a sea path which connects the village of Great Wakering to Foulness Island, is reported to be the deadliest footpath in Britain.

It is only walkable at low tide and over its 600-year history, is reputed to have claimed the lives of 100 people.

Author Robert Macfarlane, in his book The Old Ways says that 66 of the victims are buried in Little Foulness churchyard, but the rest of the bodies were never found.

The majority of the deaths were attributed to people being overly optimistic in their ability to traverse the three-hour walk before the tide came in.

But as well as drowning, other victims are said to have got lost in poor weather or become stuck in the quick sand. If you do want to cross it you are advised to go with a guide.

Don't let all of this put you off visiting, though.

The island is 6,000 acres of scrub and marshland, and is a paradise for bird watchers and nature lovers in general.

About 150 people live on the island but there's no supermarket and the islands pub, George and the Dragon, shut in 2007.

Even without a pub it is still a blissful life for many of those that live there.

Earlier this year, local resident Mary Reeve told the Echo : "Weve been here about 22 years. Its secluded and we are surrounded by water and countryside, two things we love.

"Its like something out of a story book, we have chickens and horses and dont need for anything."

One major draw for anyone who moves to Foulness is that crime is almost non-existent.

The island is guarded 24 hours a day by the Ministry of Defence so some residents reputedly feel comfortable leaving homes and cars unlocked.

Local councillor Neil Hookway told the Echo that life on the island has barely changed for decades.

He said: "Its special as its MoD land and has a certain amount of protection due to that.

"Its somewhere people want to move to.

"Its so peaceful and quiet and so there is no real crime with the security there."

Due to the weapons testing - atomic weapons research even took place here in the 1950s - public access is limited and visitors must have a legitimate reason to enter the island.

There's a heritage centre on the island which is open on the first Sunday of the month between April and October, which you don't need permission to visit.

To gain access to the residential areas of the island there's a main road but visitors must either have official business (such as postal deliveries) or must be "sponsored" by a Foulness resident.

Unannounced recreational visitors will not be admitted unless they are visiting the heritage centre.

Those public footpaths can be used, though, as long as the red flags aren't flying. Just remember deviating off those paths is a big no no and likely to land you in a spot of bother.

So if you are planning a visit it's probably not best to do it on a whim, as you are likely to be turned away.

But plan it properly and it will be a spectacular day out like few others.

On the east coast of Essex, the island is separated from the mainland by narrow creeks.

Its residents live in the settlements of Churchend and Courtsend at the north end of the island.

Predominantly farmland, it is protected from the sea by a sea wall and is an internationally important site for migrating and breeding birds, including avocets.

During the North Sea flood of 1953, almost the entire island was flooded, and two people died.

Surrounded by the River Crouch and River Roach, plus the North Sea, Foulness has working farms, producing wheat, barley, peas and linseed.

After passing numerous red danger signs, barbed wire fences and a security checkpoint just outside Great Wakering, a military built main road takes you over a bridge and on to the island.

Launching towers, satellite dish-topped weather stations, old air raid shelters and rusting warehouses dot the island.

It is wild and bleak but undoubtedly beautiful.

Read more from the original source:

The beautiful but secretive island not far from London that's almost completely shut off from the world - MyLondon