Length: 15.2 km (9.5 miles) or 18.6 km (11.6 miles) including One Tree Island. 4/10
A walk of contrasts - first through the hilly woodland of the Benfleet Downs, then through Hadleigh Country Park with the magnificent vantage point of Hadleigh Castle, then down to Leigh-on-Sea and back along Benfleet Creek, passing One Tree Island (possible interesting out-and-back circuit) and Barge Gladys (quirky tea stop).
Travel: 1004
from Fenchurch Street (West Ham 1013) arriving at Benfleet 1046.
Around 5 return trains an hour.
Lunch: various places in Leigh-on-Sea; the Crooked Billet (01702 480289) is regarded as the best pub but is very popular. For a picnic, Hadleigh Castle is a fine spot.
Tea: as mentioned above, a quirky establishment called the Barge Gladys is about 400m before Benfleet Station. This is a converted barge with a pub garden, moored on the north side of Benfleet Yacht Club. It is popular with walkers, cyclists and boating people.
There are other refreshment opportunities in the High Street beyond Benfleet station. The Hoy and Helmet (01268 792307) has received good reviews but I haven't been there.
Short walk option: You could just walk the morning section of the walk to Leigh-on-Sea (8.9km, 5.6m), have lunch there and then spend the afternoon exploring Leigh-on-Sea or going to the small beach which is about 1 km beyond the station. You will need a return to Leigh-on-Sea.
For walk directions,
map and GPX click here
PS . . . I'm going to be away for my slot on 16 August so would particularly welcome any requests if someone has an idea for that day. Please add to the Walk Requests thread.
T=swc.268
3 comments:
Hi, I am the original author of this walk. Barge Gladys is a quirky tea stop but the ambience may not be to everyones liking. Also I believe they only take cash,
Getting to Fenchurch St for the 10:04 was a bit of a challenge for some, especially oldies with passes, but, even so, N=17 turned up on a day that w=started-cloudy-and-muggy-turned-sunny
We were soon racing through the undergrowth. Maybe a bit too fast for poor Mr Tiger who tripped and fell into a briar patch. lHe was quite brave about it despite all the blood, and continued with the walk.
The group fragmented at the castle, some stopping there for a picnic. the rest continuing on to Leigh,
There was further fragmentation there. Some set off on the return straight away, one doing the island. Others dined, drank, or both at either Osbornes or the Billet, returning later. One or two caught the train at Leigh. Others went looking for the ‘beach’ to have a swim. This, apparently, was achieved. Some of those went on on the direction of Southend and were never seen again. There was a reunion of sorts at Barge Gladys where alcohol may have been consumed. Nice displays of hawksbeard and wild carrot in the morning and fennel in the afternoon.
Of the four swimmers (nice little sandy beach btw, no need for inverted commas but we were lucky to get there right at high tide when it was perfect for swimming), three walked on as far as Chalkwell then back to Leigh where we were joined by one other for an underwhelming tea at Sara’s Tea Garden. All this took up most of the afternoon so we got the 1657 train back from Leigh-on-Sea
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