T=swc.268 Hadleigh Castle, Leigh on Sea, and Benfleet Creeks. A swim is possible at Leigh on Sea.
Length : Main circular walk 15.2km (9.8m) (or a bit longer if you explore Leigh on Sea) Short walk to Leigh 8.9km (5.6m)
Main circular walk with optional circuit of Two Tree Island 18.6km (11.6m)
Toughness: Main circular walk 4/10; Short walk ending in Leigh 2/10.
Trains: London Fenchurch Street 10.16 arrives Benfleet 11.01.
Return trains from Benfleet run twice hourly at xx:08 and xx:38.
If you d like to finish the walk in Leigh on Sea buy a return to that station. It is one stop beyond Benfleet and costs the same. Trains leave from there at xx:03 and xx:33.
Lunch: If you are bringing sandwiches or a picnic then Hadleigh Castle is an ideal spot with fine views over the estuary and Canvey Island.
For a pub lunch in Leigh on Sea, the Crooked Billet (01702 480289) is recommended. There are other pubs and cafes you can try if this is too busy..
Tea: Barge Gladys 500m from Benfleet station. A converted barge on Hadleigh Ray (a creek), with outside tables.
More details L=swc.268
2 comments:
Barge Gladys is cash-only
8 walkers, including a couple of newcomers, plus a small dog set off from Benfleet at the appointed time, in #mostly-sunny-weather-with-a-very-cold-wind. Once we left the main track to the country park, we found ourselves deep in the undergrowth with alexanders growing everywhere - and we picked up lots of pollen so must have been spreading it even more.
The route leaves the woods to cross a couple of fields, the first of which had cows with calves which we crept past cautiously. The over a borken stile and ploughed field suggesting the next bit of path was rarely walked and sure enough it was even more overgrown than the start. A familiar SWC face fell behind our group but not for the first time, miraculously appeared ahead of us when we emerged into the country park. He then pulled off the same trick again (OK, this time using a route we'd sussed out on our maps in the train) to get to Hadleigh Castle first. Most of us picknicked in the "13th century kitchen" of the castle, not really protected from the wind by the 6 inch high remaining wall. Here we were joined by walker #9 off a later train.
One had carried on to have lunch in Leigh and two more left us there, while the remaining six walked back along the shore. This bit deivided opinion with some thinking it was a bit of a trudge while others enjoyed the gradually unfurling landscape and watching the creek filling up as the tide rose. Two of us also stopped to examine a decaying boat inscribed with text - which turns out to be an artwork that has been threre for 10 years, but I'd not noticed before.
A stop at Barge Gladys caused some hunting around for emergency reserves of real money. Four made a move for the 1538 train but a famous cider fan plied me with drink so I stayed for another and then a third when the Leigh luncher appeared and we settled for the 1638. Thanks to Wanderer for posting, it was interesting to do this walk at this time of year and it gave me some ideas for new routes to explore over the summer.
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