Another day, another misleading weather forecast: there was supposedly a high risk of precipitation around Canvey up until midday, but when the grey skies over SE1 were replaced by blue with fast drifting clouds while I was still having my breakfast, and with the wind blowing fast from the west/downstream, that seemed unlikely. And so it was.

Before I got to Benfleet though, some confusion emerged at Fenchurch Street, where no 09.48 train was on the board and the 09.49 via the Shoeburyness Direct line terminated at Laindon, as did subsequent trains on that line. So, the next best option was the 09.53 Shoeburyness via the Long-Way-Round line (i.e. via Grays) train, which got to Benfleet 25 minutes after the posted time.

The sky was indeed somewhat blue with fast clouds moving east (were they the same clouds I had seen from my flat's window, perchance?) and I set off on my own, text-checking as I went.

It seemed to be ultra-low tide as the historical stepping stones in the ford across the creek to the side of the modern road bridge onto Canvey were all exposed. The sun broke through once I had passed the golf course and out it stayed: sunny with passing clouds .

The sea defences outside the seawall itself have been reworked since I last walked this: there seems to be a more solid hardcore/concrete foundation, there are more steps down the the water level etc. This, or maybe the recent turbulent winds and high tides meant though that plenty of stretches of the concrete path were covered in deep layers of seashells, easy enough to negotiate with my walking boots but what do the plentiful local pensioners with their Zimmer frames make of it, I ask? A noisy Xmas fair was going near the row of shops and amusements arcades near the Labworth Beach Cafe and I walked past the latter as it was full, with some punters even queuing outside.

Onwards then in an environment reminiscent of an XS version of my hometown (i.e. a much smaller river, far fewer ships and those smaller than in a proper port town), and I got to the Lobster Smack (under new Mgmt and with much better food than previously) for 13.45.

Halfway through my grilled Sole, 2 SWCees disturbed the peace and suddenly we were 3. They had joined the train at West Ham and couldn't find the posted train on the boards, so took the next other one, which happened to be the one 30 minutes ahead of mine. They had been in the Labworth when I walked past...

After getting a drink while I finished my meal, we marched on together, eventually with the sunset in our back and some mildly pinky cloudscapes developing.

Arriving at Benfleet Station at 16.40, there were still no trains via the Direct line (but some were showing for 17.19 onwards), so ours was the 17.01 the Long-Way-Round (i.e. via Grays).

Spotted or heard during the day: herons, egrets, oystercatchers, wagtails, sandpipers, cormorants, Cetti's warblers (so said the app, so it must be true).

A very fine day out in good company (when it eventually turned up).

As reported to me:

Walk Report:

Four off the posted train in Benfleet. Weather was cloudy with a fresh breeze and no rain. After crossing the island’s bridge we turned left to walk in a clockwise direction. The north of the island has some well to do houses (some 3 storey and others straight from the Mediterranean) but as we turned west towards London matters changed. One walker regaled with his story of his suffering from a ‘Croque Monsieur’ had at one of the cafes! After a 1.5 mile diversion detour owing to extensive sea wall maintenance works we ended up in Canvey Town itself where we had lunch in a real Canvey Island Cafe (!) or sandwiches.

After lunch we carried on past the Lobster Smack Pub. A Liquid Gas Tanker was offloading at the pier nearby. We had one stiff shower just before the end. Arrived at Benfleet at 17.01

4 dry with one late shower

Hi all, I only saw trains running from Fenchurch St not Liverpool St (mentioned in the description). Kunal

Indeed, back to normal: Fenchurch Street. Posting amended accordingly.

Must have had trackworks scheduled when I posted it, that subsequently got pp'd, or I made a mistake (heaven forbid...)

5 off the train, with 1 other a train behind due to severe delays on the Jub Line, so 6. The forecast had been for heavy rain most of the day, only stopping after we would have finished, but as so often, this was wildly off the mark. In reality we had some drops of rain on and off initially, then none at all, so in summary: a little rain .

The other 5 had never or not for a long time been to Canvey, so the various sights, marinas, mud flats, river views, murals, beaches, industrial leftovers and even the caravan parks found some interest. It was a three-stopper for 4 of us, at the tea room in Smallboat Marina for elevenses, The Labworth for lunch and the Lobster Smack for refreshers. The other 2 skipped the Snack, claiming an Ocado delivery window approaching.

Fine day out, especially when compared to the weather forecast.

Oh, the bird life...

A bit disappointing initially, as the mud banks at low tide didn't have many birds in them. More luck when we got to the Thames, now at ultra low tide: black headed gulls, wagtails, turnstones. Later in the marshes, finally some waders, egrets and other folk.

7 walkers in sunny weather.

We started with low-ish tide, so initially had plenty of mudflats, wading birds and abandoned car tyres lying in the mud to look at. Egrets and a curlew were among the confirmed bird types seen. As the going was pretty fast, we had time to potentially add the out-and-back to Canvey Point along the low-lying marshes. At the decision point though, 1 of the 7 mentioned an afternoon appointment with her husband, so walked on, 1 other didn't quite fancy it, so she waited for the other 5.

We thus followed the intermittent path in the slowly incoming tide and were rewarded with the small lonely beaches at the Point, the views of Southend Pier and the North Sea and a very large (500?) flock of oystercatchers, initially sitting on the beach to the north, then moving to the other side as we approached. After the taking of pictures had subsided, it was time to go back to the safety of the seawall around Canvey, but we now found that the incoming tide - had indeed come in, and quite quickly at that. Some of the formerly dryish paths were now properly wet, some channels were twice as wide as before, and some were twice as wide and twice as deep as well. Despite that, we got close to safety and close to walker 6 and also a couple of people from the adjacent Coast Watch station watching proceedings, without too much wetness in boots and trainers. But that's where the widest and deepest channels were, on the final 20 metres or so. So, we waded (without waders), and we all got plenty of water in our shoes. Thankfully, we couldn't stop laughing and there were no recriminations (no emails have come in yet to the SWC complaint line either, so far at least). Some had change socks, others didn't. And on we walked.

There are several interesting, new murals along the Thames-facing seawall to take in (Covid-19, The History of Wall Murals etc.), as we were walking into the sun, the wind (not too bad, some of us never put a jacket on all day) and the view.

The Labworth Bistro was predictively full (and with a waiting queue of people), so our lunch stop was to be the Lobster Smack, as it usually is. Leaving from there just before 15.00, we knew we'd beat darkness easily and could thus soak in the relative quiet of the marshland and the inland creeks that followed without rushing. 16.48 train for 6.

Five mostly familiar faces assembled at Benfleet Station in eager anticipation for the journey ahead with the signs of industry beckoning them forward. As the tide was already quite low, we were treated with a great variety of birds along the various mud flats and creeks passed along the early and late stretches of the walk. Taking advantage of the low tide, we opted to explore the recommended diversion to Canvey Point with 3 going most of the way out along the spit and 2 satisfying themselves with the view. We then carried along the sea wall enjoying a vast array of murals depicting various local topics from wildlife and natural disasters to Dr. Feelgood. When checking out the early lunch venue, the trailing 3 spotted yet another familiar face, who had taken a later train and by-passed us while we were on the diversion, making for a total of 6. The whole group reassembled at the late lunch option. There was some real excitement just before and after lunch with a large multi-product tanker unloading its cargo at one of the terminals passed along the way....After lunch the route became a bit more wild with interesting relics of abandoned petroleum infrastructure and the site of the UK's first "bug reserve" in a brownfield area of Special Scientific Interest. Three finished the day with a warming beverage at the locally recommended Hoy & Helmut before catching the 18:01. The weather for the day was almost as varied as the scenery passed along the route bright and breezy to start turning cloudy and bracing with a few passing icy squalls . Really a very interesting and fun day out and certainly, as the tin says, a walk like no other....

13 on this very enjoyable walk. The first highlight was the little extension onto the tidal mudflats facing Southend Pier, we had beautiful clear views of Leigh-On-Sea and the Isle of Sheppey to our right. After walking around to face the Kent coast several of us took refreshments outside at a little tea room while watching children play on a little beach. The cafe offered us 10p on each mug we bought back, apparently a lot of Canvey Islanders walk off with them! And so on to a lovely lunchtime pub where most walkers enjoyed lunch alfresco. Next bit was a bit industrial with big gas/oil holding facilities but this in no way spoilt what was a varied and interesting walk. The last third was green and beautiful.

7 in largely sunny weather. The walk started with the tide in, so no mudflats in the morning. On the initial 'inland' leg, away from the Thames, there was hardly any breeze, so it felt quite muggy at times. A good pace was had, the scenery enjoyed and the many murals on the seawall on the Thames side much admired. A busy day for dogwalkers on Canvey, but not so busy for swimmers: no one was seen in the paddling pools or along the beaches. Are Essex folk not hard enough for these temps?

The Labworth Bistro was nearly full, and couldn't have accomodated us anyway, so we strode on to The Lobster Smack for lunch, past the first paraphernalia of the Oil & Gas Industry, with the odd container ship passing by on the left.

Lunch was passable, and certainly quick in delivery and therefore good value for money.

On past the low lying salt marshes, now at low tide, so with plenty of birds in the mudflats and then towards the end with the striking sight of large areas of Red Samphire around some of the ponds in the marshes (so we think anyway).

16.31 train back.

A native of Benfleet writes: the recommended pub option us the Hoy & Helmet, a 16th century coaching inn but redecorated more recently, just up the hill from Benfleet station

Intend going.

Is this likely to be muddy? Or is it paved most of the way?

Don't like the mud? The Only Way Is Essex! It's paved for 5.6 km, the rest is on top of seawalls, i.e.: firm and grassy (if they weren't firm, they wouldn't be fit for purpose). Leave the gaiters at home...

14 overcast dry blustery

14 off the train at Benfleet. It was overcast and windy, but the rain held off all day. When not concentrating on avoiding being blown into the sea, lots of interesting features to comment on and discuss, be they natural features like mud flats, tidal creeks and marshes, or the manmade relics of the recent past.

At least 9 people lunched at the Lobster Smack (really lovely), with the picnickers joining for drinks hot and cold in order to enjoy the good company of their fellow walkers (or maybe just to escape the wind). Everyone set off together after lunch and we soon left behind the paved paths and completed the walk on the earthen sea walls. Nice underfoot, and, as promised, virtually mudfree.

11 completed the full walk, with the rest taking the shortcut/bus. Back in Benfleet, 6 tried out the Hoy and Helmet as recommended by a former resident of Benfleet. 6 became 4 and made their way to the Anchor Inn. The last 3 standing returned to the Hoy and Helmet for reasonably-priced, adequate food served by friendly staff, before catching the 20:45 back to London.

A nice long but not arduous walk that is quick to get to from London, yet feels a world away. Less than £8 from Central London with a Network Railcard. Friendly staff in the eateries and drinking holes. 'Reem', as the locals might say.

apparently wind speeds were up to 50mph by the end of the day so we did well not to be blown away completely!

Thanks to Thomas for devising this bleakly beautiful addition to the SWC programme, and for the typically comprehensive walk guide.