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, 17 turned up on a day that 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

1 off the train and I didn't meet any other walkers all day. Apologies if I missed anyone. A glorious day, nearly full sunshine and a bit of a breeze, particularly coming back along the estuary. A highlight was seeing several thousand Brent geese coming up with the tide just in front of Leigh-on-Sea. Apparently they are there for approximately one more month before they move on. And the best time to see the spectacle is 3 hours before high tide from the sea front (or pubs!) at Leigh. Lots of egrets too.

I didn't sample any of the pubs so can't comment, though had I not been walking in the afternoon I would have been sorely tempted to get fish for the evening from one of the fishmongers. Barge Gladys was open and suitably quirky, so I enjoyed a pint of cider outside on the top deck. A fabulous day - you all missed a treat!

1 Nearly full sunshine

Perhaps it was the torrential downpours taking place or people waiting for news from the Palace, but just 2 emerged from a pre-pandemic level of crowded train into (I know most will not believe) clear evening skies at Benfleet. Without much to do, we set off up the hill behind Benfleet towards Benfleet down where the views over the estuary were stunning... On we went to the "sunset spot" where we could just barely make out the profile of the skyscrapers in the City in some clouds with the sun just starting to set (a bit too early for the bright red colors experienced in the past)...the evening sky remained mostly clear with some clouds catching the color of the setting sun as we carried on...we managed to find our way to Hadleigh Castle without much trouble where we spotted a shy moon rising behind a bank of clouds. Unfortunately, the clouds ultimately won out and expecting the worst, we encountered a few drops of rain on the final stretch into Leigh on Sea, arriving in record time (just past 8:30pm) where we learned the news of the Queen. We had a meal and drinks at the Crooked Billet (food declining a bit) before catching the 22:13 back to London. A very enjoyable walk on a surprisingly pleasant evening in good company. Certainly one that will be remembered.

3 today. The weather was better than predicted dry overcast with occasional sun So no water from above but plenty from below, off the wet vegetation that encroached on the narrower stretches. As one wag put it “No folk festival but at least we can have a soak festival” How we laughed. The brambles were making an earnest bid for new territory but it didn’t stop us. Nor did the occasional slippery bit. I was slightly miffed that the official route descends to railway level before climbing back to the castle. Last year, when we were a bit lost, we eventually found our way to the castle without this extra ascent. Still, it’s exercise innit.

We didn’t stop long at the castle, instead making for the Crooked Billet in Leigh where service was organised with almost military precision. My co-walkers ordered food. I grudgingly ordered some soup - a rare event. It was fine as was the view over the estuary mud.

Then back along to Benfleet, incorporating a visit to Two Tree Island. Last year, I remember the eastern half as being ‘quite interesting’. This year, we did the western half, which I found ‘a bit dull’. Nothing to look at, just plants and stuff. Then back to the mainland noticing egrets on the island lagoon as we passed it. Then to Barge Gladys which made a pleasant and timely end to the day.

Nature notes - on the way from Hadleigh Castle to Leigh we walked through a big field of wheat mixed with rye-grass - is this a normal practice? The boring plants on the island included salsify, salad burnet (and a burnet moth - or was that somewhere else?), fennel and loads of a familiar thing which I had a mental blank about but later established were wild parsnips.

We saw the moth on the raised path just after Leigh station

I did this walk back in June, it is a very nice walk, highly recommended.

I hope to do the Berwick walk

Jane

4 at the station, one of whom had already walked from Leigh. Weather was sun cloud sun cloud sun dry sometimes hot We more or less stuck to the circular directions. (I say "more or less" because we saw a bit more of the Essex Alps than the directions required). We weren’t lost or anything. We knew exactly where the castle was. It’s just it wasn’t where we were. Eventually it showed itself but, by then, it was just a pile of stones. After a picnic in the remains, we headed for Leigh. No interest was expressed in exploring the old town (except, maybe, by one), so its fabled hostelries were deprived of our custom :( No, we set off on the return leg, squeezing in a circuit of Two Tree Island on the way. One of our number was not as thorough about this circuit as the others. He was discovered later at Barge Gladys clutching a well-earned pint of cider. (n.b. cash only). It was declared "A Grand Day Out". Two Tree Island was declared "Worth a Look".

I caught the hour later train, met up with two other people who had a lie in. Lovely walk, we took the low route along the estuary edge, crab rolls at Leigh on Sea, a swim and walked to Chalkwell for ice cream and chatted to dog owners, watched salsa practice, and then back again. Very good day out had by all, thanks for posting Moon Tiger,

Maggie

7

5 hardy souls managed to disengage themselves from the commuter masses disembarking at Benfleet from an extraordinarily overcrowded train to be met with 1 more waiting on the platform for a total of 6 for this evening outing under clear skies followed by bright moonlight . Some were surprised as we almost immediately launched up a steep hill (yes, in Essex) and towards the top of the hill crossing a field we were rewarded with a great view of Canary Wharf, the Shard and the City of London silhouetted against the red sky of the setting sun. Onward we went through some woods to finally emerge at the top of the hill with the large yellow globe of the rising moon ahead (really breath taking). The route then took as back down the hill and along the valley where we also admired Mars, Jupiter and Saturn before re-ascending to the ruins of Hadleigh Castle atmospherically illuminated in the moonlight. The moon provided ample light on the final descent to Leigh-on-Sea -- some complaining that it was almost too bright to see....We had a pleasant meal at the Crooked Billet before catching the 22:12 back to London.

Now I might do the Walk on Sunday. But I can't Guarantee I will.

14 off the train at Benfleet with a number of people visting the area for the first time and who were pleasantly surprised by the woodland hillside trails and superb views of Canvey Island and beyond to Kent. We reached the ruined Hadleigh Castle a little too early for a picnic lunch so we all pressed on to Leigh on Sea. Here the group split up taking lunch in any of half a dozen available inns and restaurants with some lingering to explore the town and two walking on to Southend.

Three of us set off on the estuary path back to Benfleet enjoying the views of the estuary mud-flats with a very low tide. We stopped to have tea at the Barge Gladys before catching the 16.01 train.

I hope all the others enjoyed their day out - there wqere rumours that one or two people were going to do the circuit of two tree island. the weather was splendid throughout dry with some sunny periods but a cool breeze . Its a pity it was not warmer because there were lots of spring flowers including bluebells and even one or two butterflies.

At least 9 others stopped for drinks in Leigh-On-Sea before heading off around Two Tree Island, where we stopped in the hides for a little while to watch Oyster Catchers and other birds. From there, we strolled on to Benfleet, stopping for a drink at Barge Gladys before getting the later train. Thanks, PeteB for a nice day out.