Length: 15.2 km (9.5 miles) or 18.6 km (11.6 miles) including One Tree Island. 4/10
10:15 c2c service from London Liverpool Street to Shoeburyness. 10:23 Stratford, arrives Benfleet 11:00
There are 6 return trains an hour from Benfleet to London (click on the link for times).
Buy a return to Benfleet, or a return to Leigh-on-Sea, if you decide to do finish there (see short walk option, below).
The Leigh-on-Sea folk festival is not on this year but this nonetheless makes a nice summer walk, with the opportunity for a swim at Leigh-on-Sea. The morning section takes you through the hilly woodland of the Benfleet Downs to Hadleigh Country Park and Hadleigh Castle (English Heritage), then it's down to Leigh-on-Sea for lunch. There's a small sandy beach, a nice swimming spot, just a little further on from the village's small high street. In any case, it's worth strolling through the village and taking a look inside the Leigh Heritage Centre. After lunch, the route stays low along Benfleet Creek, passing One Tree Island (a possible interesting out-and-back circuit) and Barge Gladys for tea.
Lunch: various places in Leigh-on-Sea; the Crooked Billet (01702 480289) is very popular. Opposite the Crooked Billet is Osborne Bros café (01702 477233) which specialises in traditional sea foods like cockles and smoked eels. For a picnic, Hadleigh Castle is a fine picnic spot, as are the benches near the sea in Leigh.
Tea: 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. I'm not sure, but they might only take cash.
There are other refreshment opportunities in the High Street beyond Benfleet station. The Hoy and Helmet (01268 792307) has received good reviews.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.
As these walks don't have a leader, you'll need to download walk directionsfrom the L=swc.268 page