'Overlooking the Thames Estuary, near Southend on Sea, Hadleigh Country Park offers unrivalled opportunities for countryside recreation and wildlife watching, as well as magnificent views over the estuary to Kent. Extending to 152 hectares (387 acres) it is one of the largest country parks in Essex and comprises an intimate mix of woodland, pasture, hay meadow and marsh with old hedgerows and ponds.'

Hadleigh Castle Country Park & Two Tree Island Nature Reserve [Healthy Life Essex]

'We walk at a leisurely pace, talk a lot and the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly ... Have you ever thought that you need more exercise? Well, walking with us is a fairly painless pursuit as we're not into route marches or hill walking ...'

'Circular walk, based on Leigh-on-Sea railway station, includes a climb to see the ruins of Hadleigh Castle, a walk along Benfleet Downs and a return walk along Benfleet Creek alongside Hadleigh Marsh.' ALERT This Entry formerly referenced an 'Essex Pub Walk': Leigh-on-Sea & Hadleigh Castle Walk  But since the relevant Website seems no longer, I have replaced it with a 'Saturday Walkers Club' Walk. (I have retained the original description.)

'Long distance footpath just over 71 miles in length stretching all the way from Southend-on-Sea in the south east of the county to Saffron Walden in the north west.'

Essex Walks

'There is a network of footpaths and bridleways that traverse MOD Shoeburyness known as Public Rights of Way (PROWs). The routes are open to the public when the Red Flags are lowered and the Range is not active. You do not need permission to use the PROWs but must not attempt to access them when the Red Flags are flying.'

MOD Shoeburyness

The Longest Pleasure Pier in the World  'If you walk along Southend-on-Sea's High Street, towards the sea, your eye will be drawn in a straight line towards the longest pleasure Pier in the world. Standing for over a century it extends 2.158 kilometres (1.341 miles) into the Thames Estuary, and is a well loved and recognised symbol of Southend and the pleasures of the English seaside ...'

Southend Pier [Wikipedia]