Hadleigh Farm to Benfleet Station

To find the meeting point: Take the main exit from Hadleigh Farm mountain bike venue and when you reach the main track follow the path downhill with the ruins of Hadleigh Castle on your left. There is a gate at the bottom of the hill, this is where the walk begins.

[1] From the start point follow the path right and cross the stile. Follow this path straight ahead crossing another stile and passing through several fields with the Thames Estuary to your left. If you look back you will see the views of ruined Hadleigh Castle (A) behind you, while Hadleigh Country Park (B) lies to your right.

(A) Hadleigh Castle was built in the 13th century during the reign of Henry III by Hubert de Burgh. It is Grade I listed. It is built on a hill of London clay and has therefore been subject to subsidence over the years which has contributed to its current ruined condition. In the 19th Century the castle was sold to the Salvation Army which then later gave it to English Heritage in 1948. The castle boasts magnificent views over the Thames Estuary and is a very popular spot with visitors.

(B) Hadleigh Country Park extends over 387 acres, making it one of the largest country parks in Essex. The park consists of scrub, grassland and woodland and is home to a variety of wildlife - birds, butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies. It is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

[2] Keep walking through these fields for about 30 minutes until you see a wide grassy path which goes steeply uphill to your right. Take this path, climbing uphill for a few minutes until you come to a crossroads in the path. At this point take a left and follow the level path. After another 10 minutes you will pass a house on your left, stay on the path at this point until the path emerges onto a clearing. Stop to admire the views of the Thames Estuary and Canvey Island to your left (C). Continue on this path for another 20 metres until you reach a gate where the path emerges onto a residential street.

(C) Canvey Island is separated from the mainland by a network of creeks. It is prone to flooding at exceptional tides. On 31 January 1953, a North Sea tidal surge hit the island during the night and 58 people died. A new seawall was built after this flood, then replaced with a significantly larger construction in the 1980s. The views back eastwards include Southend Pier and the Isle of Grain power station chimney. Southend-on-Sea became a seaside resort during the Georgian era and Southend Pier is the world's longest pleasure pier at 1.33 miles/2.16km. In May 2012 a new cultural centre was hoisted by crane on to the end of the pier. The Isle of Grain power station was built in the 1970s, closed in 2003 and reopened in 2006. It provides up to three percent of the National Grid power supply.

[3] Exit Hadleigh Country Park through the gate and once on the street turn left downhill (on Station Road). Benfleet Station (and the end of the walk) is at the bottom of this road.

(D) Benfleet is an historic settlement dating back to Roman times. It was also used as a base by the Vikings until the Battle of Benfleet in 894, where the Saxon army of King Alfred defeated the Vikings. A monument to this event can be viewed not far from the station.

The Salvation Army's Hadleigh Home Farm Colony can be seen on this walk. General Booth established the Colony in 1891 to provide food, shelter and training to destitute people rescued from the squalor of London. Booth started with 800 acres of land, later expanding to 3,200 acres. The farm was home to 200 by the end of its first year and existing farm buildings were renovated and new dormitories, a bathhouse, laundry, reading room, hospital and religious meeting house were built. As well as farming and market gardening, brick making, pottery and construction skills were also taught. Today the colony operates an employment training centre for people who have special training needs. The aim is to create a realistic working environment, with the intention of helping people gain the skills necessary for work elsewhere. Employment at the training centre – reminiscent of the colony’s origins - includes horticulture, carpentry, catering, office skills and estate management.

Thanks to Bryan Winn, Jennifer French, Anthony Collins, Anne Collins, Maureen Newman, John Baxter and Robert Turner for checking the route and for all the information about Benfleet and Hadleigh.