Tilbury, Stanford-Le-Hope, Basildon, Benfleet, Canvey Island, Two Tree Island, Leigh-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, Shoebury Ness, Great Wakering, Rochford, Paglesham, Wallasea Island, ferry to Burnham-on-Crouch.

I decided to book accommodation for this trip. The weather was uncertain but a hot shower and a warm bed each night would be nice.

 

New footpath. Enjoy the view

I left Dorset on a sunny Monday morning by train to Waterloo, took the tube to West Ham then a train to Tilbury, where it looked like rain was possible. I was too early to book into my accommodation so I took a stroll to see the famous The World's End pub, which I had read about on the journey. I though that it might make a nice photo. Tilbury town is not near the Thames so after a 1 mile or so walk through an industrial area and past the jetty where the Gravesend Ferry used to land at and found the pub, which had closed down. I took a photo anyway and strolled back to the town to find my accommodation.

 

Day 1: From Tilbury to Vange, Basildon.

Walking back to the coast on Tuesday morning I passed the The World's End again then began walking along the top of the sea wall and past Tilbury Fort. Shortly afterwards the path dropped down to pass along the bottom of the sea wall on the river side meaning that it could be submerged during high tides. I had checked the tide times previous to my visit and I had an hour to spare. The path then continued out into the East Tilbury marshes.

This was the part I like, the noise of the traffic had died away and ahead was all I needed, a path, open countryside and a blue sky. There was a cool breeze and a warm sun, Perfect. The tide was coming in and there was a huge cargo ship gliding slowly and silently up the Thames towards me and all I could hear was the sound of the breeze and the birds.

At Coalhouse Fort Park, I stopped and had some breakfast, sat in then warm sun at one of the picnic table there. After that the path turns inland around Mucking Marshes towards Corringham.

The path bypasses Corringham but as it was lunchtime I diverted for half a mile into the village and had lunch and a pint in the Bull Inn. The path continues inland and follows the fast road around the outside of the industrial estate behind the London Gateway Port for nearly 2 miles before leaving the road to pass along the tops of the sea defences of the creeks and towards Basildon. Soon I passed the huge tidal barrier on Holehaven Creek that protects the land from high-water events.

The path then snakes around the ends of two smaller creeks that feed into Holehaven Creek and about 4.5 mile further on, while passing through the Vange Marsh Nature Reserve, I used the foot tunnel that passes beneath the A13 to get to Vange where my accommodation was.

End of day 1: About 18 miles of the path walked today.

Day 2: Vange to Canvey Island.

Next day I returned through the foot tunnel to the Nature Reserve. It was an overcast day and there was a cold wind blowing.

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