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Rayleigh walks
Leigh on Sea to Benfleet
Visorando Member
7.17 mi
+43 ft
-43 ft
3h 20
Easy
Departure from Leigh-on-Sea (Southend-on-Sea)
A walk across salt marshes with numerous birds and returning inland via the ruined Hadleigh Castle. Highly accessible from London as the Fenchurch Street line takes under an hour to get you to the start.
Three Pubs Circular
9.02 mi
+312 ft
-315 ft
4h 25
Moderate
Departure from Purleigh (Essex)
A circular walk from Purleigh that passes close to three excellent pubs using footpaths, bridleways, byways and short sections of country lanes. It joins St Peter's Way here and there, follows a disused railway track and goes through vineyards before meeting a WW1 airfield. A walk for all seasons, although sections can be muddy after rain.
Please see the Useful Information section for important information regarding the aerodrome.
Howegreen–Great Baddow–Sandon circular
5.53 mi
+112 ft
-115 ft
2h 40
Moderate
Departure from Sandon (Essex)
3 village circular walk through Howegreen, Great Baddow, and Sandon
Along pavements, footpaths and bridleways and across fields.
Ridge and River
7.54 mi
+463 ft
-469 ft
3h 50
Moderate
Departure from Little Baddow (Essex)
A circular walk that circumnavigates the village of Little Baddow. Beginning in Lingwood Common, the route follows bridleways, footpaths, the river towpath and quiet country lanes. A good walk for any time of year, but not after spells of prolonged rain when the towpath, especially, can become something of a quagmire. Walking it in spring is highly recommended as Blake's Wood is nationally known for its display of bluebells.
Woodham Walter Circular
5.28 mi
+207 ft
-197 ft
2h 35
Easy
Departure from Woodham Walter (Essex)
This walk, close to the ancient village of Woodham Walter, offers a nature reserve, arable fields, woodland and The Wilderness. The route is along bridleways and footpaths for the most part, with a couple of short sections on country lanes. There are only two cross-field paths so it's a good winter walk but, like any Essex hike, it can be muddy after rain.
Egypt Bay and St Mary's Bay from High Halstow
7.42 mi
+256 ft
-233 ft
3h 40
Moderate
Departure from High Halstow (Medway)
This Kent walk takes you onto the southern shores of the Thames Estuary. The route is easy to follow (apart from the start). The area visited during the walk provided Dickens with the perfect scene for his prison huls in his novel 'Great Expectations'.
Maldon to Hoe Mill Circular
7.40 mi
+105 ft
-105 ft
3h 30
Moderate
Departure from Maldon (Essex)
A circular walk from Maldon through farmland to Hoe Mill Lock, returning along the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation.
Repton
1.84 mi
+89 ft
-75 ft
0h 55
Easy
Departure from Writtle (Essex)
Explore Hylands Estate following this path through the park.
Hutton Village to Thames Chase Forest Centre
10.84 mi
+285 ft
-449 ft
5h 15
Moderate
Departure from Brentwood (Essex)
From wooden bus stop we follow Hutton Village, then off-road to the old church. We go cross-country to Ingrave, past the huge pile of Thorndon House & thru' Thorndon Park North. As well as the park, the route takes in many other properties owned by the Thames Chase Community Forest, including Warley Gap, Codham Hall Woods & Franks Wood. We pass thru' Little Warley, Great Warley and skirt the outside of Upminster on our way to the finish at the Thames Chase Forest Centre at Broadfields Farm.
Another Hatfield Peverel Circular
4.93 mi
+98 ft
-98 ft
2h 20
Easy
Departure from Hatfield Peverel (Essex)
Pleasant stroll in the Essex countryside at Hatfield Peverel along field paths, secluded lanes and a quiet stretch of the river bank.
Hatfield Peverel Circular
5.34 mi
+105 ft
-102 ft
2h 35
Easy
Departure from Hatfield Peverel (Essex)
A pleasant stroll in the Essex countryside along field paths, secluded lanes and a stretch of river bank. Along the way there is an 18th century former priory, a canal lock (and tearoom), the delightfully named World's End Cottage, a ford and the Parish Church of St. Andrew.
Wickham Bishops Circular
6.07 mi
+315 ft
-335 ft
3h 05
Easy
Departure from Wickham Bishops (Essex)
An easy stroll in the countryside near Wickham Bishops, departing close to the redundant St Peter's church, passing beneath the last wooden railway viaduct in the country and then along the meandering banks of the River Blackwater. The return passes through woodland and has some excellent views across the Essex countryside. This is an all-seasons walk but is particularly good in spring and autumn.
Two Tothams Pub
7.00 mi
+197 ft
-197 ft
3h 25
Moderate
Departure from Great Totham (Essex)
Starting and ending in Great Totham, this walk visits The Swan in Little Totham - a fine, privately owned freehouse, built in the 16th century.
For those not wanting, or are unable, to visit the pub, an amended route is given.
Terling Circular
5.69 mi
+66 ft
-66 ft
2h 40
Easy
Departure from Terling (Essex)
A countryside walk beginning and ending in the village of Terling. Nothing spectacular about the route but it has some nice views and pleasant countryside, passes an old windmill and a rare round tower church. The route follows the course of the River Ter in places, and there are quite a few springs along the way, so it can get muddy. There are a couple of woods with excellent displays of bluebells in the spring but it is a good walk for any time of year. Waymarking is generally excellent.
Details are given for a shorter walk of 4 miles that does not visit Great Leighs church.
Tollesbury Wick Marshes from Tollesbury
7.04 mi
+66 ft
-62 ft
3h 20
Moderate
Departure from Tollesbury (Essex)
An Essex walk that explores the salt marshes between the village of Tollesbury and the River Blackwater. Tollesbury has much of interest inclusing a bustling marina, restored sail lofts and a preserved lightship.
Through orchards
8.78 mi
+295 ft
-295 ft
4h 20
Easy
Departure from Medway
Through several of Kent's fine apple & pear orchards plus one field of Nordic fir Christmas trees ending through open fields of sheep and cattle.
Tolleshunt Knights Loop
7.15 mi
+200 ft
-200 ft
3h 30
Moderate
Departure from Tolleshunt Knights (Essex)
A loop walk at Tolleshunt Knights, close to Tiptree in Essex. The route is predominately on grassy footpaths with a few road/track sections particularly towards the end. Parts of the track afford some good views over the Blackwater Estuary.
Little Leighs Circular
7.25 mi
+69 ft
-72 ft
3h 25
Moderate
Departure from Great and Little Leighs (Essex)
A circular walk in a comparatively unspoiled part of mid Essex, between Chelmsford and Braintree. It is particularly suited to being a winter walk as most of the route is on quiet country lanes, surfaced bridleways and grassy field paths, thus avoiding the worst of the Essex mud. It is a good walk for any time of year though, with fine views across open countryside and is, for the most part, devoid of traffic noise.
Reviewed and updated April 2024
Worship, Newington
Association / Club / Walk leader1.52 mi
+36 ft
-46 ft
0h 45
Easy
Departure from Newington (Kent)
A return rural walk between one of Kent's most interesting medieval churches and the remains of a 2,000 year old Romano-British temple.
Lower Halstow, Newington
4.89 mi
+194 ft
-210 ft
2h 25
Moderate
Departure from Newington (Kent)
A lovely walk through Kent orchards, past bird-rich lagoons and onto a hill with views across the Medway estuary. It takes you past historic settlements and the site of WWI inland defences before finishing with a birds-eye view of the fine tower of St Mary's church. This is walk 3, Newington.
Lower Halstow, Newington
2.57 mi
+43 ft
-121 ft
1h 15
Moderate
Departure from Newington (Kent)
This pleasant walk takes you both sides of Newington's historic watercress beds and past lagoons and open spaces filled with birds. This is Newington Walk 4.
Discovering 2,000 years of history and nature around Newington in Kent
6.30 mi
+328 ft
-322 ft
3h 10
Moderate
Departure from Newington (Kent)
A mainly flat walk in countryside surrounding a small Kent village which dates to pre-Roman times and that was on the route for Chaucer's pilgrims in The Canterbury Tales. Walk in the footsteps of Julius Caesar, see the remains of a Roman town and the site of World War I trenches and visit a fine 13th century church. Along the way are former watercress beds, historic orchards and centuries-old farms and houses. The figure of eight walk twice passes near an 18th century pub for refreshments.
Defences of the First World War in Newington, Kent
2.77 mi
+194 ft
-180 ft
1h 25
Easy
Departure from Newington (Kent)
Learn how to read a landscape for clues to its military past. From 1914 to 1918, Newington was at the heart of a sophisticated military defence line against a potential German invasion.
The walk takes you through the defences, leading you to four information boards that enable you to visualise the trenches, gun emplacements and observation posts that helped protect Britain.
In the steps of Caesar, Newington
1.77 mi
+75 ft
-75 ft
0h 55
Easy
Departure from Newington (Kent)
The walk climbs a small hill reputed to have been used as an encampment by Julius Caesar and which overlooks former WWI defences with a commemorative beacon erected by Newington History Group. It gives lovely views over ancient settlements and to the Medway estuary. The descent takes you through orchards - fruit-growing has been a major part of the local economy for centuries.
Newington, South
2.69 mi
+118 ft
-128 ft
1h 20
Moderate
Departure from Newington (Kent)
The walk takes you through typical 'Garden of England' orchards, across a centuries-old farm and past historic landmarks and former WWI inland defences. This is Newington Walk 2.
Newington - South ancient denehole
2.77 mi
+121 ft
-125 ft
1h 25
Moderate
Departure from Newington (Kent)
A pleasant walk through apple orchards, past an ancient denehole and a beacon marking the site of WWI inland defences and over Standard Hill, reputed to be a stopping point for Julius Caesar. This is Newington Walk 1.
The Swale & Oare, near Faversham
4.99 mi
+56 ft
-56 ft
2h 20
Easy
Departure from Oare (Kent)
This Kent walk explores the marshes, creeks and tideways on the south side of the River Swale. On the far side of the water is the Isle of Sheppey and in season the area is an excellent place for watching birdlife.
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