November 2025 · Lat: 51.5489 , Lng: 0.5631

This was a surprisingly good walk on a day trip from London. I followed higher ground from Benfleet overlooking the river valley below.

This takes you along to Hadleigh Castle which was mind-blowing. You get a sense of how important riverine traffic was in the Middle Ages with these castles placed at strategic points.

Leigh-on-Sea was a discovery with the old town now nicely presented and some good boat-spotting to be had. I walked back along the Benfleet on fields that would have been water when Hadleigh Castle was built.