BEGINNERS HIKE 14km Fishing Towns & Nature Reserves of the Thames Estuary

📏 Key Info:
• Distance: 9 miles (14km)
• Grading: Beginners with one main hill that we take gently
• Ascent: 140m
• Hiking time: 4 to 4.5 hours
• Cost: £30 plus Eventbrite fee they charge including the guided hike and return train travel, click “Get Tickets” to join.
• Payments are refundable upto 7 days in advance, after that they are non refundable and non transferrable.
• Toilet Breaks: On the train, at the lunch stop, and at the end pub
📍 Meeting Point
• Location: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY before leaving home - you need to enter on the correct main entrance to the station, only this entrance leads to our meeting point, we advise allowing 10 minutes to find it: Fenchurch Street station inside the main entrance at the front of the station. Meet at the top of the escalators in front of the ticket office and the platform ticket barriers – PHOTO. Please note - you must come in the main entrance at the front of the station, not any of the other station entrances. The main entrance is on a street called "Fenchurch Place", you can see it here on this Google Maps LINK
• Time: Meet 8:40am, leave 9am for the 9:18am train
• Return: 5:33pm arrival back in London (you’re committed until then)
🌟 Highlights
• Hadleigh Country Park - one of the largest in Essex
• Hadleigh Castle - enchanting 13th-century ruins
• Estuary island of Two Tree Island Nature Reserve - a sanctuary for birdlife and marine species
• Leigh-on-Sea - often ranked as one of the best places to live in the UK, a historic fishing town famous for its freshly caught cockles - a local delicacy
• Sweeping views of the River Thames estuary throughout the trail
• Spot iconic bird species like herons, kestrels and peregrines, for all full list of birds you can see and seasons - LINK
• Remnants of local fishing traditions at the "Graveyard of Lost Species"
🥾 Hike Description
Our hike begins as we follow scenic trails into Hadleigh Country Park, a sprawling 387-acre area of meadows, marshes, and woodlands recognized for its natural beauty and biodiversity.
We ascend toward Hadleigh Castle, perched atop a ridge with captivating views over the Thames Estuary. Built in the 13th century, the castle was a strategic defensive position and later immortalised in a painting by John Constable. We pause to soak in the panoramic views and immerse ourselves in Essex’s medieval past that has inspired artists and writers for centuries.
Continuing along the Thames Estuary Path, we journey toward Two Tree Island, a 634-acre nature reserve surrounded by saltmarsh and tidal mudflats. This peaceful island is crucial for various bird species, providing winter refuge for migratory birds. It is a haven for birdlife, including avocets, brent geese, and Mediterranean gulls.
Finally, we arrive in Leigh-on-Sea, a charming seaside town with a proud fishing heritage that still continues today. Known for its vibrant maritime culture and delicious cockles and often ranked as one of the best places to live in the UK, Leigh-on-Sea offers the perfect end to our hike, we have time to explore and also enjoy a drink in a coastal pub.
🧭 Guide:
• Leader: PAUL
• Contact (hike day only): 07873 221480
🍽️ Food:
• Bring a packed lunch
• Pub visit after the hike (drinks optional)
🎒What to Bring
• Hiking boots/shoes
• Water (2 litres minimum)
• Packed lunch
• Waterproofs (jacket and trousers)
• Hat and gloves if cold
• Train tickets are arranged – just meet us at the meeting point
⚠️ Safety
Your guide is a trained hike leader and Outdoor Activity First Aider
❓ Want to Know More?
• New to Our Trips? (perfect for first-timers, answers “what to expect”)
• About Us (who Outdooraholics are, credibility, history)
• FAQs (covers common queries)
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