It doesn’t take long until the train has whizzed you out of the big city and into the green fields and Thames river views of South Essex. If you want to get out into the great outdoors, inhale fresh air and enjoy the kind of boost only nature can give then one of these scenic walks or nature spots along the c2c route could be just the ticket.
Buy your ticket online in advance and get from London to Southend for £12.10. Plus kids go for £2 at weekends and during school holidays. Check out our app for the quickest way to buy your e-tickets in advance and avoid ticket office queues.
Enjoy a preview of life out in the South Essex countryside in this video. Wander around Two Tree Island nature reserve, take a picnic up to Hadleigh Castle (close to Leigh-on-Sea station), sit in local parks along the seafront and take in the views. Round it all off with a top notch high-tea at The Roslin beach hotel in Thorpe Bay.
Walks near Basildon
Wat Tyler Country Park
- Nearest c2c station: Pitsea station (25 min walk from station)
- Address: Pitsea Hall Ln, Pitsea, Basildon SS16 4UH
Wat Tyler Country Park has been designated by Natural England as a ‘Site of Specific Interest.’ Clearly marked nature trails take you past wildlife ponds, meadows and historic cottages. There’s also plenty of grassy trails for dog walks and doggy free children’s play areas. Follow their Facebook page for the latest news and events.
Tidal creeks and mudflats
- Nearest c2c station: start at Benfleet and end in Leigh-on-Sea
Don the waterproofs and wellies for a walking adventure along the natural tidal creeks and mudflats of the Thames estuary. This Essex walk rewards you at the end for young and old alike: ice creams or fish and chips in the quaint cafes and pubs of Leigh-on-Sea.
Gunners Park
- Nearest c2c station: Shoeburyness
- Address: New Barge Road, Shoebury, Southend-on-Sea SS3 9FW
Tucked away in a peaceful part of Essex, walking through Gunner’s Park is something of a hidden gem in Shoeburyness, Southend. Its name comes from its former military use, but now it abounds in different natural habitats to walk through from coastal grasslands to ancient sand dunes and a lake with ducks and swans.
Rainham Marshes RSPB Reserve
- Nearest c2c station: Purfleet (15 min walk from station)
- Address: New Tank Hill Rd, Purfleet RM19 1SZ
Rainham Marshes RSPB reserve is paradise for bird spotters. But if you think it’s just about birds you’d be wrong! Wander your way across miles of Essex boardwalks and nature trails, or hire bikes to explore. Kids will go wild for the adventure playground, adults may prefer a cosy cuppa in the café.
Gloucester Park
- Nearest c2c station: Basildon
A short walk from Basildon station takes you to Gloucester Park, an urban neighbourhood park named after the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, who opened the park in 1957. The park plays host to many sporting activities and has an artificial lake and hills, which while man made are still picturesque and great for a nature stroll.
Thurrock Thameside Nature Park
- Nearest c2c station: Stanford-le-Hope (24 min walk from station)
- Address: Mucking Wharf Road, Mucking, Stanford-Le-Hope SS17 0RN
Watch birds swooping and soaring from the cunningly engineered viewing platform or make like explorers along the winding trails. There’s an excellent kids’ play area and that all-important café too. Best of all? Thurrock Thamesside Nature Park is completely free. It’s a 2.5 mile walk from the station to the reserve, so bring buggies, scooters, or even bikes for the kids.
Hadleigh Farm’s Rare Breed centre
- Nearest c2c station: Benfleet (24 min bus from station) or Leigh-on-Sea (18 min bus from station)
- Address: Castle Ln, Benfleet SS7 2AP
Hadleigh Farm’s Rare Breed Centre has lots of activities and talks on offer and is well worth a visit. Kids will love petting, feeding and learning about the animals. Take spare change for animal feed as you won’t be able to resist all the extremely cute family photo opportunities! The Rare Breed Centre is open from the 9th of April.
The Upminster Circular
- Nearest c2c station: Upminster
The walk starts and ends at Upminster station and is a four and a half hour trek around the fringes of Upminster and Cranham. If you like songbirds and wildflowers you’ll see plenty in the nature reserve. Look out for dragonflies and wetland birds along the Ingrebourne bridge.
Discover scenic walks along the Thames Estuary
Just 30 minutes from London, starting and ending at different c2c stations, there are five main walks of varying difficulty so there’s something for everyone. Use our guide, complete with maps, to choose what takes your fancy – from the lush South Essex Marshes to historic sites and leafy green landscapes. All canine friendly too.
Woodland walks in Essex
Looking for woodland walks close to London? We’ve got a great selection of beautiful woods for you to explore.
Hadleigh Great Wood
- Nearest c2c station: Leigh-on-Sea (20 mins walk from station)
This Southend-on-Sea Borough Council wood is great for family walks through Essex countryside. There are good facilities on site (for those all important pit-stops) as well as a golf course, riding stables and a restaurant if you want more from your day out. Plus the paths are good for exploring the woods easily.
Langdon Reserve
- Nearest c2c station: Laindon ( 20 mins walk from station)
Even though these woods are close to Basildon town, once you’re in them you feel like you’re miles away from town or city life. Keep your eyes peeled as there’s lots of wildlife to spot on these trails. The paths are great for gentle walks or for cycling. They even have the remains of old plotland developments to see.
Westley Heights
- Nearest c2c station: Laindon station (20 minutes walk from station)
These Thurrock Council woods are part of Langdon Hills Country Park. There are ancient woodlands that date back to prehistoric times with gorgeous, flower-rich grassland meadows. Along this Essex Walk there is lots of trees which means lots of birds – making it paradise for spotting little winged friends. Horse riding, cycling and walking are all allowed on the well-maintained network of footpaths.
Thames Chase Forest Centre
- Nearest c2c station: Upminster (25 minute walk from station)
A great one for kids to explore, take them to the pond to spot wildlife, play in the playground, hide out in the tipi and run off all that excess energy in the natural play trails. You can also visit the 17th-Century Heritage Barn or admire the apple and pear orchards. Best of all there’s a café for a well-earned cuppa at the end of the nature walk.
Shipwrights Wood
- Nearest c2c station: Benfleet (30 minutes walk from station)
Hop off the train at Benfleet and the stunning scenery begins immediately. Take a scenic walk through Hadleigh Park to get to Shipwrights Wood. Ancient woodland, orchards and fields make up the terrain and a special woodland walk has been marked to make it easy to explore.
