Walks from Basildon

Uses a foot and cycle path along the A127 to the Rayleigh Weir roundabout to cross safely.

Time: 3h30–7h30

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A varied, enjoyable but challenging route with a dull pavement start out of Basildon, then a golf course needing careful navigation, a nature reserve, the England Coast Path, a surfaced country park track to Hadleigh Castle. Much of it is wet and slippery in winter and with clay fields near the end; several short flights of steps and stiles. The coastal section is part of the England Coast Path. Passes the quaint St Margaret's Church with a bench, and ripe blackberries in late summer. Easy and affordable trains from either end.

Time: 4h–8h

Warnings: The path across the golf course needs careful navigation as marker posts are few and indistinct. Several wet, slippery and muddy sections in winter that are largely unavoidable.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Time: 2h30–5h

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 4h30–8h30

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Panoramic views of the Thames Estuary and towards London. A quiet route through the pretty village of Horndon on the Hill, then across gradually rising farmland to Langdon Hills Country Park and up One Tree Hill, with panoramic views of the Thames Estuary. The rest is through more country park and a nature reserve on substantial woodland paths, with the biggest climb to wildflower meadows. Plenty of stiles, kissing gates, narrow gaps, footbridges and steps and potentially muddy paths and ploughed fields. The country park is part of the Langdon Ridge SSSI. The only mid-route facility is the Garage Corner bus stop (about 500m off-route). Horndon-on-the-Hill has a breakfast café, a small shop, a gallery and two pubs.

Time: 3h–5h30

Lunch: Horndon-on-the-Hill (not very near the middle) has a breakfast café, a small shop and two pubs.

Warnings: Wrens Park Farm stables have put an electric fence (taped wires, no gate or stile) across one field and let the eastern stile become very unsafe; walk around the railed-off edge instead, climbing the sturdy wooden railings. Some arable-field paths are poorly re-established; white posts help you navigate. Plenty of stiles, narrow gaps and potentially muddy ploughed fields.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A safe, improved route avoiding the original's dangerous ring-road section by going through the pedestrianised town centre, using Mill Meadows local nature reserve and a quiet no-through residential road to avoid the busy A176. The nature-reserve paths are hand-drawn rather than snapped to the map and so the line is only a rough match. Goes through Mill Meadows local nature reserve, using its waymarked trails. Several places to stop and multiple bus routes nearby.

Time: 2h30–5h

Lunch: A Tesco Express and two pubs in Great Burstead near the central section, and eateries in a shopping park on Barleyfield Road a little off route.

Warnings: The line through Mill Meadows is only roughly drawn and may be difficult to follow on the ground.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A long route, the first half not recommended: field-edge paths and bridleways choked with giant hogweed and tall summer vegetation, blocked paths and around 2km of intense, boot-clogging mud across ploughed fields. The eastern half is far better, through country parks, nature reserves, woodland and meadow with long views across Basildon. Kissing gates and long shallow steps and some uneven ground. Passes through Langdon Hills Country Park and Willow Park Nature Reserve. A shop and pub at Bulphan (off route); toilets at the country park with a nearby Harvester.

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

Time: 4h–8h

Lunch: A shop and pub at Bulphan and a pub on Brentwood Road (both off route), plus toilets and a nearby Harvester at Langdon Hills Country Park.

Warnings: Dangerous thickets of 3-4m giant hogweed fill and block the bridleway from Parkers Farm Road and recur on later field-edge paths; avoid these sections. Around 2km of severe, sticky mud; blocked paths; a clay-pigeon shoot nearby.

Walk details: Slow Ways.