Pleasant walks in Southend
Having such varied scenery Southend-on-Sea offers many choices to the casual and enthusiastic walker alike. I have listed here some of my favourites.
Chalkwell to Old Leigh - 2 miles
For this walk you may park in the pay-and-display on Chalkwell seafront. Walk to the path behind the railway station. The narrow seaside path follows the coastline all the way to Old Leigh. This is a delightful area with a number of small pubs, shops and the famous cockle sheds, where local seafood specialities may be enjoyed.
Priory Park
This lovely park is great for a casual stroll in summer when you can enjoy the well-kept gardens and open spaces. There are some beautiful old trees here. For the energetic, take a football and have a kick-a-bout - the rest of us can take a picnic.
Southend Pier - 3 miles
This walk takes you to the end of Southend's pier - the longest pleasure pier in the world. There is a nominal fee for entry to the pier - and for a little extra you can take the pier train if you only want to walk one-way. This is a wonderfully bracing walk out over the Thames. At the end there are a number of small bars, cafés and novelty shops. In summer there are often cultural performances in the pier pavilion.
Also at the very end of the pier is the museum. There are exhibits documenting the disasters that have troubled the pier over the years.
Copyright © 1997 Tim Reeves