Two Tree Island (11 or 15 miles)

"Lovely fisher maiden,
Guide your boat to the shore;
Come and sit beside me,
And hand in hand we shall talk of love"
Heinrich Heine

So yearned the 19th-C Romantic poet in Das Fischermädchen. Had the site of his gazing seaward been Leigh, at least there would have been food for the "many a lovely pearl" resting in the depth of his heart, for Leigh is renowned for its cockles.

After lunch on its quayside, we head on to uninhabited Two Tree Island, with only birds, the sea and the wind. This is also a chance to visit Hadleigh Castle dating from 1215, which offers its own commanding view over the sea.

The circular walk from Benfleet is 11 miles (17 km) with an option to continue across marshes for a further 4 miles for anyone wanting a longer day out.

The advance off peak day return train fare from Fenchurch Street with a Network card is currently only £7.50. The train operator C2C fares go up a bit a few days before the travel date, so buying in advance is good.

Outward Travel: Take the train departing 10 AM from London Fenchurch Street to BENFLEET. Beforehand from 9.45 AM the organiser will be easy to spot in the station concourse near the ticket office, wearing a bright yellow shirt or coat.

Walk start: 10.45 AM from Benfleet rail station.
Bring a packed lunch. Village stop for drinks - or cockles! 🦪. Buy a return ticket to BENFLEET.

How to join?

• The walk is entirely free of charge;
• You only arrange for your own travel and pub expenses;
• Understand our terms and conditions below (the "IMPORTANT" part);
• Understand how to stay safe outdoors, as you will be responsible for yourself. See our quick safety tips:
  https://www.meetup.com/Free-Outdoor-Trips-From-London/about/

What to bring

• Plenty of water, 1-2 litres recommended
• Enough snacks and packed lunch to keep you energized along the walk
• Extra snacks and an extra packed lunch just in case
• Rainproof (ideally waterproof) clothing, sturdy shoes/boots you don't mind getting muddy
• Spare socks
• Walking poles and/or an umbrella :-)
• Yourself...
• ...and your camera!
• Cash for train ticket
• Cash for pub at the end of the walk?

Feel free to ask any questions in the comments section!

IMPORTANT
Please bear in mind this is a free of charge, self-guided trip with a hobby group. It is not organized by a business nor any entity with commercial purposes.
Any trip details, travel advice, route planning, instructions and other content in our group merely represent our shared personal knowledge, research and suggestions as outdoor enthusiasts. As this is no business, there is no "product", "service" or "package" and also no "tour guide", "operator" or "walk leader".
Each participant is responsible for their own safety. Even if some of us are very experienced walking outdoors, nobody assumes responsibility for any kind of injury, damage or loss that may happen.
Despite this, we take extreme precautions and all trips we plan are very safe, fun, highly educational and popular. Our experienced members volunteer their time and effort to shape a pleasant and quality adventure for everyone :-)
By participating you acknowledge and agree with this disclaimer.

Here are our tips on staying safe during outdoor trips:
https://www.meetup.com/Free-Outdoor-Trips-From-London/about/

TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATION, INSURANCE
Although we provide detailed suggestions, each participant is expected to arrange their own travel - this gives everyone the freedom and choice. Anyone interested in travel or outdoor insurance should also arrange this on their own. As mentioned above we always take extreme precautions, but some people may still feel safer if covered.
People getting tickets from the same station are encouraged to meet early on the day to benefit from discounts such as GroupSave.