Fri 30 Mar (Good Friday) - Benfleet to Southend walk

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

How can it be so cold on Friday? It's a beautiful spring day today.

 

Museum you say? Is that the heritage centre?

I think I'm probably not going to be able to make it anyway unless this arthritis flare-up improves by then - I'm not actually able to walk at all right now so will probably just have to stay home and eat Easter eggs on my own

 

Tfl says I should get a train to Victoria, then District line to Barking, then train to Benfleet.

 

Where are you going from? There's probably a quicker route via *cough* West Ham.

 

Bromley

 

Maggot

Bromley South ---> Peckham Rye (20 mins) ---> Shadwell Overground (15 mins) walk to ---> Shadwell DLR (4 mins) ---> Limehouse (2 mins) ---> Benfleet (56 mins) = TOTAL (97 mins )

Only bummer is that Limehouse trains at that time of day are slightly slower, adding an unnecessary 16 mins to the journey.

 

Seems very quick, does that include waiting times?

 

No, just travel.

Eta: DLR and London Overground are pretty regular though, so you should be able to time most of the waiting out of that journey I'd have thought.

 

Vaguely thinking of coming along on this on Friday with new baby and partner but we have already done the bulk of this walk (Leigh on Sea to Southend) quite recently. Its a good walk and we capped it off with a visit to Southend pier. The weather forecast for Friday is a bit iffy though. Rain showers from dawn until dusk.

 

And again, new baby ??!!

 

Benfleet to Leigh is quite different from Leigh to Southend, so you might appreciate that leg a bit more.

 

I am *really* looking forward to this. Good spring weather too, bright and bracing

 

OK have seen the rain forecast and still very much upferit. Stalwarts on the New Year walk will report that such conditions create much sogginess and good fun

 

That's the spirit! I'm very much in upferit mode too . Looks like there'll be a-bit-of-everything weather, so not just showers - though definitely wrap up! Plenty of potential for pit stops as well - even the most isolated spot, Hadleigh Castle, has a tea room should we require it's services (though we may just want to go catch the tide at fairly nearby Leigh).

There are also bottle-out points at Leigh, Chalkwell, and Westcliff-on-Sea (we follow the route of the train line basically) if anyone's feeling like too much of a drip .

 

got tickets \o/

I think I might wear even more waterproof boots this time.

 

I'm packing my sunglasses!
Just about to head off to Southend now - don't be alarmed if you don't see alsoknownas and me on the train tomorrow, we're coming from the other direction!

 

We're heading into Essex also today to acclimatise in preparation for tomorrow.

Really looking forward to seeing everyone and having a good walk whatever the weather.

 

Sorry to hear about the arthritis flare up, scifisam, I hope it improves soon. See you another time! x

 

I've just had a nightmare day at work, so might not come tomorrow. Will let you know in the morning.

 

London types - is the plan still the 10:25 train from Fenchurch Street?

 

Yep, think so! That's what I'm going for.

 

I'm bringing a golf umbrella

 

Might be a good idea. Looks like the afternoon might be soggy

 

Zorb ball?

 

What time do you think we'd expect to be back in London all things considered?

 

Well depending on whether we march on through, or linger longer, I reckon we'll be at the Railway Hotel at around 5pm or so. So then it's just how long peeps want to hang out at the (admittedly rather good) pub.

So check the last trains then .

 

Talking of trains - there is the option of returning to London via Southend Victoria, which runs on a different line to Stratford and Liverpool Street. Though, obvs. this would mean getting two singles, rather than a return (plus that line is slightly more expensive for some reason).

 

Me too!

 

Oops. Drunk friends have turned up at our house at midnight.

However I am still aiming to be there for the 10.25 at Fenchurch!