Leigsou one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

A superb Slow Way. One of the best. Relaxing, safe and interest filled.

Walked from Leigh to Southend. This is mostly an excellent enjoyable route but is let down a little by careless GPX plotting.

I won't post a detailed review, as we have so many reviews already. A few notes on the GPX plot: firstly fitter walkers may want to use the shortcut with steps down to the Leigh High Road. The plotter seems to have failed to decide between staying on High Street or using the coast path - we chose the coast path. Once out of Old Leigh all is very straightforward until we reach The Cliffs park, and once again a little more detail on the GPX plot could have been very helpful here. Most of the paths have some steps. These are minor nitpicks, as it is never difficult to find a way to continue, and the final parts through the streets of Southend are easy. The Southend meeting point location seems a little odd, at it is well to the east of the main entrance to Southend Central station.

I walked this East to West and it is an easy route mostly on wide paths suitable for wheels. The official route does have some steps and steep oaths which can be easily avoided by making a slight diversion via Shorefield Rd.

Walked this in reverse on a winter morning and the sun shone. Quite flat apart from the path down the cliff at Southend.
Struck me as a safe-feeling walk for a single female to do.
Lots to look at.

Lovely route along the sea front.

A relatively accessible beautiful walking route between Leigh on Sea and Southend. I walked it in the reverse direction but I don't think that makes any difference. It is a lovely wide easy walk through the pedestrianised Southend and then along the sea front. There are many places for refreshments including amazing Belgian chips and lots of pubs, restaurants and sea food stalls in the old port of Leigh.

I walked from Leigh-on-sea to Southend-on-sea on a moody Autumn day.
Out of the station turn down toward the sea the road goes behind fishing warehouses and marinas before emerging at the seafront with cafes, tea houses, pubs, shops and galleries. Then it is sea-front most of the way. There is a lot to see and good views, big skies. It was high tide and the sea was close to the path, perhaps not a walk to do in stormy weather! But even at high tide there are little stony beachs and I wandered along for a little beach combing finding piles of clothing belonging to the many swimmers, brrrr.
There is an obelisk called the Crow Stone and opposite, on the Isle of Grain, is a similar one called the London Stone, they mark the end of the Thames Estuary and the beginning of the North Sea. There are toilets along the seafront and it is flat with plenty of benches, more of a dawdle than a hike.
Close to Southsea the path climbs stairs and steep slopes through park and gardens and along the cliff top with good views. There is a cliff funicular railway to take you up/down if you have wheels, but the website says it is only open on Saturdays, 50p. This may change peak season.
The Cliff road takes you to Southend town shopping centre and the railway station is at the far end.
This was a lovely walk with lots of interest. Suitable for wheels with small detours but expect steep slopes.

I really enjoyed this walk (and its one I’ve done many times.) It’s very flat and direct, with lovely sweeping views across the estuary. There are many places to stop for tea (lunch or snacks) on the way.

If you’re a wheelchair user, as an alternative to going up to Westcliffe Parade through the gardens, you can keep on along the seafront/ Western Esplanade until you get to Southend Cliff Railway. This will take you up to the high street.

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