That's a slight modification with a nicer route through One Tree Hill with the best views (ditto Basildon outskirts) and also going through a meadow instead of along a nice but boring bit of bridleway between high hedges (Photo 2). In other places I've exaggerated kinks in the route, this one isn't always clear which side of a ditch, hedge or other field boundary to walk along, and that was slightly time wasting....

Daisy C

I stopped around half way at the quanit St Margaret's Church and sat on a bench to rest....

Dan Barron

Safe, direct and probably a lot easier in dry conditions. Certainly easy to follow. A nice variety of paths and surroundings....

David Sanderson

This route is not exactly what we walked, as we followed the first part of the bridlepath through Benfleet Downs, but having moved onto the well surfaced country park track a little later, we decided that it offers a much easier route in wet conditions, though it does have one additional small hill. The path takes us past a housing estate and onto a surfaced track through the park into Benfleet, where more pavements take us to the path leading to Benfleet Downs country park. We did rejoin the country park track at the earliest possible opportunity, and it offers an easy and popular route until it turns uphill to visit Hadleigh Castle, Here we lose the surfaced track, and go straight on along the edge of several wet clay fields, to emerge just above Leigh-on-Sea station, which is reached by an easy pavement walk down the hill....

Hugh Hudson

Directs you to walk through the grounds of a private care home...

David Sanderson

Unfortunately I am going to have to fail it and submit an alternative because the route down into Vange does not work as drawn - the GPX suggests turning left onto Downs Grove but there is no route through to London Road that way - the route that works goes straight across (see BASLEI two)....

Hugh Hudson

I wouldn't recommend this route overall, but if you could find a way from West Horndon to the Old Church Hill car park I'd definitely recommend the eastern half into Basildon....

Daisy C

A huge muddy field with no obvious path was a small challenge but otherwise a very pleasant walk with much to commend it....

Strider

A route which is generally pretty enjoyable but loses a star due to a tricky section near Little Burstead. The walk into Basildon is quite long and, thanks to some residential meandering and Gloucester Park and Basildon Sporting Village, doesn't require much walking along busy roads....

David Sanderson

The only problem area is the path from the byway (Green Lane) south of Botney Hill Road, which is largely unmarked through a scrubby field and then a large clay field (the aerial photos suggest there is a cut line in summer). From Brentwood, we head south along pavements and shortcut paths, then take the footpath south through Harts Wood, which is mostly easy to follow with occasional waymarks. The field path from Billericay Road is well used, clear and easy to follow, Note that the path along the south side of the drainage ditch is better than the right of way on the north side. We go straight on onto Botney Hill Road then right down the Green Lane byway....

Hugh Hudson

The last half a mile or so of this route, in Basildon, walks alongside a ring road that isn't meant for pedestrians and even if you were to brave the verges you'd have a hard time crossing the roundabout. BilBas 2 fixes that problem and also uses a local nature reserve near Billericay for a greener and quieter walk which is only 450m longer...

Daisy C

The route to this point is a mix of wide gravel paths and narrow muddy paths, not suitable for wheels. Once the route gets to Pitsea it becomes much more urban and trickier to navigate, the stretch across the golf course in particular, GPS track helped me it here....

Alex Thornton

I chose to walk on the grass verge on the south side of the road, which was ok for most of the way2 The grass verge is not suitable for cycling, but there is a painted cycle path on the road that should be ok.....

Scott

From Basildon station there is a short stretch of roadside walking before crossing a golf course. The path across the course is not well marked and easy to take a wrong turn. There is a viewpoint at Pitsea Mount and I took a short detour off path to the top to see a view across the estuary and the ruin of St Michael's church. A short suburban road ,across a patch of grass into a field beside the railway. From here the walk changes from suburban to open countryside. There is a slight rise in the path as it approaches Leigh-on-Sea and a short stretch by the road to the station....

Strider

A short walk though West Horndon (what a friendly village, 7 'good mornings' in 7 minutes) takes you to a narrow path that quickly opens out across open fields for a few km. Across a narrow bridge and through a farm/fishery the path turns into a track taking you to Fen Lane. Old Church Hill is very narrow but very quiet and goes up hill to a path though woods to open fields beside Hall Wood....

Strider