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Capital Walkers Group

Welcome to Capital Walkers, the friendly London Ramblers group for people aged 40+. We walk every weekend and usually at least once during the week.

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Join the Ramblers and enjoy

  • unlimited free access to 50,000 Ramblers group walks
  • a library jam-packed with thousands of tried-and-tested routes
  • a welcome pack teeming with top tips plus our Walk magazine
  • exclusive discounts from our partners
  • knowing your support is opening up more places to walk and helping more people discover the joy of walking
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Overview

A flat circular walk around Canvey Island which follows the seawall clockwise. Canvey Island is truly wedged to the mainland. It’s not floating somewhere out there. A few steps across a road bridge (Benfleet Creek) and you could be forgiven for not realising you are now encircled by water.

Canvey Island has a rich history of settlements and this walk highlights views of Hadleigh Castle, Southend Pier, The Thames Estuary and beyond to the North Sea; salt marshes and Canvey's industrial heritage with views upstream across the Thames to Tilbury Docks and Fort.

Canvey's sea-wall murals capture the island's changing history; its lived experiences and the islands famous rock band, Dr Feelgood. The Island's literary connection is immortalised by Charles Dickens description of the Inn (The Lobster Smack) in Great Expectations.

A truly unique walk!

We have a late lunch stop after six miles. Please bring a packed lunch. There is a second stop for refreshments at The Lobster Smack. Thereafter this circular walk takes us back to Benfleet Creek with the afternoon sun behind us on the southern shore.

This is a full day walk at a brisk pace of approximately three miles per hour.

Drop-out points - bus back to Benfleet Station after 6 miles.

No dogs.

No booking required. Neither is it necessary to txt or email beforehand to join the walk.

Thursday, 28 August 2025
Start time:
11:20 am
Estimated finish time:
4:45 pm
Difficulty:
Moderate
Distance:
24.1km / 15.0mi
Ascent:
N/A
Type:
circular

Travel:

Take the 10:34 train from London Fenchurch Street, (West Ham 10:43; Upminster 10:56) arrives Benfleet at 11:16. Buy a return to Benfleet or if a Freedom pass and senior railcard holder a day rover ticket.

https://www.c2c-online.co.uk/tickets-and-fares/off-peak-discounts/senior-rover/

The expected finishing time is an estimate only and will be dependent on a number of factors such as, weather, the speed at which the group walks and the number of breaks taken.

Features

  • Refreshments available (Pub/cafe)
  • Toilets available
  • Accessible by public transport
  • No car needed

Starting point

Grid reference:
TQ 77703 85923
Nearest postcode:
SS7 1BZ
what3words:
navy.drop.event
Start time:
11:20 am

Benfleet Railway Station

Join the Ramblers and enjoy

  • unlimited free access to 50,000 Ramblers group walks
  • a library jam-packed with thousands of tried-and-tested routes
  • a welcome pack teeming with top tips plus our Walk magazine
  • exclusive discounts from our partners
  • knowing your support is opening up more places to walk and helping more people discover the joy of walking