周辺のスポット/アトラクション・トップ16

Bowers Marsh is a relatively new RSPB reserve between Pitsea and Benfleet stations. It's home to a lagoon, reedbeds, grasslands and plenty of birdlife. The reserve also features three viewing points and two picnic areas.

Largely a woodland run with some nice ups and downs and scenic views. Even more if you go off route in a few choice places, for the more adventurous out there. Enjoy reconnecting with nature!

Memorial to RAF pilot William Henry Hodgson who, instead of bailing out over Shotgate village, crashed his burning Hurricane into the nearby fields, luckily surviving and being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery.

Railway bridge bisecting the Giddings Copse/Shotgate Thickets nature reserve. You used to be able to climb the works stairs to gain access to the other side, but now you can only do so further down-river at the road bridge over the A130.

A pair of memorials to Royal Air Force pilots Capt. Alexander Bruce Kynoch and Capt. Henry Clifford Stroud, who were killed in action on March 7th, 1918. Captain Kynoch's is at the spot marked on the map, surrounded by a gated fence. Captain Stroud's memorial is a bit further down the path, toward the main road, and features a large mounted propeller.

A nice and easy walk leading to the Bluebells.. but also many other flowers/nature to explore on these trails. Good for a run as well as a dog walk around Langdon hills.

This'll test you. It's long and steep.

St. Mary the Virgin church in Little Burstead is in the middle of nowhere, and hidden by trees making it easy to ride straight past without a second glance. However, take a moment before tackling the downhill to Dunton to stop for a little rest here and you'll be rewarded with a characterful little church with great views over the surrounding area and an atmospheric graveyard with some lovely, ornate headstones.

St Margaret's is located on the edge of Bowers Gifford Marshes on the outskirts of Basildon and Pitsea. I hiked there along the train tracks from Basildon which is a surprisingly beautiful path, if you manage to ignore the trains going past every 20 mins. The church is a historic Grade II listed building with English Heritage and dates back to Saxon times. It is recorded in the Domesday Book and is a rare example of a working 'marsh located' church.

Beautiful country park with quite a few spots for twitchers and also family fun. I found it very quiet but this might change on sunnier days. It says it closes at 5pm but I found out that in Summer it closes at 7pm. More on www.wattylercountrypark.org.uk/our-story

Forget the arguments about Essex being too flat, here's a short ramp to test your climbing legs.