Leigh-on-Sea in September

A sunny day forecast so we take a break and drive out to the Estuary (Thames)

We spend the morning wandering around the town (lots of individual and interesting shops and galleries) before a nice lunch of Lasagne, salad and garlic bread.

We then walk down the cliffs

and look out over Two Tree Island where the cliff vegetation is beginning to look very tired b ut left undisturbed for the wildlife

We walk over the bridge across the railway line

and make our way through Old Leigh

where many people are out eating seafood and enjoying the sun

The tide is out since my first photos this morning except for a channel for the fishing boats

Many places to eat

including a tearoom next to a pedestrian bridge over the railway line

We pass a museum

and a smart restaurant with a deck over the water

the Sea Scouts hut

two more Pubs

and finally a great fresh fish outlet

before walking along the waters edge for a mile or so

( somewhere at this stage I put my camera case down while taking photos and did not realise for some time - so double-backing added a bit to our walk but there was my case just where I had left it)

The tide on the Estuary goes out a couple of miles at this point. When my children were young we used to love walking out to a ship wreck and swim in the warm water that had collected in the hollow where the ship was resting

and finally Chalkwell comes into view

Time to begin walking back

I have posted on Leigh many times in the past so thought taking you with me on the walk would be of interest 

The Old and the New with a Walk thrown in.

These photos were taken in September 2011 and have been waiting on the 'back burner' to be posted

Regular followers of my blog will know that I have posted on Leigh-on-Sea many times,

the reason being, that our closest and most long standing friends lived there and we stayed there over many years when they were away. It is also only 40 minutes from home

Summer 2011

This is the home that they rented for many years but had to leave when the owner died

The property originally consisted of 2 semi-detached homes which were eventually turned into 4 apartments, our friends living in the ground floor on the left

Summer 2012

As there were no children the property was left to 2 nephews and the above photo shows the two new houses that they built for themselves after demolishing the original property

Very modern and with great views over the estuary

I do miss the old one though as it was like a second home

Having parked the car we begin with a coffee

over looking the Thames estuary

We leave the restaurant and take a walk into the town from the parade where our friends lived

before returning to the top of the cliffs

and make our way down into the old town over the bridge on the left which crosses the railway line

It is high tide so the fishing boats are in

A restaurant selling freshly caught fish

and then we come to several outlets that sell all kinds of seafood

and beer and drinks

looking back

and here a tea room and ice cream parlour

next to a quaint cottage

and now the HQ of the local Sea Scouts

till we reach the beach 

in re-tracing our steps we take you down this corridor

onto the deck of a restaurant

where many people are enjoying drinks

The restaurant which is on the right is quite upmarket so a dress code essential but lounging out on the deck is casual

Hope you enjoyed yet another walk around Leigh-on-Sea