Hadleigh Park and Castle

We walked from Hadleigh Park, down towards the railway line, along towards Leigh-on-Sea, up to the castle, up into Hadleigh, along the High Street and back to the Park.  A total distance of 3.4 miles (5.5 Kilometres).

We had been doubtful about this walk as the forecast was for thunderstorms, but this morning, not even rain was forecast for Hadleigh.  So we set out, substituting the new camera for the old, just in case.  

Parking is expensive and works like the hospital car park, you pay on exit and cameras record your entry.  As usual in these places, my credit cards would not scan and a card reader was not installed.  We found one that took cash, what a relief, as the parking app that it says to use has completely different paying instructions.

The walk itself is pleasant, the tracks are quite steep in places, but mostly the paths are clear.  Some of the tracks are dressed with stone chippings. It's not that great for walking on, but when there are hundreds of people it is better than leaving the path to erode.

There are some great views of the Thames from various places, below is the first clear view of the river as we made our way downhill.

An early view of the River Thames.

While the early part of the walk is through scrub, with warnings of cows and a bull (we didn't see any), at the bottom of the hill there are cultivated fields at least as far as the railway line.  Wheat, barley and rape seed.  We saw only two trains on the entire walk, this being another strike day.

A field of rape seed almost ready for harvest, looking toward the railway.

When the castle first appears, it is a stunning view.

View of Hadleigh Castle from the footpath.

 Turning towards the castle, we walked up the footpath as directed by the waymarker.  It was very overgrown, and the secateurs came to good use, then we noticed two people walk down the hill with apparent ease.  Just 10 metres further on, there is another track running parallel with the now (mostly) disused footpath.

After visiting the castle, we headed for the Salvation Army tearooms.  It was closed, they are just now beginning to get it up and running.  The tearooms were always staffed by those with educational difficulties, now it is to be run by them too, with some assistance from the Salvation Army.  We will have to return for another visit in a month or two.  Meanwhile, we met two of the employees and were treated to some samples of the cakes they had made.  

Walking through the High Street brought back many memories, Hadleigh was where I grew up.  The butchers shop where I was stand-in delivery boy for a friend.  And the 'Arkwright' bike that I used to ride.  Granville would have been proud of me.  The scrapyard overflowing with rusty who knows what to about two storeys high and the shop next to it where we bought fireworks (both now gone), the old fire station, still not re-developed, the Wagon and Horses, now flats, and much more if I'd stayed longer.  We headed back down Chapel Street, passing a little park, beyond which there are allotments, which my dad waited more than twenty years for and was only offered one just after he moved away.

Finally, back in the park, we had lunch at the 'Hub Café'.  The food is very basic and partially green - all the packaging for the salads and sandwiches is recyclable, but there is only a normal general rubbish bin to put it in.  Rather odd, I thought.

View of Southend pier from Hadleigh Castle