Plotlands and Langdon Hills

"The Haven"

"The Havens" is the last Plotlands house, it is a museum now, and in need of refurbishment.  The Essex Wildlife Trust have plans developing.  I hope they can preserve this important piece of Essex History.  On a day like today, the house is an idyll.  A simple house, with enough land to grow a good portion of your own food, it takes me back to a simpler time (before I was born, but I can imagine it).  This is the first building you see after leaving, the very modern EWT visitor centre.  It makes for quite a contrast, I wonder which of them is really more sustainable?

I found this site, http://www.roselake.co.uk/main/dgowlett.htm, which give some history on another Plotlands house. Much of this history was destroyed when Basildon New Town was build.

We continued up the trail towards Langdon Hills, up and up, with just the occasional down.  You need a certain level of fitness for this walk, the paths are sometimes good, but at other time are rough hardcore that has been partly washed away. The walking here needs care.

Up some more until you can see the QEII bridge through the haze.  

QEII bridge from Langdon Hills

Until, at the top of the walk, where we met a man with an ageing Ridgeback, who pointed us to an alternative path back, avoiding the nettles and brambles.  Before returning, though, a picture or two of the Capital city.  This is the best one.

London, from Langdon Hills

Then, all the way back down.  We followed his advice, then got back on the official route, but the guide book was rather sketchy on where next, especially as the red waymarkers it mentions have long since disappeared.  So for the last part we found our own way, with a little help from 'Map my Walk'.

A stroll around the 'gardens' that have been set up near the visitor centre was followed by a cup of tea. 3.9 miles (6.3 km) covered today.