We are the Hike Essex Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
This is a linear walk along a section of the Thames Estuary Path starting at Tilbury Town Station and finishing at Stanford-le-Hope Station, which is on the same line.
We join the Thames at the 'Worlds End' next to the 17th-century Tilbury Fort. From there we continue along the base of the sea wall, following the Thames to Coalhouse Fort, an artillery fort built in the 1860s to guard the lower Thames. We will stop here for an early lunch break (cafe/toilets/picnic tables).
After lunch we continue along the sea wall, passing within sight of The Bata shoe factory (1932-2005) in East Tilbury, which employed 3,000 people at its peak in the 1960s and 70s.
The route continues to Thurrock Thameside Nature Park and the Visitor Centre there before we head north to Stanford-le-Hope Station.
The majority of the route is on good solid paths, but some sections maybe muddy. There is a pub near the station for anyone that would like to have a drink afterwards.
PARKING - You can either park near the Station in Tilbury Town or at the end, Stanford-le-Hope Station and get the train to the start (do not get off at East Tilbury!).
Tilbury Town (RM18 7JT) - you can park (for free) along Dock Rd or Calcutta Rd near the station at weekends (there is no station car park). CHECK for parking restrictions before you leave your car though as it does vary.
Stanford-le-Hope Station Car Park (SS17 0JX) - You can pay for ticketless parking (on arrival, or when you leave). Its £3.50 for the day, you can pay using the car park machine, or via the RingGo app. Allow enough time to get a train ticket though as the station is unmanned and there is only 1x Machine (there can sometimes be a que). There is (currently) a train at 10.16 from SLH that gets to TilburyTown at 10.25 on Platform 1, same side of the tracks as the car park.
We will meet outside the South Entrance of Tilbury Town Station, which is the opposite side to the shops (there is a footbridge if you need to cross over). If you arrive on the train from Stanford le hope, its the exit on the platform you arrive at.
