The Millenium Way Walk is a delightful walk covering 24 miles, and was devised by the Ramblers Association. It covers all aspects of the town from the famous Golden Mile featuring the longest pier in the world, the surrounding golden sands to the beautiful countryside that surrounds the town.

The Walk has been produced as a high quality fully illustrated A4 brochure detailing the route with maps and points of interest. These are available by sending a cheque for £4 to: Ted Lewin, 19 Little Thorpe, Thorpe Bay, Southend, Essex SS1 3RN, enclosing a self-addressed A4 envelope and two first class stamps (allow up to 21 days for delivery). All proceeds go to the Hospital's StrokeBuster Appeal.

The walk starts from the Southend Leisure Centre next to the Garons Golf Course in Eastern Avenue. After crossing the playing fields behind the Leisure Centre it follows Rebels Lane through a narrow pathway enclosed by trees on either side and a small brook on the left hand side. Coming out onto a secondary road, the route leads to a path across a field and eventually emerges in Thorpe Hall Avenue. This is arguably one of the most attractive roads in the area. The one mile long path through the trees in the centre of the dual carriageway leads out eventually and perhaps unexpectedly onto the seafront with spectacular views across the estuary. The walk follows the pathway all the way along the seashore to Leigh Station. On the way you pass the attractions of the golden mile, the Cliff Gardens, old Leigh and the famous Leigh cockle sheds and fishing boats.

After going up a steep hill you will follow a gradually rising ridge in Hadleigh Country Park eventually reaching Hadleigh Castle with its magnificent estuary view. After leaving the country park and crossing the main A13 road to London you reach Hadleigh Great Wood linking with Belfairs Country Nature Reserve. Look out for hawthorn, bramble, honeysuckle and fine crab apple trees that provide food and shelter for Woodmice, Voles, Squirrels and Dormice. In spring you will see a carpet of bluebells. You should also look out for Blue Tits, Green Woodpeckers and you may even spot the rare fritillary butterfly. After leaving Belfairs via a grassed pathway you will cross the A127 London Road before eventually coming out into Edwards Hall Park. The route through Edwards Hall passes close to Gusted Hall, once the home of Anne Boleyn and follows attractive pathways through woodland and fields eventually emerging near the to the town of Rochford. Following the path through the Golf Course you pass St Andrews Church and cross railway before coming to Southend Road. After crossing this road you start on the last stretch of the journey through the fields running parallel to Sutton and Shoplands Road, passing a miniature guage railway beside Sutton Hall.