Langdon Hills Country Park
This splendid country park in Basildon includes 400 acres of meadows, farmland and woodlands with an abundance of wildlife from Green Winged Orchids to the Great Crested Newt. There are miles of walking and cycling paths taking you through the parkland, the local farmland and on to the Plotlands Nature Reserve. The site includes several different nature reserves with the bluebell woods in April particularly popular.
Just to the east you will find Wat Tyler Country Park where there are lovely trails around the Essex Marshes to enjoy.
Postcode
SS17 9NH - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsLangdon Hills Country Park Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Langdon Hills Country Park Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Langdon Hills Country Park OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Langdon Hills Country Park Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
There's an on site cafe where you can pick up a selection of sandwiches and drinks.
Dog Walking
The woodland and parkland trails are ideal for dog walking so you'll probably see plenty of other owners with their pets.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
Head north west towards Brentwood and you'll find a couple more local country parks in the shape of Thorndon Country Park and Weald Country Park. There's miles of good walking and mountain bike trails to try here.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Essex Walks page.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Langdon Lake. A relatively newly dug Lake in Langdon Nature Reserve. This is run by of Essex Wildlife Trust. The people were taking part in the 30th anniversary celebrations of the Trust taking on the reserve.
The Visitor Centre at Langdon Nature Reserve. Between the two World Wars, many parts of Basildon were sold to Londoners seeking a week-end retreat in the country. The Haven, home to the Mills family, has been retained as a typical plotland bungalow. Built in the mid 1930's by Frederick Mills, it was the family home for over 40 years and is now a museum. It can be found a short distance along the footpath in the photo.
Bluebell wood. April is peak time for a display of bluebell in the park.
Entrance and car park to the Dunton Plotlands nature reserve. This is the western part of the Essex Wildlife Trust's Langdon Reserve.
Looking south-east over the countryside toward the River Thames.
The Haven in the Plotlands section of the park. The Haven is the last survivor of the Dunton Plotland dwellings that were built between the two world wars. Plots of land were sold cheaply to families mainly from East London for holiday homes. The deeds did not permit occupancy for a full twelve months of the year. This was ignored during WW2, after the war the council decided that it would cost far to much to bring the infrastructure up to modern standards so people were moved into the new town of Basildon. The last few houses being compulsorily purchased. The area was designated as a recreational area. 30 years ago the area was handed to the Essex Wildlife Trust. The haven is now preserved as it was in the 1940's.
Inside The Haven. The Haven was home to the Mills family until the early 1980's. It is now preserved as a museum the restoration was carried out with advice from the family. It really reminds me of how aged relatives houses still looked in the 1960's.
