Windmill Hill

The walk up Windmill Hill takes roughly twenty minutes from Tilbury, and on a clear day you'll understand why the old windmill stood here for so long - the views across the Thames estuary are genuinely worth the effort. It's not a dramatic summit by any stretch, but the height gives you proper perspective on how the river curves toward London, and you can see shipping traffic moving through the water like it's a working painting.

The actual remains are modest - don't expect a fully intact structure. What you get is the skeleton of what was once an important vantage point, and that's rather the appeal. There's something about standing where people stood centuries ago, watching the same river do the same work.

Best visited on a weekday morning when Tilbury itself is quieter. Families with reasonably fit kids will manage it fine, though it's not thrilling enough to hold toddlers' attention for long. History types will get more from it than pure hikers - the industrial heritage matters here as much as the landscape.

If you're camping at Thamesview, just three miles away, this makes an easy morning outing before breakfast or a late afternoon walk. It's the kind of spot that works because it's unpretentious and free - no entrance fees, no gift shop, just you and a bit of Essex estuary history. Worth the short drive from the campsite, absolutely.