Walking the London Loop – Rainham to Purfleet, Essex

Walking the London Loop, section 24, Rainham to Purfleet,Essex, Sunday 2nd January, 2011

On Sunday, a hardy gang of urban75 walkers set off to walk the last section of the London Loop, a trip that took us into deepest, darkest Essex.

As you can see, Rainham station is a real looker.

Walking the London Loop, section 24, Rainham to Purfleet, Essex, Sunday 2nd January, 2011

It had to be said that it wasn’t the most scenic of routes, with the walk passing under motorways and then running along a huge landfill site along the banks of the Thames (tip: don’t do this walk in the summer).

Walking the London Loop, section 24, Rainham to Purfleet, Essex, Sunday 2nd January, 2011

The walk wasn’t without interest though, as we passed these abandoned ferro-concrete barges used during the D-Day Landings of the Second World War.

Walking the London Loop, section 24, Rainham to Purfleet, Essex, Sunday 2nd January, 2011

Walking the London Loop, section 24, Rainham to Purfleet, Essex, Sunday 2nd January, 2011

We walked through Rainham Marshes, one of very few ancient landscapes remaining in London and teeming with wildlife.

Walking the London Loop, section 24, Rainham to Purfleet, Essex, Sunday 2nd January, 2011

There’s a RSPB centre near the end of the walk, and we popped in for a lovely cuppa and cake.

Walking the London Loop, section 24, Rainham to Purfleet, Essex, Sunday 2nd January, 2011

Back in London!

Lots more photos here:  Walking the London Loop into Essex

One Comment on “Walking the London Loop – Rainham to Purfleet, Essex”

  1. Just to let you know that if you turn left outside rainham station there is a relatively busy high street lots of houses and a large tescos. Maybe 100 yard walk.
    I do not live in rainham but nearby Dagenham Rainham is the posh part.
    Also is it possible to get a guide map for the london loop walks and is it suitable for a bycycle from rainham to purfleet.
    Thanks James.

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