Hornchurch to Purfleet (via Rainham Marshes) linear walk

We will meet in the foyer of Hornchurch Station (District Line) before making our way into the Ingrebourne Valley (SSSI).  There are no toilets near the start.

The paths we follow are man-made, are not particularly muddy and follow much of the London Loop – in the event the path is waterlogged near the start (as it was after the heavy rain on Sunday 11th January), a small detour will be necessary.  Due to the distance many will have travelled to reach Hornchurch (and our late lunch), we will take an early refreshment break after c. 25 mins at the Essex Wildlife Trust Visitor Centre for a hot drink in the café, to use the free toilets or visit the micro museum for RAF Hornchurch.

Leaving the Visitor Centre, we enter Hornchurch Country Park.  The paths meander through marshland past pill boxes that remain from RAF Hornchurch during WW2 when it was a major airfield for defending London from the Luftwaffe.  The RAF started an airfield here in 1915, when Leefe Robinson VC became famous as the first pilot to shoot down a German airship.

As we leave Hornchurch Country Park we pass through Rainham, following pavements until we rejoin the marshland paths that lead us to the Thames Estuary and the RSPB Rainham Marshes centre (distance walked c. 7.5 miles).   We will have our lunch here – the RSPB closed the cafe and shop last year, but we can use the tables & chairs in the warm to eat our sandwiches etc.

After lunch there is a c. 50 minute walk around Rainham Marshes to see the former MOD facilities (gunpowder storage / shooting range) and, of course , the wildlife.  It may be possible to see seals on the Thames mudflats, as well as avocets, curlew, kestrel,  kingfisher, snipe and spoonbill, ducks and moorhens.  After returning to the Visitor Centre, there is a short walk to Purfleet Station for our return journey.  Purfleet is on the C2C line (Fenchurch Street to Grays) – a ticket can be purchased to West Ham, where you can then tap in with Oyster / Freedom Pass etc. and switch to the Jubilee or District Line for your return home.