London Prairie Walk from Upminster Bridge to Purfleet

This is a combination of the last two sections of the London Loop Walk totalling 10 miles. Of varied terrain through towns, villages, managed marshland, parks, a revamped RAF base, small lakes, prairie landscapes, then post- industrial landscapes along the Thames. With muddy bits though no significant hills but a set of metal steps.

Starting from Upminster Bridge District Line. 10.30 a.m. where I will meet the group.   

The first section will be exploring the wetlands of the Ingrebourne Valley.  There is a chance for toilets and refreshments in the country park café, a converted RAF base.

Lunch and opt out point is at Rainham, where we will have done over 4.5 miles.  There is a churchyard for packed lunches and various pubs and teashops.

Going on, we ascend steps over a metallic structure over the railway and weave through the arches of a raised motorway, onto the second part of the walk.  A drained marshy area turned into a prairie like landscape moving on through post-war and post-industrial landscape. Hopefully blooming meadow flowers with attendant insects.  Birders might want to keep their binos handy!

We walk towards the Queen Elizabeth II bridge perhaps with an offloading cargo vessel on the way, before breaking off to Purfleet.  We might want to take a break at the pub, to order a swift shandy or coke, and to use the toilet, before checking the next train from the station, another mile away and with no facilities there.  C2C trains are every 56/26 mins past the hour.  Toilet on train.