Sunday, February 23, 2025

Rainham Marshes Walk

 

Off message but last Sunday Gill and I finally went for a walk in nearby Rainham Marshes alongside the River Thames. This was a circular route about 7 miles long. We had walked East alongside the Thames in June 2017 in the very last leg of the London Loop walk- Harold Wood to Purfleet. 

However, that had been a warm and sunny day and now it was very different. It was cold, fresh and mostly overcast but the sun did make brief appearances and it brightened up near the end. The light was fantastic and the views across the marshes and the river was spectacular. We parked at the RSPB site near Purfleet where sadly, the café has recently closed (also walking distance from the station?) and walked west alongside the river towards A13. 

It was a "seriously weird" and unusual walk. Some unsightly decaying industrial sites and bright modern industrial estates. Despite some noise from the A13, it was quiet and peaceful with only small groups of bird watchers and occasional dog walkers. There is definitely, something very special, about walking alongside water. 

Main picture is of World War 2 era steel and concrete barges dumped in 1950s but no apparent evidence that they were used on the D Day landings in 1944 that some claim. 

Just before the A13 (walking distance from Rainham Station) we turned back and walked through the marshes alongside the watercourse back to RSPB site. This area was once a British army shooting range. The remains of old shooting butts and wartime anti aircraft ammunition bunkers are still there. 

We will come back again in a different season for sure. We will also investigate the RSBP reserve trail and hides, which we ran out of time to visit. 

Check route below and my other walks www.facebook.com/walksinandaroundlondon/



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