Join us for a walk from Rainham station to Purfleet station, via Rainham marshes and the Thames Estuary.

Rainham Marshes nature and bird reserve covers an ancient, low-lying grazing marsh in the Thames Estuary. Its wet grassland, ditches and scrub support a variety of birds and other wildlife. The marshland supports breeding waders, such as lapwing and redshank and important numbers of wintering wildfowl and birds of prey.

Some areas of tall grass and scrub are left unmanaged to provide different habitats. Wildlife in these areas includes small mammals, reptiles, invertebrates and birds such as wintering short-eared owls and breeding reed buntings.
Keep your ears and eyes open during this walk!

Will you join us?

How to get there:

We will meet at 10.00 at Fenchurch station, aiming for the 10.08 am train to Rainham, which will arrive at Rainham at 10.31. Feel free to meet us there if that is easier for you!

If you do aim to meet us anywhere else as Fenchurch Street station, then please make sure you text me on 078 078 3456 4 to tell me you plan to do that so we don’t get worried!

For anyone with 60+ freedom pass: Rainham is within the freedom pass zone, but you will need to buy an extension ticket from Purfleet to Rainham on the way back, as that is just outside the zone.

Terrain and length of the route:

This is a 8 mile walk over mostly flat, tarmac or other hard surfaces.. Please bring good footwear anyway!

Toilets, food/drinks & what to bring:

I suggest we bring a pick-nick and enjoy your lunch outside, but there is an option to buy food, a warm drink or use the toilet in the visitor centre at the Nature reserve.

This walk will happen in any weather, unless it is unsafe. Please check the forecast and bring your waterproofs and (waterproof) shoes with a good grippy profile. It does look like it will be sunny, so don’t forget your sunscreen and/or a hat!

Who can join?

Anyone who can comfortably walk 8 miles/12 km.
Feel free to bring a friend or family member, with or without poles. Nordic Walkers or not, that doesn’t matter, as long as they are Fit (enough) and Happy! 😊

Cost:

£10. If you are one of our regular Fit and Happy Outdoors walkers I can recommend buying a ten-session card for £89.
(Train tickets and food or drinks at café not included)

Our ten session card can be used on our longer weekend walks as well as our other Nordic Walking fitness walks. These happen every weekday in Burgess Park/ Brockwell Park/ Sydenham Hill and Dulwich Park.

Nordic Walking:

Many of our regulars are nordic walkers, but you can join this walk with or without Nordic Walking poles. Curious? If you have never Nordic Walked before then our free taster sessions are probably the best option to feel what Nordic Walking can do for you, and how it is different from just “walking with sticks”.

Don’t have your own poles? Would you like to borrow some from me? Text me the MORNING OF THE WALK on 078 078 3456 4 and I will bring you some. (please, please do not ask me days before, as I will forget and that will make us both unhappy!)

How to join this walk

New to Fit and Happy Outdoors? Please fill in the registration and health questionaire, which you can find here and email them to walks@fitandhappyoutdoors.com at least 24 hours before the session, mentioning in the header which walk you want to join. That will give us enough time to get back to you and discuss your needs and experience.

Please sign up for our Meetup Group to easily RSVP and find out when the next walks are.

Not on Meetup (yet)? You can also use this contact form: