This series of walks for 2026 is from the book Beyond the End of the Line by Jeff Lock. Each walk starts at the terminus station of London's eight underground lines. This walk starts at Upminster and follows the Ingrebourne river down to Rainham. It largely follows the route of London Loop section 23 and for convenience I used the loop guidance which was somewhat more detailed.
So arriving at Upminster around 11.15 I walked down a few streets to pass Upminster Windmill, an impressive sight but only open on weekends.
Soon from here I join the London Loop and enter Gaynes Parkway. The Ingrebourne comes into view but is largely hidden from view by vegetation. I cross a bridge and note that this will be closed for a few days from the end of October for footpath repairs.
Through two pleasant open spaces
Here the Ingrebourne Valley nature reserve is entered and will be followed for a couple of miles. A mixture of woodland and more open space.
The whole area was used by the RAF in the war and there are various remains of that time. Here what looks like a buried pill box. The Ingrebourne Valley Nature Discovery Centre is reached, a possibility for a break but I kept going.
The route continues and shortly reaches the first lookout point over Ingrebourne Marshes.
Further on the path up a quite steep rise, a pause at the top to regain my breath, then an equally steep descent. The guide suggests an alternative route to avoid this but I would have not got the views. Afterwards a large pill box with an information board beside it.
Alongside some kind of underground construction. The next pill box is unusual in that it is entered from a tunnel and only a small part is above ground.
Albyn's Farm lake is reached. This large lake is used by anglers and there are a few private fishing pens which can be used at a significant cost, they were deserted today, maybe it is off season.
Then after passing a large farm gate that I initially thought was locked I reached Albyn's Farm itself and a magnificently restored medieval manor house. Then open space is reached in the final section of the walk.
The guide suggested a short diversion to the viewpoint at the top of Ingrebourne Hill but after seeing the steep narrow track I decided not to. The track continues to shortly exit Ingrebourne Valley on the main road to Rainham. At this point I broke for a very pleasant lunch at the Albion.
Resuming after lunch I walked the suggested alternative route, first along the Ingrebourne then through several alleys to reach Rainham village.
The very pleasant village centre then Rainham station, the end of my walk. I just missed one train so had to wait half an hour with the occasional HS1 train zooming past on the adjacent line. Back to Waterloo and home.