22 Harold Wood to Upminster Bridge Station

1st March 2007

As the start and finish were very close to home I set off in the afternoon. The weather was sunny and bright but the wind was cool. Most of the section follows the river Ingrebourne and it is hoped that future development of footpaths along the valley will eliminate most of the road sections.

The first part of the walk takes you through Pages Wood, part of the Thames Chase development along gravel paths with the river to the left. The plantation includes oak, hornbeam and ash but looks more like a nursery than a wood. It’s unlikely I’ll be visiting for another walk as the car park had a height barrier.

Then, there followed a road section of a mile or so across the A127 and south into Upminster. There were a few views back towards Havering and I spotted the White House, about 4 miles north and quick glimpse of Canary Wharf.
At the bottom of River Drive, the walk suddenly turned rural again and also very muddy. It was time to put on the wellies.

Through a small wood, over a footbridge and stiles, past a school playing field and alongside a ploughed field, I trudged along enjoying the solitude and the very bright sunshine. Quite unexpectedly I came across a paddock of donkeys and goats, not the sort of thing you usually find in Upminster. The last half mile or so back to the tube was all urban, enlivened only by a glimpse of Upminster Windmill.

This walk seemed a bit tame after the rural delights of the last two sections. I’m sure it will improve when proposed Greenway is finally developed. However it was a lovely sunny day and there were worse ways of spending your 50th birthday.

Time for leg 1h 50m Distance 4 miles Time for trip 3hrs Walk log

Total Walking Time 8hr 05m Total Distance 14.5m Total time 14hr 05m

Fares this leg £6 Fares total £6

Section 22 Essentials
Section Map
Directions

Distance and Time 4.3 miles 2hours 40 minutes

Walking Conditions: almost completely level with one or two short gentle slopes; mostly footpaths, tracks and grass, often with rough surface; 2 stiles from Hall Lane to Wingletye Lane; the section from Harold Wood to Hall Lane is suitable for the less mobile and for pushchairs.