Dagenham East to Elm Park Walk

It was the Saturday before Christmas (Saturday 20th December) and with the days being short, but hopefully sunny, we were going to have a fairly local walk around some of the lesser well-known parts of Essex / East London.

We met up at Dagenham East station at 11 a.m. There were 10 of us, which I thought was a good turnout for this time of year. After some of us grabbed a drink from the kiosk at the station, we set off, turning right out of the station before entering the footpath adjacent to the District Line, which leads to Beam Country Park.

At the entrance there was a wooden marker post which was made from timber recycled from the old Woolwich Ferry piers, which were demolished as part of the Woolwich Ferry Improvement scheme, which I worked on a few years ago, and there are quite a number of these recycled posts across the park.

We walked along the footpath, between the train and underground lines on one side and a fishing lake on the other, before crossing over the train lines via a footbridge. We continued ahead before turning left and then right between a car park and sports ground, and then right again to reach Tom Thumb Lake on our left. We stopped there shortly to look at the wildlife on the lake, ducks, gulls, Canada geese and a heron at the far end of the lake, before continuing to a surfaced path and turning right.

We passed a couple of sculptures on an art trail, these being an artistic tortoise and a barn owl, diverging from the path to eventually turn left and head slightly uphill to a convenient bench for a short break with some mince pies and other goodies from “Santa Trev”. We continued to a car park where we turned right and headed along a dirt road past a cemetery and riding school, crossing over the River Rom (as in Romford) to Upper Rainham Road, where we crossed over to enter Harrow Lodge Park.

We then headed up the left side of the park through trees and along footpaths with the lake over to our right, before reaching a car park where we turned right, heading downhill to the river Ravensbourne. We then turned right to follow the river along to the lake, which is home to a variety of birds, including a large number of swans. At the lake we stopped at the café for well-deserved refreshments, which we enjoyed sitting outside (what in December!) overlooking the lake.

Suitably refreshed, we then made our way to Elm Park station, an easy 10-minute walk, and everyone made their way home. The weather had been good beyond my expectation, sunny and warm, and the walk had been 5 miles, which is what I said it would be (blimey that’s a rarity!). A very nice pre-Christmas walk. Thanks to all those who came.

Trev Eley

Royal Albert Dock to Hackney Wick

On a sunny Saturday 13th December, five of us met at Whitechapel Station to catch the Elizabeth Line to Custom House, where another member joined us. We then caught the bus to Connaught Bridge alongside Royal Albert Dock and London City Airport.

We then headed past Royal Albert DLR, where we saw half a dozen parakeets clinging to the brickwork of the Victorian Compressor House.

We carried on to follow the Capital Ring up through Beckton District Park, with quite a nice lake, albeit currently fenced off, then a footbridge over the A13 to join the Greenway heading for Stratford.

Along the Greenway was a small Community Orchard, not particularly well kept but there was one pink rose still in bloom in one of the boxed sections. Further on there was also the Pollinator Trail with boards about the bees etc. At a glance it looked as though the two linked up, but it was rather overgrown where the two should have met.

After a diversion off the Greenway due to works near West Ham Station (where one EFOGger took early departure) we went past Abbey Road DLR before rejoining the Greenway to go past the “Cathedral of Sewage” – Abbey Mills Pumping Station. This was one of the few places we saw benches along the Greenway so we stopped for lunch overlooking the grand Victorian edifice, currently undergoing some renovation so surrounded by scaffolding.

We then carried on to the View Tube Café (the main view being the ArcelorMittal Orbit and the Olympic Stadium) for a warming drink and food, with the intention of carrying on to Hackney Wick. However, Marian mentioned there was an issue with the Overground and on googling we realised it affected my planned transport back. We therefore omitted the walk up to the River Lea Navigation and Hackney Wick and instead headed straight into Stratford to catch trains and buses home.

The length of the walk was approximately 6.5 miles. 

Richard

Walk at Warlies Park

A walk on 6th December, 2025, at Warlies Park, north of Epping Forest and quite near Waltham Abbey, Essex.

EFOG members are walking up the hill towards the Rotunda, which is a classical-style circular temple built around 1737. Beyond the rotunda is an obelisk which is dedicated to Iceni leader, Boudicca. Legend says that it was here that she died fighting the Romans. The obleisk can just be seen in the photograph above the group.

The other photo is a view of the lake from the top of the hill. 

Photos by Madeleine.

Photos by Madeleine

Claybury Park Walk

We had an enjoyable 5 mile walk around Claybury Park on Saturday 29th November. Despite the weather forecast of torrential rain it avoided Woodford which was a bonus. We managed to find some shelter in the playground for a short lunch stop when it drizzled slightly. We arrived back at the café just after 1pm where we enjoyed drinks and food.

Jill V. 30th November 2025