The 150 mile London Outer Orbital Path “LOOP” starts on the south bank of the Thames in Erith, and goes all the way clockwise round to Purfleet on the north bank in 24 sections.

If you feel the need to exercise your legs the London Loop is easy to access by public transport and you can do it in sections. I’ve done a few of these over the years but on a sunny day in August decide to tackle the final stretch.

What I always find surprising is that you’re soon out in the countryside among cornfields, forests and lakes, and there’s very little road walking.

Harold Wood to Upminster Bridge, 4 miles

I take the train from Stratford through exotic place names like Ilford and Romford before arriving at Harold Wood to start my walk. After a few suburban streets I’m in Harold Wood Park with groundsmen attending to the cricket pitch. I get my first glimpse of the River Ingrebourne, just a stream really, which will be my constant companion until it discharges into the Thames at Rainham.

I follow it into Pages Wood on a wide gravel track which I share with cyclists and families. Most are out walking their dogs or for a picnic and I’m the only hiker on the whole route. I emerge onto a main road and cross the busy London to Southend dual carriageway but am soon back at the Ingrebourne again.

It leads me into wide cornfields, with bramble bushes providing copious supplies of blackberries for a morning snack. I circle the corn before coming out onto the road which leads me to Upminster Bridge. There are pubs here but it’s too early to stop so I press on.

Section 23 Upminster Bridge to Rainham, 4 miles

After leaving the station I enter Hornchurch Stadium and then rejoin the Ingrebourne. Hornchurch Country was once an RAF airfield providing planes for the battle of Britain but all that remains are the odd pill box and gun turret.

The wetlands by the river are now home to flocks of birds and Albyns Farm Lake is full of ducks. I’m soon on the outskirts of Rainham and enjoy a pint at the Albion.

The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book and it’s pleasantly quaint with Rainham Hall, a three-story brick townhouse built for a sea captain. It’s the most distinguished of several 18th and 19th century buildings but there’s also a huge Tesco. Eurostar trains rush through here on their way to France and I cross the high speed by the station and enter Rainham Marshes.

Section 24, Rainham to Purfleet 5 miles

It leads me into wide cornfields, with bramble bushes providing copious supplies of blackberries for a morning snack. I circle the corn before coming out onto the road which leads me to Upminster Bridge. There are pubs here but it’s too early to stop so I press on.

Section 23 Upminster Bridge to Rainham, 4 miles

After leaving the station I enter Hornchurch Stadium and then rejoin the Ingrebourne. Hornchurch Country was once an RAF airfield providing planes for the battle of Britain but all that remains are the odd pill box and gun turret.

The wetlands by the river are now home to flocks of birds and Albyns Farm Lake, is full of ducks. I’m soon on the outskirts of Rainham and enjoy a pint at the Albion pub.

The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book and it’s pleasantly quaint with Rainham Hall a three-story brick townhouse built for a sea captain. It’s the most distinguished of several 18th and 19th century buildings but there’s also a huge Tesco. Eurostar trains rush through here on their way to France and I cross the high speed by the station and enter Rainham Marshes.