Walks you can reach from West Ham by train
MapA day hike is just a simple train journey away — plan your next day of green.
Laindon Circular via Langdon Hills (Essex)
30 minutes direct from West Ham.
Hilly Essex countryside, ancient and modern woods, flower-rich meadows, farmland, panoramic Thames Estuary views and conservation village.
Time: 5h
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Benfleet Circular via Leigh-on-Sea (Essex)
30 minutes direct from West Ham.
Hilly woodland, narrow grassy paths, open estuary waterscape, wide flat creek-side track and gentrifying seaside town.
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Rainham to Grays (Essex)
15 minutes direct from West Ham.
Flat riverside path, marshland, industrial scenery, flood defences, graffiti art walls, former wharves and Thames views throughout.
Warnings: Flood risk eastern half.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Rainham to Purfleet (Essex)
15 minutes direct from West Ham.
Completely flat, tarmac and hard surfaces, riverside sea wall, reed beds, marshes and industrial-edge landscape with Thames views.
Time: 3h
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Tilbury Town to East Tilbury (Essex)
30 minutes direct from West Ham.
Flat Thames Estuary coast path, riverside sea wall, wild flower meadows, salt marsh views, former landfill landscape and brief inland section.
Warnings: Check tide timings.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Reverse direction: Railwalks.
Leigh-on-Sea to Shoeburyness (Essex)
45 minutes direct from West Ham.
Flat coastal path, seaside promenade, harbour, mudflats, beach huts, residential streets, open grassy seafront and army training area margins.
Warnings: MOD closures apply.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Shoeburyness to Southend Central (Essex)
1 hour direct from West Ham.
Rayleigh to Leigh-on-Sea (Essex)
45 minutes direct from West Ham.
Recommended: The views from Leigh on Sea looking out to the sea are beautiful. Quiet woodlands, farm paths, horse yards and pretty residential areas and passing through a nature reserve before reaching the coast at Leigh-on-Sea. Includes a safer crossing of the A127. The route passes through a nature reserve near Hadleigh and goes past a windmill.
Time: 2h–4h
Walk details: Slow Ways.
West Horndon to Stanford-le-Hope (Essex)
15 minutes direct from West Ham.
Basildon to Rayleigh (Essex)
30 minutes direct from West Ham.
Basildon to Leigh-on-Sea (Essex)
30 minutes direct from West Ham.
A varied, enjoyable but challenging route with a dull pavement start out of Basildon, then a golf course needing careful navigation, a nature reserve, the England Coast Path, a surfaced country park track to Hadleigh Castle. Much of it is wet and slippery in winter and with clay fields near the end; several short flights of steps and stiles. The coastal section is part of the England Coast Path. Passes the quaint St Margaret's Church with a bench, and ripe blackberries in late summer. Easy and affordable trains from either end.
Time: 4h–8h
Warnings: The path across the golf course needs careful navigation as marker posts are few and indistinct. Several wet, slippery and muddy sections in winter that are largely unavoidable.
Walk details: Slow Ways.
Basildon to Wickford (Essex)
30 minutes direct from West Ham.