Rainham Marshes RSPB Nature Reserve

Leaving, as usual, from Walthamstow Town Hall we will travel down Forest Road then via the LCN quiet routes through Leyton and Hackney Marshes to the QE2 (formerly Olympic ) Park and onto the Greenway which takes us right across Newham to Beckton. From Beckton we will pick up CS3 eastbound to Rainham (running alongside the A13) then pick up the quiet route through Rainham onto the nature reserve. The views of the Thames are quite stunning so you may wish to take a few pictures. We will cycle to the far end of the reserve to the RSPB centre where you can enjoy a bite to eat if you wish or bring a picnic. There are cycle hoops so bring your bike lock. Post prandial, we will make our way back by the same route. This is a pretty flat route with fairly trivial hills (bridges for the main part) with a total cycling time of 3.5 hours plus the break in the middle. If you are lucky you may see a raptor or two - last time I rode this route I had a buzzard flying alongside me for around half a mile. We aim to be back between 2pm and 2:30pm