Brother Stephen McGhee, a resident here at the almshouse, tells how, over a number of months, he completed the London Loop.

Covid restrictions permitting, I recently completed the London Loop or to give it its official title ‘the London Outer Orbital Path’. This is a 150 mile  (242 km) walking circuit around the capital.  The London Loop is also known as the M25 for walkers. There are 24 sections in all, each easily managed in a day or even half-day. What is more, all the sections can be reached by tube, Overground, train and bus. In addition, the loop is reasonably Well signposted. However, I would recommend David Sharp’s book ‘The London Loop’ and for your smart phone there is an excellent App called ‘Go Jauntly’.

I started in Erith, going all the way around clockwise, and ended up in in Purfleet just across the Thames. The highlights for me were Farthing downs, Bushy Park, and Epping Forest, plus following the Ingrebourne river with its excellent bird watching opportunities. There are delightful country bits but also drab, boring suburbia. The worst aspect is so much of the walk is strewn with litter. Having bagged the London Loop, the Capital Ring and the North Downs Way my next adventure will be the South Downs.