Visit RSPB Rainham Marshes nature reserve and explore your wild side through our wonderful variety of activities, events and trails, finishing your visit with a big mug of tea and slice of cake in our lovely cafe.
We have a brand new suite of exciting activities on offer at Rainham Marshes through a partnership with Sport England.
This joint venture offers the chance for people to adventure into nature by running, canoeing, climbing and cycling with wildlife on two RSPB nature reserves.
RSPB Rainham Marshes in Essex is fully equipped with bikes, running routes, orienteering, yoga, Nordic walking and a bouldering course to help visitors experience wildlife from a new perspective.
You can set off on a cycle adventure to suit you, with our various sizes of hire bikes to accommodate the family. Explore along the river wall taking in views over the Thames down to London and across the nature reserve – watch out for marsh harriers soaring overhead. Rainham Marshes is perfectly situated for cycling with access to Sustrans route 13 and links to explore further afield.
Guided Cycle Rides
We also offer guided cycle rides where you can see some stunning views and wildlife, all the while learning a bit more about the reserve! You might even discover something new – be it a place, a sighting, or just the joy of watching the murmurations of lapwing swooping over the reserve.
Additionally, if you would like to learn some basic bike maintenance skills (like puncture repairs, removing wheels, cleaning and tuning gears) you can join our bike maintenance workshops, or leave your bike with our Dr Bike who will check it over and make any simple adjustments needed.
Running
Join running sessions – if you want to start or have been running for a while there’s sessions for you!
Fancy going for your weekly run in a nature-rich environment? The Rainham Harriers running club offers just this experience – an opportunity to get active outdoors and improve your fitness, whilst benefiting from the enjoyment of bird song in a wildlife-abundant landscape. Distances range from 3km up to 12km depending on demand.
Feeling adventurous? Come and explore our nature inspired climbing activities within the reserve.
Slacklining
Try slacklining to test your balance, and challenge yourself to try out our climbing boulders to test your strength on the variety of ascents and descents to the reserves soothing soundtrack of birds and other wildlife. Seeing how high you can get and have a go at some of the games and activities on offer at one of our events.
Bouldering
Boulder grades range from beginner to more advanced (V0 – V5) to challenge and develop climbing skills.
Nature orienteering
Try nature orienteering – can you navigate your way around the reserve with a map and compass between the various clues to unlock the mystery posed by our trail master!
Keep an eye out for our wide range of events available at the reserve including guided walks, Nordic Walking, Bouldering workshops and Wild Families Nature activities such as bird box building, mini beasting and pond dipping.
Find out more at www.rspb.org.uk/rainham or contact Jennifer Blake at [email protected]
Getting There
The reserve is located off New Tank Hill Road (A1090) in Purfleet which is just off the A1306 between Rainham and Lakeside. This is accessible from the Aveley, Wennington and Purfleet junction off the A13 and J30/31 of the M25.
- Grid ref: TQ552792
- Lat/long: 51.49040,0.23413
- Postcode: RM19 1SZ
