Havering-Atte-Bower to Harold Wood: 5.25 miles (8.5 km)
Trail Landmarks
Pyrgo Park - continuing on from the green after a break for lunch, the last stage 20 unfortunately does not finish alongside a rail service but only a bus stop. Leaving behind St.John the Evangelist, the path heads outwards through this quaint rural village via a narrow exit alongside garages into open countryside. Circumnavigating horse fields then a small bridge and across an open meadow, the path enters Pyrgo Park. A former property of Henry VIII, the only remains of which are two rusting metal gateposts marking a boundary.
Paternoster Row and Noak Hill - crossing the harvested fields at this time needs some care and potential course correction as an electric fence masks the footpath of which the trail follows and then a diagonal turn left is needed before the dip. Following the hedgerow, crossing over into a wheat field using the waymarking signage and eventually reaching Paternoster Row is straightforward but not too comfortable under foot against grassed ploughed-over dirt. Taking the lane and then a stoned path via a secreted stye brings the path out onto Cummings Lane and descends down Noak Hill.
Carter’s Brook - turning left onto Noak Hill road at the Deer’s Rest pub with an extensive pub garden relaying Television Sports, the path turns into Carter’s Brook, the stream heading directly south to the Thames. An awkward brush to walk through alongside the stream directly, better to stay on the verge and then finally join the tarmac path. Wild deer can be seen here either on the adjacent common or springing out of the scrub unannounced!
Paine’s Brook and Central Park - staying on the same bearing the Brook simply switches name to Paine’s Brook and soon enters Central Park. An excellent recreation ground with Skateboard and BMX park, enclosed Astro pitches and adventure playground with refreshment kiosk. Alongside a dedicated bench reside three metallic figures, important ‘locals’ - Henry VIII, Dick Bouchard and Harry Eccleston. Installed by the charity Sustrans, they are one of many triptychs across the country. Leaving the park and firmly in the suburb of Harold Hill (of infamously named King Harold), this section comes to a close at Harold Wood station and the new Elisabeth Line, for the return journey back into London.
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