Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest District Walking Route

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest District Walking Route

Finally it has stopped raining. Every day for the last 6 weeks has seen low humid black cloud ruining every weekend so when I saw the weather was due to break in to glorious sunshine I got my Ordnance Survey map out and planned a walking route in Epping Forest. I plotted out 10 miles from Epping Station to Birching Coppice, up to North Weald Bassett, Hastingwood and then back down through Thornwood to Epping. As usual I got the mileage wrong and this Essex walk ended up doing 14 miles but I was so happy to be out walking again in such beautiful weather that I wasn’t that bothered about the miles or the time.

So far this year I have been ditching my walking shorts in favour of walking trousers, I found I was getting too many insect bites and stings so I was pleased to receive some Avon Skin So Soft Bug Guard through the post. I’m not contractually obliged to say this but I will anyway…. Beyond just fighting off the bugs outdoors, Avon’s Skin So Soft Bug collection also helps you swat them away virtually with the first-ever Bug Guard game!

I will post a full review of the Avon products I received in the next post but let’s get back to today’s walk.

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest District Walking Route Map

When I exited the station I went in to my ViewRanger app on my smartphone only to realise that my Ordnance Survey maps had disappeared after a software upgrade I noticed last week. I suppose I should have checked before I left the house it was all in good working order but I was so glad I still had my paper map with me otherwise I would have had to go home, meaning I then wouldn’t have had time for a walk. I continually cursed ViewRanger for the rest of the walk…

So, map in hand… from Epping Station I turned right and walked up the hill turning right at the Essex Way signpost across the bridge over the railway tracks walking through the residential area turning right at the road and then left at the next signpost by Bower Court continuing to follow the Essex Way signposts where I then entered one of many fields harvesting Broad Beans no less. It was here that I breathed in the fresh air and thought “Good afternoon Essex!” as I surveyed the clear blue skies ahead.

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest District Walking Route – Essex Way Epping

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest District Walking Route – Broad Beans

When the Essex Way track joined the road I walked left and then turned left at Stewards Green to join Stewards Green Lane, a muddy track that climbed gently uphill still soggy from all the rain to the next road where I walked right following the signpost to Fiddlers Hamlet and Toot Hill passing the Theydon Oak on my left hand side passing Gaynes Park on my left hand side turning left at the gate and signpost over the M11 bridge to the other side of Gaynes Park where I then followed the signpost for Epping Country Walk.

I continued my walk along Banks Lane keeping left at Tawney Common turning left in to Mountwood Lane to then follow the waymarker to North Weald through Mount Wood all the way up to Carisbrooke Farm up the road underneath the railway line turning right at the main road and then left up Wellington Road leading to Church Lane. I then followed Church Lane all the way up to the next road where I crossed over to join the Bassett Millenium Walks waymarkers signposted Bassett Millenium Walk 2000 and Stewards Hall through the North Weald Golf Course crossing over the tarmaced bridge where I then walked through the tunnel continuing to follow the Bassett Millenium Walk waymarkers and signposts “The 5th Tee” keeping left at the waymarker across the footbridge where I then joined the Stort Valley Way.

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest District Walking Route – Bassett Millenium Walk

It was here I found a very over grown bridleway track, what better way to test out the Avon Bug Guard insect repellent spray. I fought my way through to the next Bassett Millenium Walks and Stort Valley Way signpost keeping left at the next waymarker up to Paris Hall Farm keeping ahead at the Stort Valley Way and Hastingwood Country Walk yellow topped waymarker where I then turned left at the road and then right at the metal barrier signposted Stort Valley Way walking left at the footbridge and stile to the next stile and footbridge where I then walked right in the short gap in the wood (careful you dont miss it!) to the underpass taking you under the M11 where I then turned sharp left at the exit in to Harlow Park turning left at the end of the woods all the way to the road through another small gap in the woodland by the various metal posts across the field to the next road by the petrol station.

I crossed over the road to the petrol station opposite and then turned right up the track by the disused building in to Latton Park and Mark Bushes where I then exited the woods and turned left to follow the field edge rejoining the Stort Valley Way all the way down until I then joined the Forest Way by the signpost at the end of the thin strip of woodland. I then walked along the track turning right at the next junction by the telegraph pole along the overgrown wide grassy path following the next Stort Valley Way waymarker to the next Forest Way signpost turning left all the way down the road to the metal gate ahead passing Hill Farm on my left hand side to the next road where I crossed over the footbridge to the Thornwood Trout Fishery where I then followed the exit to the road.

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest District Walking Route – The Forest Way Signpost

I then turned right at the main road passing the Epping Forest information board for The Lower Forest on my left hand side all the way down in to Epping where I then turned left at the slip road turning left at the end in to Station Road and back to Epping Station some 14 miles and 4 hours 30 minutes later. My legs were bite free so I was pleased the Avon Skin So Soft Bug Guard had worked!

 

Essex Walks – Epping Forest Bluebell Wood Video

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks – Epping Forest Bluebell Wood Video – Gilwell Park Entrance

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks – Epping Forest Bluebell Wood Video.

This video was taken on a 6 mile Essex walk in Epping Forest when we decided to try a circular walking route from Gilwell Park. Along the way we met some lady walkers who told us about a secret bluebell wood, so we did a quick detour, set my camera to video mode and had a good look around. The full article can be found here Walks and Walking: Epping Forest Walks In Gilwell Park

Summer Walks in Suffolk – Dunwich circular walking route

Summer Walks In Suffolk

Dunwich Circular Walking Route

Another glorious but windy day in Suffolk where my walk started from outside our front door in Walberswick. I packed up my rucksack with plenty of water as I find the bracing sea air makes you quite thirsty and the first 45 minutes of the walk was going to be across the shingle to the tea rooms at Dunwich by the spacious car park.

Walking Poles are an absolute essential on the shingle as they give you greater stability and help you maintain a steady pace. They also take your mind off the fact you have a very long and straight blustery coastal beach walk ahead. It still didn’t deter me from wearing my walking shorts and a sturdy pair of walking boots for the 8 miles ahead of me on this circular walk around the beaches, marshes and heaths.

Sandlings Walk Bridleway Signpost Dunwich Suffolk May 2011

For more photographs of this walk click here: Summer Walks in Suffolk – Dunwich circular walking route.

The irony of this walk is that Dunwich was made famous by once being the largest medieval town in England but now it has all been lost to the sea. The cliffs have suffered from extremely bad erosion from the North Sea and it’s winds.

At the Anchor pub in Walberswick there is a footpath sign that I followed until I reach the beach where I turned right and braved the shingle for 45 minutes until I reached the car park at Dunwich. Walking up to the road I turned left and just after the fork I turned left on to a footpath that climbs around to the Dunwich Greyfriars 13^th Century Friary ruins following the field edge until turning left at the end and then bearing left following the cliff edge and the roar of the seas below. I then skirted around Greyfriars Wood and walked underneath a quaint footbridge to a pathway between houses that then lead to the road and a sign shortly after in the trees for Dairy House.

Here I turned left and walked along the obvious pathway and signposts through the main part of Greyfriars Wood until I reached the road where I turned left and walked past 2 caravan sites on my left. At the end of this road I entered the Dunwich National Trust area where I turned left before enetering the track to the car park. This followed the edge of the cliffs to the National Trust’s Coastguard Cottages and kept left around them to the small garden and view of the Sizewell Nuclear Power Station.

Turning right to find the Heath Barn Field Centre I followed the signpost for a short while before turning right up a sandy path that climbs up gradually through Dunwich Heath. Keeping on Sandlings Walk I followed the obvious pathway in a northerly direction until I reached a crossing of paths at Mount Pleasant where I continued in a northerly direction crossing a road until I reached Sandy Lane Farm where I turned right to walk down a wide shaded path. This lead me to the main Dunwich road with St James’s Church on my right.

I then turned left for a short while before turning right at the Bridge Nurseries and Cafe which then set me on course for the final stage of the walk which was to follow the pthways with least resistance across the edge of Dunwich Forest and then Dunwich Marshes with the sea on my right hand side at all times and heading in a northerly direction.

The pathways then start to slowly bend right towards the beach and after passing the caravan park on my left I found the pathway where I first started the walk and ended up back on the road by the Anchor pub some 3 hours later. Time for lunch!

Summer Walks In Suffolk – Aldeburgh Walking Route

Suffolk Walking Routes

A Circular Walking Route In Aldeburgh…

It was really windy today and quite chilly despite the gloriously sunny day. Tedi was in his child carrier so I thought I would soon warm up. Wearing walking shorts was an error of judgement and I only had a thin wind proof jacket on so the beginning of the walk was a little cold to start with. Underfoot was quite bumpy across the marshes and my North Face Boots were put to good use.

Aldeburgh Marshes and The River Alde May 2011

Driving in to Aldeburgh from Walberswick we headed straight down through the village to the very end of the road before it becomes gravel to the car park, early in the morning to avoid the crowds. There is plenty of free parking but we decided to pay and display and get a safe spot for the car. It gets very busy in Aldeburgh and people are likely to park so close you’ll need a can opener to get back in to your car!

Aldeburgh Marshes in the wind May 2011

Aldeburgh Marshes May 2011

Walking left out of the car park we walked up the gravel road until we reached the first footpath signpost, just before Slaughden Quay,  taking us right in to Aldeburgh Marshes. We then followed the raised banks alongside the River Alde heading leftbefore bending right about 2 miles later. We pass through a few gates until we reached steps going down to our right that we climbed down to reach the open fields.

Following the obvious track gently bending round to our left we entered the farm land at Hall Farm Shop before walking through the garden centre at the front and on to Saxmundham Road, A1094. Crossing over we turned right to the roundabout taking the second turning down Church Farm Lane to reach the footpath on our left. We continued down the footpath until we found an entrance to the caravan park on our right.

We continued straight up to the permissive path and continued walking up this lane until we reached a sign for the North Warren Nature Reserve on our right.Walking across the reserve we could see the coastline in front of us. There were plenty of walkers and twitchers in Aldeburgh by this time so plenty of “Hellos” and “Good Mornings” were exchanged. Reaching the tarmac path we turned left by the shingle beach where we saw the Scallop Sculpture Memorial which was erected in 2003 to celebrate the life of Aldeburgh resident English composer Benjamin Britten.

Timber Framed Moot Hall May 2011

Passing the timber framed Moot Hall, the lifeboat station and then back to the car park our walk was complete at just under 6 miles and 2 hours. The rest of our day was spent enjoying Adnams beer and a hearty crab sandwich at the Cross Keys pub.

 

Summer Walks In Suffolk – Walberswick And Southwold

Summer Walks In Suffolk

Walberswick to Southwold Circular Walking Route

Starting off our journey from Walberswick Green we made our way to the Walberswick side of Southwold Harbour which is a short walk from the Bell Inn. A fine establishment that we would be returning to on our way back! This was more of a relaxing stroll rather than a good walk so it was flip flops, walking shorts and a windproof jacket.

It was one of those days that was really hot when the wind wasn’t blasting in your face!! When we reached the harbour we turned left along the banks of the water to find a bridge further along. Here we crossed the bridge and continued straight on until we reached a signpost taking us over the common to Southwold.

For the rest of the day’s photographs please click here: Walberswick and Southwold Photos

The signpost to Walberswick from Southwold

The common is actually a golf course and once through we had a very clear view of the water tower. We reached the road where all the cars park up for the day and turned left heading towards the church and then turned right until we reached Southwold Square where we had a meander around the shops before reaching the beach. We turned left at the Sailors Reading Rooms and then past a great view of the lighthouse on our left towards the pier.

Southwold Pier April 2011

A quick shufty up and down the pier and we made our way back to the sea wall and walked all the way along passed the canons and lawns until the concrete turned to sand, where we turned right to get back down to the road. We then continued to walk along the road until we reached Southwold Harbour where we had a very short wait to get on board the ferry to take us back to Walberswick and the Bell Inn some 3 hours later and about 4 or so miles, it was a lovely day, very windy, and a very relaxing walk.

Southwold Harbour Ferry

 

Summer Walks In Suffolk – Walberswick To Dunwich

Summer Walks In Suffolk – Walberswick To Dunwich Circular Walk

This is a really easy walking route to follow although the wind, forestry and beach shingle requires some decent walking gear, windproof jacket, sturdy walking boots and maybe walking poles. The weather in April 2001 was fantastic albeit very windy so we donned our walking shorts strolled out at 10am from Walberswick Green, by the village sign.

Click here for all of the photographs from this walk: Summer Walks In Suffolk

Walking with my Craghoppers Walking Poles Walberswick Suffolk April 2011

Walking out of Walberswick we head up passed The Anchor Pub up to the shop and just before the fork in the road. Turning left just after we headed towards the sea before turning right at the obvious junction. Here we find the blue and yellow Suffolk Coastal Walk signs which is what we then followed until we reached Dunwich. Along the way we past a couple of World War II Pillboxes through the Walberswick National Nature Reserve which is quite impressive with the wildlife available to see; Bitterns, Marsh Harriers, Rabbits, Adders, Sheep, Cows etc.

Adder Found In Dunwich Forest Suffolk April 2011

After meandering some lovely forestry and bright yellow gorse we headed towards the very clear sight of the disused Walberswick Windpump which then turns right back in to some pleasant forestry and on through Dingle Marshes which is a huge expanse of reeds. Passing through two stock gates we entered Dunwich Forest whereby we found a flint wall where some of the stones looked like eyes.

We then passed the Bridge Tearooms and then turned left on to the road to the church before turning left following the signs for the beach. There were many warning signs saying the route was closed but as we saw plenty of walkers we continued to follow the shingle beach back towards Walberswick.

Dunwich was once the largest medieval town in East Anglia before the aggressive seas eroded the coastline. This is evident along the shingle walk where the sea has entered the freshwater rivers and streams of the marshes. After a good 25 minutes of shingle we took the first exit of the beach back in to the marshes which offered a more stable walking surface. Here we then joined back up to the windpump and turned right to rejoin the Suffolk Coastal Path back to Walberswick.

Walking The Shingle Beach At Dunwich To Walberswick April 2011

The path zig zags passed a caravan park and ends up to almost where we started with the village green sign back in view. This was a great walk that we really enjoyed and took us just over 2 hours and a good 7 miles. We then walked around to the other side of the green to our right, where we enjoyed a few pints at the The Bell Inn, a 600 year old inn serving great ales!

Walberswick Village Sign Suffolk April 2011

 

Walks And Walking – Epping Forest Walking Routes

Epping Forest Walking Routes

Epping Forest

Epping Forest was originally reserved as a royal hunting ground. That’s a hunting ground for royals to hunt, not to actually hunt the royals!

Unless you zig zag around the forest, it is quite a stretch to get more than a 2 hour walk out of the forest unless you follow the The Forest Way which starts in Loughton and heads straight upwards to Hatfield, covering a good 25 miles.

Most are short walks, mostly of about an hour or 2 in duration and are designed for non-specialist strollers rather than for purposeful and experienced ramblers, but well fitting footwear is still called for. A walking pole is useful for beating down the odd bramble, or to assist anyone a bit unsteady, but not essential. If you are heading in to the forest glades then some decent walking gear is recommended as getting tagged by brambles is a distinct possibility.

Queen Elizabeth I used to hunt there, hence the aptly named Queen Elizabeth I Hunting Lodge, which is now a museum dedicated to the forest. However, it’s histroy dates back much further than that with the remains of a Roman settlement at Loughton Camp. On many occasions I have spotted fallow and the smaller muntjac deers in all parts of the forest. Muntjac Deers are related to the dark fallow deer and were introduced by James I in 1612. However, they have since become a pest of the farmers in the area.

Queen Victoria once said “It gives me the greatest satisfaction to dedicate this beautiful forest to the use and enjoyment of my people for all time” as she rode in an open carriage from Connaught Water along Fairmead Bottom to High Beach to the jubilant crowds. At the Epping Forest Conservation Centre, a trail leads you through an ancient landscape of coppiced and pollarded trees, identifiable by their massive crowns.

In local history, it was the opportunity the Forest gave for grazing animals and supplying fuel that gave Loughton the kernel of its economy for perhaps a thousand years.Epping Forest has never been enclosed or cultivated, but it has been managed by man throughout its written history. Since Norman times, it has been a wood pasture which is essentially the maintenance of an area for the twin purposes of providing timber and grazing, and implies a mixture of grassland and treed areas.

Initially, there were far more open grassy areas of the forest but over the last 100 years there has been a great decline in grazing. Coupled with the cessation of pollarding means that the forest has become much more dense, cutting off the light below the trees that enabled the growth of many species, particularly of wild flowers, that the Victorians saw as common, but which are now rare or extinct in our Forest.

Easy Short Walks

Easy walks that are suitable for all of the family, mostly up to 5 miles which should take a leisurely 2 to 3 hours to complete. Epping Forest can be quite muddy so it is advisable to wear a good pair of walking boots or waterproof walking shoes. Facilities can be quite limited in Epping Forest with High Beach being the most central location for refreshments and toilet facilities. For more information about Epping Forest visit their official website here.

Knighton Wood and Lords Bushes Walk
An easy 1 mile walk suitable for all of the family and small children through this small island of Epping Forest, can easily be extended by an extra few miles if required.

The Ditches Epping Forest
An easy, but very muddy, walk from The Ditches car park to the Epping Forest Deer Sanctuary and back.

Gunpowder Park Walk
A simple 2 mile circular walk in Gunpowder Park offers leisurely walking routes in an area of conservation near Waltham Abbey.

South Woodford Walk
An easy 3 mile linear walk from South Woodford to Chingford following the Epping Forest Centenary Walk.

Willow Trail Walk
A simple 3 mile classic family circular walk following The Willow Trail, one of the official Epping Forest walking routes, around Connaught Water.

Epping Forest Family Walk
A 3 mile family stroll randomly around the ancient woodlands of Epping Forest from High Beach.

Holly Trail Walk
A simple 3 mile classic family circular walk following The Holly Trail, one of the official Epping Forest walking routes, starting in Chingford.

Chestnut Trail Walk
A simple 4 mile classic family circular walk following The Chestnut Trail, one of the official Epping Forest walking routes, starting in Wanstead.

Wanstead Park Walk
A gentle 4 mile circular walk in Wanstead Park, lakes and woodland on well maintained walking routes, tracks and paths.

Gifford Wood Walk
A good 5 mile official Epping Forest walking route from Lodge Road to Copped Hall, Upshire and Warlies Park to the new Gifford Wood and back.

Family Favourite Walk
An awesome 5 mile circular walk from Chingford taking in all of the best sights of this part of Epping Forest. Following the main walking routes this walk starts at Chingford Plain and takes you to High Beach, Loughton Camp, Kate’s Cellar, Strawberry Hill Ponds, Connaught Water and the Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge.

Moderate Longer Walks

These walks are typically between 5 to 10 miles long and can be quite challenging. These types of walks can take between 3 to 5 hours to complete at a good walking pace. Epping Forest has a myriad of pathways so always make sure you have a paper or digital map with you and take refreshments and plenty of liquids with you to keep hydrated. There are plenty of Epping Forest Fallow Deer, Muntjacs and other wildlife to be found on these walking routes so it is always worth keeping as quite as you can to avoid scaring them off before you get to see them!

Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge Walk
An easy 6 mile circular walk from Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge to High Beach and back via the Epping Forest Green Ride walking routes.

Chingford Walk
An easy 6 mile circular walk from Chingford to the famous Epping Forest Bikers Cafe.

Pole Hill Walk
An easy 6 mile circular walk from Chingford to Pole Hill Obelisk and back via the Epping Forest Centenary Walk.

Gilwell Park Walk
A good 6 mile circular walk around Gilwell Park, home of the Scout Association, with a Secret Bluebell Wood Video as an extra bonus!

High Beach Church Walk
A simple 7 mile circular walk from Chingford to High Beach Church and back via the Centenary Walk, one of Epping Forest’s most well known walking routes.

Oak Trail Walk
A gentle 7 mile circular walk along The Oak Trail, one of the official Epping Forest walking routes, including buffer lands, deer sanctuary and Ambresbury Banks.

High Beach Walk
A good 7 mile circular High Beach walk from Connaught Water in Chingford including a visit to the Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge.

Upshire Walk
A good 7 mile circular walk from High Beach, in the heart of Epping Forest, following The Forest Way walking routes through to Upshire and Copped Hall Gardens.

Waltham Abbey Walk
A leisurely 7 mile circular walk from Waltham Abbey through the Epping Forest Lee Valley Park walking routes and the Royal Gunpowder Mills.

Chipping Ongar Walk
A good 7 mile circular walk in Chipping Ongar starting at the unique Log Church in Greensted following the Essex Way walking routes and back via the Three Forest Way to Ongar Castle Motte and Baileys.

Jacks Hill Walk
A good 7 mile circular walk from Jacks Hill in Theydon Bois including a visit to the Epping Forest Deer Sanctuary.

Kates Cellar Walk
A decent 7 mile circular walk starting and finishing in Chingford, exploring Epping Forest’s Kate’s Cellar at Loughton Camp.

Ambresbury Banks Walk
A solid 8 mile circular walk from High Beach to Ambresbury Banks Fort and then following the main Epping Forest walking routes to Loughton Camp near Loughton.

Essex Way to Epping Walk
A solid 8 mile linear walk along The Essex Way walking routes from Chipping Ongar to the ancient woodlands of Epping Forest.

Deer Sanctuary Walk
A solid 9 mile circular walk starting in Debden following popular walking routes to Abridge, Theydon Bois and then back via the Epping Forest Deer Sanctuary at Birch Hall.

Epping Green Walk
An easy 9 mile linear walk starting in Epping Green following The Forest Way walking routes to the Centenary Way and ending at Chingford Plains.

Hainault Forest Country Park Walk
An easy 9 mile linear walk from Hainault Forest Country Park folloowing the Three Forests Way and London Loop walking routes to Chingford.

Waltham Abbey to Epping Walk
An epic 9 mile linear walk from Waltham Cross to Epping Town via Waltham Abbey and Epping Forest following the historic Green Lanes walking routes.

Good Long Walks

These walks are typically over 10 miles where you can really immerse yourself in Epping Forest and try some of the lesser known walking routes and hidden treasures, taking in as many as you can on a day long walk. Always be fully prepared for good long walks and long distance walking routes taking plenty of fluids, refreshments and plenty of plasters just in case!

Copped Hall Walk
A great 10 mile circular walk from Loughton to Copped Hall House, using some of the most popular walking routes in Epping Forest.

Loughton Walk
A solid 10 mile circular walk from Loughton to Jack’s Hill and Copped Hall House following well known Epping Forest walking routes.

Gifford Wood Walk – Extended
A good 10 mile official Epping Forest walking route from extended from Theydon Bois to the start at Lodge Road to Copped Hall, Upshire and Warlies Park to the new Gifford Wood and back down to Theydon Bois via the Epping Forest Deer Sanctuary.

Abridge Walk
An easy 11 mile circular walk from Hainault Forest Country Park to Abridge and back folowing popular Essex walking routes.

Queen Boudicca Walk
An epic 12 mile circular walk, and one of my Epping Forest favourite walking routes, from Epping Town to Ambresbury Banks and the Queen Boudicca Obelisk with plenty of sightings of the Epping Forest Fallow Deer at Copped Hall.

Theydon Bois Walk
A solid 13 mile circular walk from Theydon Bois following The Essex Way walking routes to the Roman Road and Gernon Bushes Nature Reserve.

Epping Forest District Walk
An easy 14 miles circular walk from Epping Station to Birching Coppice, North Weald Bassett, Hastingwood and back via Thornwood. This is another of my favourite Epping Forest walking routes.

The Forest Way Walk
The Forest Way is a 25 mile long distance linear walk along the walking routes, footpaths and green lanes of Epping Forest and Hatfield Forest.

Walking Routes
100+ Free UK Walks & Free UK Walking Routes. No registration/subscription fees. Post your walks on our Facebook page and tweet your walks with us on Twitter

I did a series of short walks in Epping Forest over the Easter weekend in 2012 when it was gloriously sunny and perfect for walking:

1. Walks in Essex

2. Epping Forest Walks in Chingford

3. Epping Forest Walks in Wanstead

4. Epping Forest Walks in Gilwell Park including the Secret Bluebell Wood

5. Epping Forest Walks in High Beach

6. Epping Forest Walks in Upshire

7. Epping Forest Walks in Theydon Bois

8. Epping Forest Walks in Ambresbury Banks Fort

9. Epping Forest Walks in Loughton

I recommend buying your walking clothes, walking boots and walking accessories from these highly reputable online retailers featured in my online shop: Outdoor Clothing Offers

Walks And Walking: Epping Forest Walks in High Beach

Walks and Walking: Epping Forest Walk in High Beach

Another hot day for a walking route around Epping Forest today so we drove back out to the forest to Connaught Water. As always, I was straight into the walking shorts, t-shirt and a good pair of walking shoes with Tedi in his child carrier.

This walk takes us from Connaught Water in Chingford at the top of the hill by Queen Elizabeths Hunting Lodge, Epping Forest. We then head north through the forest until we reach High Beach and The Kings Oak public house, a newly refurbished pub with a large garden area, where there is a good view of London the other side of the car park.

For all our photographs from this walk please click this link: High Beach Walking Route

Epping Forest typical pathway

The Walking Route

From Connaught Water car park we turned left and walked around the lake until we reached the top left by an overgrown footbridge. We then turned left on to the wide pathway and headed straight upwards where there is only really one way to go before joining a concrete track up until we reached the Bikers Cafe (Tea Hut). Essentially we headed North alongside the Epping New Road but on the parallel path.

Reaching the road we turned left until forking right and taking the first right back in to the forest a few minutes later. We then found the main path on our left and continued up and down some steep areas of the forest path and start to loop round to our left until we see posts in the ground and a break in the forest on our left. On our left we spotted the remains of an old wooden bivouac which has been there for years. Here we turned left and headed past it until we reached a fence where we turned left and followed round to the garden of The Royal Oak.

The pub had a refurb a year or so ago and went a bit more upmarket so muddy boots and walkers aren’t made to feel that welcome. However, next door is the Epping Forest Conservation Centre who offer refreshments and a tea hut opposite the green where you find the views of London.

Walking back past the pub, now on our left we found a break in the forest by Pauls Nursery and walked through the winding path to the road by the church. Turning left we walked down a little further before re-entering the forest on our right, before the fork in the road which leads back down to the Bikers Cafe, which is known as Centenary Walk.
We then walked down this main pathway in a southern direction which leads in to Green Ride and down to the Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge.Turning left on to a pathway running parallel to the road (A1069) we rejoined the car park some 2 hours and 7 miles later.

About Epping Forest

Epping Forest is an area of ancient woodland in south-east England and is a former royal forest containing areas of woodland, grassland, heath, rivers, bogs and ponds. Epping Forest stretches between Forest Gate in East London and Epping in Essex measuring 12 miles in length but only ever just under 3 miles in width at its widest point and follows the valleys of the Lea and Roding rivers.Queen Victoira opened the forest to Londoners and it was also a favourite hide out of Dick “Stand and deliver” Turpin.

Walks and Walking: Epping Forest Walks In Gilwell Park

Walks and Walking – Epping Forest Walks in Gilwell Park.

We decided to do a walking route around Gilwell Park today as it was such a fine spring morning with the day looking full of sunshine. Back in the walking shorts and short sleeved t-shirt for today as it was so hot yesterday and today looks like being another hot one. It is very dry under foot at the moment so just a good pair of walking shoes are required and, as always, Tedi was very happy getting in to his child carrier!

Along the way  we met some lady walkers who told us about a secret bluebell wood, so we did a quick detour, set my camera to video mode and had a good look around.

For all the photos from today please click here: Gilwell Park Photographs

To watch our short video please click here: Secret Bluebell Wood

The White House at Gilwell Park, Epping Forest

The Gilwell Park Walking Route.

We started the walk at the visitors car park opposite The White House at Gilwell Park in Sewardstonebury, Epping Forest, Essex. Passing through the big wooden Gilwell Park gates we followed the yellow waymakers through the park and various scouting activities to the views of the King George Reservoir below us and then carried on down the grassy slop to a kissing gate at the bottom. We then continued through the fields to catch view of well maintained fields with plenty of horses and llamas to a large fishing pond. Following the pond around with the water on our right hand side we walked on Daws Hill for a short while until we turned left on to Sewardstone Road turning right down Mill Lane, all well signposted so far.

Crossing in to the reservoir, we turned right and then straight on until we found the edge of the Lee Valley Park, close to Gunpowder Mills. Here we followed the London Loop green waymakers until we reached Sewardstone Road again at the next London Loop sign by a stile on our left, a short distance up the road, we turned left and ignored the rest of the Loop to walk up the steep flank of Barn Hill before walking down the other side continuing straight on and upwards until we reached the wide Green Lane. Ignoring the first signpost for Lippitts Hill we turned left at the second signpost to Lippitts Hill.

We then followed the yellow waymakers across the golf course, up and around to the police firearms training camp. As we reached Lippitts Hill we turned right, passing The Owl pub on our left we turned right up some steps at the next footpath sign. Following the obvious pathway we continued to a large metal gate where we turned right and followed the treeline (where we found the bluebells) down through the golf course before turning right at the waymaker which lead us in to Bury Road where we turned right and then left back in to Gilwell Park, some 2 hours later and a good 6 miles covered.

About Gilwell Park.

Whilst Gilwell Park is more famously known as the home of The Scout Association, its history dates back over 600 years to 1407 no less. The first record of the area can be found in the British Library’s Harleian register.

The land was part of the Gyldiefords, as named by the owner John Crow. John Crow owned several areas in the Parish of Waltham Abbey, Essex, which, at the time, were known as “parcels”.By 1422 the ownership had changed and the land became known as Gillrolfes, as in Glen of the Rolfes. This was common in those days, the first part ‘Gill’ simply being the old English word for Glen. Little Gilwell was an ‘L’ shaped piece of land sitting behind and to the left of the farm with Great Gilwell, the larger field, running across what is now the Boys’ Field to Hoe Lane. To the front of the farm was an open public area called Gilwell Green.

In later years an adjoining property of some 14 acres on the other side of Hoe Lane, was purchased by Richard Osborne. He built a house which he called Osborne Hall on the site of roughly where the White House is today. It would be easy to be fooled into believing that Osborne built something as grand or as large as the White House but clearly this would not be true. The building must though have been of some considerable size and well constructed because, although we know little of Osborne himself, the name of Osborne Hall lived on for the next 300 years.

 

Walks And Walking – Epping Forest Walks In Wanstead Park

Walks And Walking – Epping Forest Walks In Wanstead.

We did this walking route last year and enjoyed it so much we decided to return today, a beautiful spring day with clear blue skies and very warm weather. It was definitely a t-shirt and walking shorts day today so we laced up our walking shoes and strapped Tedi in to his child carrier setting off for our forest walk in Wanstead Park, East London.

We like to keep our routes quite flexible so as soon as we entered the park we had a good look round and walked for about 2 hours covering about 4 miles or so of this Epping Forest walk.

For more photographs of Wanstead Park click this link: Epping Forest Walks In Wanstead.

Walking in to Wanstead Park Fairies Hill April 2011

Getting to the park from the tube station:

From Wanstead Tube, turn left by the green in to St Mary’s Avenue crossing over in to Overton Drive at the end. At the T-junction turn left and enter Wanstead Park through the gate opposite at the edge of the Golf Course.Walk ahead, slightly downhill until you reach the water and then turn left.

It’s then simply a case of following the pathway around the lakes, keeping left at all times. There are plenty of signs in the park so it’s impossible to get lost but it is worth while having a good look around and trying to find the remains of the grotto and a look around the Temple.

About Wanstead:

Wanstead Park was a favourite of Elizabeth I and the walk follows the outline of the ornamental lakes and includes the ruins of a grotto and refurbished Temple, which is quite a suprising sight as it comes in to view.For a few hours you forget how close it is to the North Circular or how central to London it is as the park is sheilded from the noise.

Wanstead’s royal connections date back to 1553 when Queen Mary stopped here to meet her sister Princess Elizabeth who was accompanied by hundreds of knights on horseback. What a sight that would have been! Henry VIII took control of the area and after Mary’s death when ELizabeth became Queen she managed frequent visits to the estate, for lavish parties and short holidays.

Elizabeth’s successor, James I, spent the autumn of 1607 in Wanstead and over the years in grew in popularity and value. However, in 1794 Catherine Tilney-Long inherited the estate but married a gambler who blew the fortune in less than 10 years. The house was pulled down and everything sold to the highest bidder although the grounds still remained and have been well looked after.