To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net. It's possible to pick up a car from places like Euston Station, Stratford International Station, London Victoria, London Bridge and Waterloo to name a few. Make the most of a visit to these ancient woodlands by discovering the best walks in Epping Forest. Length. Hop on the Central Line 2,400 hectares of ancient woodland await, complete with walks that range from short jaunts of a mile or two to all-dayers that showcase the diversity of the forest. Epping Forestis one of the best places inLondonfor gentle autumn walks through carpets of crunchy leaves, strewn with conkers and acorns. You can also start this route from Chingford station and it takes you through towards Loughton and Theydon Bois. We have a mix of short family friendly walks or longer epic adventures that take you deep into the heart of the majestic Epping Forest. Features: This is a great longer distance hike with easily accessible paths. It's also great for cyclists, with most of the trails being open and actively used by mountain bikers. 1. Epping forest offers 176 miles (284 kilometers) of walking paths and nature trails across its 8,000 acres (3,237 hectares) of land. Fringing London's northeast, just across the steely surge of the M25, the 6,000-acre ancient woods of Epping Forest are threaded with markered trails that lead walkers past clusters of gnarled oaks and beaches, . It brings respite from the often stifling summer heat, with cool and pleasant evenings but the whispered promise of further balmy days. Highams Park Lake is just as beautiful as Connaught Waters and walking round it doesnt take too long and is a great walk. Expect to see lots of fallow deer in the Deer Sanctuary, English Oak and other native tree species including alder, birch and beech. There are approximately 284 kilometres of hiking paths in Epping Forest so you certainly wont run out of options! Follow the trail and it takes you through a stretch of the forest filled with the beeches after which its named. If just the thought of attempting the trail has got asking, What is there to eat at Epping Park? Get recommendations on the best single tracks, peaks, & plenty of other exciting outdoor places. Being in such close distance to London, Epping Forest is perfectly located for a day out filled with walks in a former royal forest. AllTrails has 37 great trails for walking, hiking, and birding and more. The forest is in the northeast of Greater London and southwest of Essex. , The best way to get to Epping Forest if youre, 7 Best Places to Stay in Hvar for Tourists, 10 Best Places to Stay in the French Riviera, A Perfect 2-Week Wild Atlantic Way Road Trip Itinerary, Is Sweden Expensive? The first comes with the fact that Darwin is said to have enjoyed strolling in these woods back in the late 1800s. Trains depart from Liverpool Street Station and only take 30 minutes and will take you directly to the entrance of Epping Forest. Epping & Essex Bumbles Walk - 10.3km circular walk, 3. 3,261 Reviews Explore the most popular walking trails in Epping Forest with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. Although the timing varies from year to year, bluebells usually bloom frommid-April to late May. A very good day out. We love this spot because theres plenty of things to do if hiking or exploring forests isnt totally your thing. This variety sets the woods as a fantastic setting for a woodland walk as youre able to see a lot, even in a relatively short period of time. As other reviews have said, there are a lot of paths on this route so it can get confusing. Epping Forest. From Chingford Station, pick the Willow Trail or the Holly Trail. Check ahead for opening times though some of these spots are open 24 hours throughout the year, others like Selsdon Wood Nature Reserve and Richmond Park have restricted access after dark. The beech trail starts at the High Beach car park entrance and will take you through uneven terrains including steep inclines and surfaced forest tracks. Epping Forest Queen Elizabeth 1 Hunting Tower - shorter circular walk - 3.9km walk, 4. Features: This a great hike and ample opportunity to make it longer by taking many of the side paths. The ancient woodland of Epping Forest within Zone 6. Epping Forest is easily accessed by the London Underground, with District Line stations Buckhurst Hill, Loughton and Theydon Bois ideally situated to the east of the trails. Prior to that and after, it was used for grazing. Ready for your next walk or bike ride? I suggest downloading Maps.Me on your phone its an offline maps app that is much better to use for hiking compared to Google Maps. One of the last remaining sections of the ancient Forest of Essex, Hainault Forest is a beautiful stretch of woodland near London that stretches over a sizable 336-acres. Today, it forms the backbone of one of the most interesting city walks in London. The Code of Conduct for dog walkers states that your dog must be under effective control, though it is not required to be on a lead unless it does not respond to your call. Birdlife includes greater spotted woodpeckers, blue tits, robins, wrens, sparrow hawks, good old London pigeons and much, much more. There are so many different options for routes in the forest as well, ranging from really quick refresh walks to longer, half day hikes. Overground station at Chingford. If you plan to visit Epping Forest regularly, it can be worth visiting the Epping Forest Visitor Centre at High Beach. However, you can take the subway to Loughton station, take the walk to Loughton Station, take the line 20 bus to Traps Hill, then take the walk to Epping Forest. For many, the best hiking trails in Epping Forest are those they can share with their faithful hound. The Isabella Plantation doubles up as a large botanical garden filled with blooming azaleas and other colourful plants. Epping Forest - Ponds and Loughton Camp - 8.1km circular walk. Epping Forest Main Path and Green Ride Circular, Strawberry Hill Ponds and Earl's Path Pond, Epping Forest and Green Ride Trail Circular, Green Ride and Main Path from Gardeners Arms, Epping Forest, Highams Park Lake, Woodford and Connaught Water. More information on getting there can be found here. Croydon is (rather unfairly I might say) known for many things the unfortunate Croydon facelift among them, but did you know the borough boasts a plethora of green spaces including the stunning Selsdon Wood Nature Reserve. Check out my guide to the best Epping Forest walks. Beautiful walk through Epping Forest, lots to see and take in. If rain is in the cards for the day, dont forget to wear a waterproof raincoat that will act as your shell against the elements. Started by the Romans, the wall was maintained right up to the 18th century. Where can I purchase paper maps for this route? Strava route Google route. Which trail has the most elevation gain in Epping Forest? Kids and ramblers of any age will find a variety of trails to suit their needs. Of course, you can choose to take alonger hike through Epping Forest. Wanstead Park is a great place to walk round. Whilst there are some areas you'll go through that have good phone signal, most areas, you'll find this is patchy at best. There are also many trails on offer here, so you won't have to worry about getting easily bored when you're on your Epping Forest walks. For generations of Londoners, walks in Epping Forest have provided an escape from the pace of life in the capital, giving access to gorgeous natural sights and a real sense of serenity. When you come to explore it for yourself, remember to bring waterproof shoes or boots--the paths are often muddy! Here are seven of the best Epping Forest walks near London including easy to understand downloadable maps: 1. Epping Forest can get muddy and cold, particularly in winter so its a good idea to wear comfortable walking shoes that are going to keep your feet warm and dry. 1. Epping Forests natural beauty and numerous walking trails are guaranteed to reward both first-time and repeat visitors at any time of year. This article contains Affiliate Links. Bath Day Trip from London: A One-Day Itinerary, The Perfect Weekend in Manchester Itinerary, Visit Oxford or Cambridge: Choosing a London Day Trip. Posted on Last updated: 20th March 2023 Categories Things to do. Wear practical (waterproof) shoes to explore these forest walks in London, they can be muddy at the best of times and soggy feet are grim. The trees that make up Abinger Roughs comprises mostly oaks, birches and the occasional pine and are said to be over three centuries old. Places to stop . When not obsessively searching for flight deals, Michael likes being ultra-competitive at table tennis, gazing at street art, and contemplating life while sipping a dram of fine single malt whisky. This trail is undulating, uneven and challenging. More information and walks can be found here. If you are arriving bycar, there are pay-and-display car parks close to the Forest. Queen . One of the great things about Epping Forest is that it can give you an Oasis away from the city - feeling like you really are in the countryside. Though do note that there is a short but steep slope when approaching the trail from Chingford Plain. They also have toilet facilities. Varying in distance from 1.25 miles to 6.6 miles, most of them start close to parking and train stations. Walks in Epping Forest take you into a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, thanks to the range of habitats found here. Thankfully it was mostly frozen over as we arrived early (9ish) and there were lows of minus 4 degrees last night. Best of all: Its a straight shot on the train. There are a number of trails that continue from this area but if youre sticking to the circular day hike head towards Loughton Camp before continuing towards High Beach. Thank you! Although longhorns can be easily mistaken for bulls, they are reputed to be docile creatures. Hiking Epping Forest Walks: A Guide to the Forest's Best Trails By Lauren Pears Last Updated October 28, 2022 Spanning 8000 acres across London and Essex, the magnificent Epping Forest is an ideal location for city-dwellers seeking greenery and fresh air. The centre is run by volunteers and they can share details on various walks in the park as well as wildlife to keep an eye out for. Tylers Wood. Its a wonderful destination in every season: in spring carpets of bluebells and anemones, and the London autumn colours come hand in hand with plump blackberries and acorns. I recently featured the forest in my guide to stellar walks in London but, with any area this large, theres so much to explore that it more than merits a walking guide of its own. Theres a cafe located in between the Perch pond and the Heronry pond. With more than 1,000 bird and animal species and near-endless footpaths, theres plenty of reason to return again and again. There are 37 trails in Epping Forest. Getting There: Falconwood train station and 20 minute walk, A post shared by London x London Julianna (@londonxldn) on Oct 16, 2020 at 12:29am PDT. The distance between Epping Forest and Central London is 13 miles. There are so many brilliant places to walk around in Epping Forest. Next to Highgate Wood, the Queens Wood is another surviving part of the Forest of Middlesex this time in the area of Muswell Hill. Epping Forest short walk 1.3 miles. Hit the subscribe button below to join the growing community and receive exclusive travel tips, packing checklists, solo travel safety guides, and much more! Train operators. Motorists are well served by a multitude of car parks around the forest. Hi. Incredible to also think that some of Epping Forest's trees were around when the Magna Carta was signed, even through the Spanish Armada and the English Civil War. If youre driving, there are plenty of car parks located around the forest, however they do get busy, particularly at weekends. It's the perfect walk to enjoy on a day trip from the city as it tours the forest, bringing walkers closer to the deer sanctuary and iron age hill fort that Epping Forest is famed for. OK, its technically not a forest but hear me out before you dismiss Richmond Park out of hand. AllTrails has 37 great trails for walking, hiking, and birding and more. Hi Lili! Kents delightful Kings Wood is a one-and-a-half-thousand acre stretch of trees, meadows and, in the spring time, sprawling seas of bluebells. Another option is to take the Central Line to Loughton or Theydon Bois station and then walk to the entrance of the park. The lake is absolutely stunning and popular with dog walkers, however, once you leave this part of the forest the number of people on the trails greatly reduces. Birds sing in the treetops, fallow deer graze peacefully, and, fungi thrive in Epping Forest's beautifully diverse landscapes. ! Forest Way and Green Ride Circular boasts the most elevation gain with 446 m of total ascent. Similarly, it's also possible to cut the length by taking some shortcuts. TIP: For the solo visitors who will be exploring the Epping Forest trails alone, I would highly recommend that you follow the waymarked trails. The Hornbeam trail starts at Snaresbrook road and follows the mainly flat forest track through the open grassland and woodland areas. This walking trail at Epping Forest will take you along tracks, pavements and well trodden paths. So read on below to find the best option for you, whether you plan on arriving by car or public transport. The russet and golden-hued autumn leaves reflected in Connaught Water are spectacular. It has over 55,000 ancient trees, which is actually more than anywhere else in England. Thanks. Another option for people wanting a shorter walk is to simply cut off parts of the circular walk outlined above. Getting there can be worth visiting the Epping Forest Queen Elizabeth 1 Hunting Tower - shorter circular outlined. Grassland and woodland areas its a straight shot on the train accessible.. 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