Autumn wouldn't be autumn without a walk through the colours of Epping Forest !
So, you're welcome to join us on a glorious 13.5 mile linear stroll from one
end of the forest to the other on Sunday 25th October, starting at Forest Gate
in East London and ending at Epping on the Essex border. With a lunch stop in
Chingford, shorter walks of 6.5 miles for the morning stretch and 7 miles after
lunch are possible. And being relatively near to public transport options,
please feel free to drop out at any time ...
Route:
Starting at Forest Gate station, taking its name from the long gone cattle gate
for Epping Forest that marked its southern extremity, we'll pick up the Epping
Forest Centenary Walk as it threads its way between urban areas following the
remnants of ancient forest which once formed vast royal hunting grounds. Before
the 17th C., this was better known as Waltham Forest and where today commoners
can still graze cattle and collect faggots of deadwood. We'll head across the
open grassland of Wanstead Flats with its ponds, following the green route into
the furze and scrub of Leyton Flats with its docile cattle. The old woodland
becomes more prevalent with Walthamstow Forest leading into the lake of Highams
Park, snaking its way up following the River Ching to Hatch Plain and uphill to
Warren Pond and the medieval Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge at Chingford for a
lunch stop after 6.5 miles.
After lunch, leaving via Chingford Plain, we'll enter the forest proper with
picturesque Connaught Water and its wildfowl, heading over to Grimston's Oak
(around 350 years old) and worthy of a photo. Various paths lead us over the
heathland into the trees as we explore the glades filled with oak, beech and
hornbeam. Following muddy tracks to Strawberry Hill, Loughton Camp and Great
Monk Wood through the vibrant colours of the leaves will bring us to Golding's
Hill and Jack's Hill with scenic views over the treetops. The final part takes
us past the ancient fort of Ambresbury Banks, before the dense trees of Epping
Thicks lead us out onto Bell Common and into the backstreets of Epping in the
twilight for the Central Line back to London. And if we're lucky, we may even
see some deer; if we're unlucky, we may see the legendary white stag (bad omen)
or the ghost of Dick Turpin ...
(And all using my old Corporation of London map of Epping Forest, dating from
1985 and held together with copious amounts of sellotape ...)
Terrain:
Fairly level in the morning stretch but it will be rather muddy and sticky in
places. More ups and downs in the afternoon through the forest glades but the
tracks are better.
Pace:
Moderate yet relaxed pace with frequent stops to gaze at the trees.
Easy going atmosphere, perhaps not suitable for any impatient walkers ?
Sunset at around 4.45 pm.
Lunch:
We'll stop at the Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge after 6.5 miles:
Either bring your own packed stuff for a picnic, or get something to eat and
drink at the adjacent "Butler's Retreat" cafe or the "Royal Forest" PH.
I plan to stop here for an hour from around 1 pm to 2 pm (time to have a look
around the lodge - free entry).
Shorter Walk Options:
6.5 miles to Chingford for trains every 15 minutes back to Liverpool Street
station (26 minutes journey time).
7 miles from Chingford to Epping, having made your own way to the lunch stop
as described above: 10 minutes walk from Chingford station (turning right,
following Ranger's Road) and having made your OWN travel arrangements.
Trains run every 15 minutes from Liverpool Street mainline station:
For example, the 1.03 pm departure will arrive at Chingford 1.29 pm.
We will move off promptly at 2 pm towards Connaught Water.
Meeting Point:
FOREST GATE station at 10 am, by station entrance. I will meet you at the
station.
If you just happen to miss us, then we will be walking northwards along
Woodgrange Road towards Wanstead Flats (turn left out of station).
We will be passing Wanstead Park station (Overground) but the line will be
closed so not much use going there ...
Getting There:
Train travellers need to catch the 9.47 am Tfl Rail service from LONDON
LIVERPOOL STREET station, destined for Gidea Park. This service calls at
Stratford at 9.54 am and stops at Forest Gate at 9.57 am.
Ticketing:
One Day All Zones Travelcard (Forest Gate is Zone 3, Epping is Zone 6) or use
your Oyster card.
Getting Back:
Aiming to get to Epping station by around 5 pm in the twilight (Epping even
has street lighting for the last half mile). Central Line "Underground"
services run every 10 minutes or so back to Central London (takes around
50 minutes to the West End).
For any new folks to CLOG, no need to book - just turn up as you feel like it.
And we go whatever the weather may care to throw at us ... rain or shine ...
--
So, you're welcome to join us on a glorious 13.5 mile linear stroll from one
end of the forest to the other on Sunday 25th October, starting at Forest Gate
in East London and ending at Epping on the Essex border. With a lunch stop in
Chingford, shorter walks of 6.5 miles for the morning stretch and 7 miles after
lunch are possible. And being relatively near to public transport options,
please feel free to drop out at any time ...
Route:
Starting at Forest Gate station, taking its name from the long gone cattle gate
for Epping Forest that marked its southern extremity, we'll pick up the Epping
Forest Centenary Walk as it threads its way between urban areas following the
remnants of ancient forest which once formed vast royal hunting grounds. Before
the 17th C., this was better known as Waltham Forest and where today commoners
can still graze cattle and collect faggots of deadwood. We'll head across the
open grassland of Wanstead Flats with its ponds, following the green route into
the furze and scrub of Leyton Flats with its docile cattle. The old woodland
becomes more prevalent with Walthamstow Forest leading into the lake of Highams
Park, snaking its way up following the River Ching to Hatch Plain and uphill to
Warren Pond and the medieval Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge at Chingford for a
lunch stop after 6.5 miles.
After lunch, leaving via Chingford Plain, we'll enter the forest proper with
picturesque Connaught Water and its wildfowl, heading over to Grimston's Oak
(around 350 years old) and worthy of a photo. Various paths lead us over the
heathland into the trees as we explore the glades filled with oak, beech and
hornbeam. Following muddy tracks to Strawberry Hill, Loughton Camp and Great
Monk Wood through the vibrant colours of the leaves will bring us to Golding's
Hill and Jack's Hill with scenic views over the treetops. The final part takes
us past the ancient fort of Ambresbury Banks, before the dense trees of Epping
Thicks lead us out onto Bell Common and into the backstreets of Epping in the
twilight for the Central Line back to London. And if we're lucky, we may even
see some deer; if we're unlucky, we may see the legendary white stag (bad omen)
or the ghost of Dick Turpin ...
(And all using my old Corporation of London map of Epping Forest, dating from
1985 and held together with copious amounts of sellotape ...)
Terrain:
Fairly level in the morning stretch but it will be rather muddy and sticky in
places. More ups and downs in the afternoon through the forest glades but the
tracks are better.
Pace:
Moderate yet relaxed pace with frequent stops to gaze at the trees.
Easy going atmosphere, perhaps not suitable for any impatient walkers ?
Sunset at around 4.45 pm.
Lunch:
We'll stop at the Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge after 6.5 miles:
Either bring your own packed stuff for a picnic, or get something to eat and
drink at the adjacent "Butler's Retreat" cafe or the "Royal Forest" PH.
I plan to stop here for an hour from around 1 pm to 2 pm (time to have a look
around the lodge - free entry).
Shorter Walk Options:
6.5 miles to Chingford for trains every 15 minutes back to Liverpool Street
station (26 minutes journey time).
7 miles from Chingford to Epping, having made your own way to the lunch stop
as described above: 10 minutes walk from Chingford station (turning right,
following Ranger's Road) and having made your OWN travel arrangements.
Trains run every 15 minutes from Liverpool Street mainline station:
For example, the 1.03 pm departure will arrive at Chingford 1.29 pm.
We will move off promptly at 2 pm towards Connaught Water.
Meeting Point:
FOREST GATE station at 10 am, by station entrance. I will meet you at the
station.
If you just happen to miss us, then we will be walking northwards along
Woodgrange Road towards Wanstead Flats (turn left out of station).
We will be passing Wanstead Park station (Overground) but the line will be
closed so not much use going there ...
Getting There:
Train travellers need to catch the 9.47 am Tfl Rail service from LONDON
LIVERPOOL STREET station, destined for Gidea Park. This service calls at
Stratford at 9.54 am and stops at Forest Gate at 9.57 am.
Ticketing:
One Day All Zones Travelcard (Forest Gate is Zone 3, Epping is Zone 6) or use
your Oyster card.
Getting Back:
Aiming to get to Epping station by around 5 pm in the twilight (Epping even
has street lighting for the last half mile). Central Line "Underground"
services run every 10 minutes or so back to Central London (takes around
50 minutes to the West End).
For any new folks to CLOG, no need to book - just turn up as you feel like it.
And we go whatever the weather may care to throw at us ... rain or shine ...
&*
start__dateTime(25th October at 9:47am)
end__dateTime(25th October at 6pm)
