Tag Archives: Connaught Water

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Family Walking Route

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Family Walking Route

I have now completed over 25 Epping Forest walks but still think I have only just scratched the surface of this beautiful ancient woodland. I have walked along most of the main tracks and pathways, from the start of Epping Forest in East London all the way up to Hatfield Forest, and most of the surrounding areas. Today I plotted out a walking route covering all my favourite places to visit in the heart of Epping Forest , keeping it to an easily manageable 5 miles suitable for everyone to enjoy.

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

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

From Bury Road Car Park I started this walking route at The Holly Trail signpost and then walked up along the edge of Epping Forest passing an old Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough on my left hand side, with views of Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge across Chingford Plain on my right.

Entering Epping Forest and crossing Cuckoo Brook I then joined The Willow Trail on the Green Ride seeing plenty of Tree Pollarding on the way to Fairmead Bottom. Next up was the famous “biker’s cafe” and from there I joined the Centenary Walk and then the Forest Way before venturing off the beaten track to discover Loughton Camp.

Dropping down to Kate’s Cellar before meeting Strawberry Hill Ponds it was a lovely open wide grassy path walk down to the end of the old Fairmead Road, crossing the footbridge over a stream to an area now reserved for Tree Coppicing.

After Connaught Water conservation area I walked across the top of Chingford Plain to the newly refurbished Butlers Retreat and Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge, followed by an easy stroll back down to the start of the walk.

I took my time making sure I wrote down every step and turn of the walk to make it as easy as possible to follow. I tried to avoid walking along busy roads and made sure there were plenty of places to stop for a rest (with Loughton Camp being the perfect venue for a mid-walk packed lunch).

This Epping Forest walking route was recorded on ViewRanger at just over 5 miles, taking me 2 hours and 30 minutes of very, very leisurely walking.

The Detailed Walking Route

The walk started at The Holly Trail signpost in Bury Road car park where I walked left along the wide gravel path turning right at the metal barrier walking up Chingford Plain with Epping Forest on my left hand side to the Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough on my left passing the wooden cattle pen to the wide grassy path ahead with Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge in view across the plain on my right hand side.

Walks And Walking - Essex Walks Epping Forest Favourite Family Walking Route - Start of The Holly Trail

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Favourite Family Walking Route – Start of The Holly Trail

Walks And Walking - Essex Walks Epping Forest Favourite Family Walking Route - Across Chingford Plain To Queen Elizabeths Hunting Lodge

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Favourite Family Walking Route – Across Chingford Plain To Queen Elizabeths Hunting Lodge

I continued my walk straight ahead by the white topped bridleway signpost keeping left at the top by the large wooden waymarker on to the wide gravel track crossing over Cuckoo Brook through the Holly Trees.

At The Willow Trail and The Holly Trail signpost I turned left and then right along the wide gravel track which then went left and slightly uphill following this track to the left taking the second wide gravel track on the right by the dark green arrow waymarker.

I then walked straight ahead passing an area of  Tree Pollarding on my right hand side and another dark green arrow waymarker on my left hand side keeping right at the next dark green arrow waymarker to the metal barrier at Fairmead Bottom.

Walks And Walking - Essex Walks Epping Forest Favourite Family Walking Route - Tree Pollarding

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Favourite Family Walking Route – Tree Pollarding

I then walked left up the wide grassy path bridleway parallel to the mainly disused Fairmead Road passing a small car park on my left hand side climbing slightly uphill to the famous Biker’s Cafe on my right hand side. At the road I kept left on to the wide verge turning right across the road by the next metal barrier to then walk through the wooden fences protecting the brooks.

I then continued straight ahead through the Silver Birch Trees as the wide gravel path undulated through the forest spotting many really big fallen trees due to Coppicing, Pollarding and storms. Just after the wooden post on my left hand side I turned right where the tracks formed a Y shape around trees downhill to the road. I then crossed straight over the road to a metal barrier to then join the Forest Way turning right at the old signpost following a narrow track.

As the track veered to the right I walked left climbing slightly uphill off the beaten track through dense woodland to discover the whereabouts of Loughton Camp joining a faint track keeping right to then join the end of a very muddy track in the depths of Monk Wood.

Walks And Walking - Essex Walks Epping Forest Favourite Family Walking Route - Loughton Camp

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Favourite Family Walking Route – Loughton Camp

At the Loughton Camp Information Board I kept to the main track that skirted around the right hand side of the top of the camp keeping left until the path went right downhill with the tree roots almost making steps down to a clearing of trees and the main track by Kate’s Cellar and an optional meandering walk around Loughton Brook Valley.

Walks And Walking - Essex Walks Epping Forest Favourite Family Walking Route - Kates Cellar

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Favourite Family Walking Route – Kates Cellar

I then walked right up the main track climbing steadily uphill all the way to the metal barrier and small car park. Keeping to the left through the double wooden posts I crossed the road to the next set of double posts at Strawberry Hill Ponds where I turned right just before the second and larger pond through an unexpected area of gorse in to an open space with the pond on my left hand side.

I then walked straight ahead and slightly right to enter the woodland keeping right at the fork heading gently downhill to the next metal barrier.

I then crossed straight over the road through a wooden gate walking sharp left at the white topped bridleway signpost down the wide grassy path running parallel to the road. I kept straight ahead at the next bridleway signpost walking left at the last bridleway signpost on to the end of Fairmead Road turning right at the metal barrier following the dark green arrow waymarker down the wide gravel track to rejoin The Willow Trail.

I then turned left just before the next dark green arrow waymarker to cross a rare footbridge in this part of Epping Forest over a stream turning right and walking down to Connaught Water through an area reserved for Tree Coppicing.

Walks And Walking - Essex Walks Epping Forest Favourite Family Walking Route - Coppicing Trees

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Favourite Family Walking Route – Coppicing Trees

Walks And Walking - Essex Walks Epping Forest Favourite Family Walking Route - Connaught Water

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Favourite Family Walking Route – Connaught Water

At the top of Connaught Water I walked right around the edge of the water passing fenced off conservation areas seeing plenty or Swans, Ducks, Geese and Rare Breeds before turning right at the next dark green waymarker by the trees walking quickly downhill to join the well maintained wide gravel track to the Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge signpost by another area reserved for Tree Coppicing on my left hand side.

Walks And Walking - Essex Walks Epping Forest Favourite Family Walking Route - Queen Elizabeths Hunting Lodge Signpost

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Favourite Family Walking Route – Queen Elizabeths Hunting Lodge Signpost

I walked straight ahead keeping to the left hand side at the next white topped bridleway signpost to the Drinking Fountain next to Butlers Retreat where I then walked right along the narrow track behind Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge heading downhill to the left of the bushes and back down to the car park.

Walks And Walking - Essex Walks Epping Forest Favourite Family Walking Route - Queen Elizabeths Hunting Lodge

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Favourite Family Walking Route – Queen Elizabeths Hunting Lodge

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Willow Trail Walking Route

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest The Willow Trail Walking Route

This walking route is a classic family walk in Epping Forest starting in Connaught Water Chingford. This is a new walking route and extremely well signposted following the newly resurfaced pathways and the wide well maintained tracks of Epping Forest. The quirky feature of  The Willow Trail Epping Forest is that the map on the information board next to the car park clearly shows that you should start the walk in a clockwise direction around to the left hand side of the lake. However, the waymarkers are all set as if you were starting the walk in an anti-clockwise direction. It doesn’t make any real difference as there is a waymarker at every single turning point making it a really easy walk to follow.

Walks And Walking - Essex Walks - Epping Forest Walks - The Willow Trail

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks – Epping Forest Walks – The Willow Trail

I started the walk in a clockwise direction from the information board and turning left and walking around the lake turning left at the first dark green arrow waymarker, these are the waymarkers I then followed for the entire walking route. I then turned right at the next waymarker keeping straight ahead at the next waymarker up the wide gravel track where I saw a Muntjac Deer running across the path.

Walks And Walking - Essex Walks Epping Forest Willow Trail Walking Route - The Willow Way Dark Green Waymarkers

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Willow Trail Walking Route – The Willow Way Dark Green Waymarkers

Walks And Walking - Essex Walks Epping Forest Willow Trail Walking Route - Wide Gravel Track

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Willow Trail Walking Route – Wide Gravel Track

Walks And Walking - Essex Walks Epping Forest Willow Trail Walking Route - The Willow Way Signpost

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Willow Trail Walking Route – The Willow Way Signpost

I kept walking straight ahead passed The Willow Trail signpost keeping straight ahead at the next waymarker turning right at the next waymarker continuing up the wide gravel track. I continued my walk straight ahead at the next waymarker keeping right at the next waymarker and then turning right at the next waymarker. I then kept straight ahead at the next waymarker keeping left at the next waymarker and then turning left at the next waymarker. (See what I mean about it being well signposted!). I carried on walking straight ahead at the next waymarker then turned right at the top by the metal barrier and walking back down the wide track parallel to the one I had just walked up passed the next waymarker. I continued my walk all the way down this track passing the next waymarker to the next waymarker and then back to Connaught Water.

Walks And Walking - Essex Walks Epping Forest Willow Trail Walking Route - Connaught Water

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Willow Trail Walking Route – Connaught Water

At the end of the walk I returned to the information board just to make sure I had got the clockwise/anti-clockwise thing correct and read the rest of the leaflet. It also mentions that it is only approximately 1.5 miles but ViewRanger recorded 2.56 miles which took me 1 hour and 5 minutes. It also said there is a steep climb but I didn’t find it and I’m not entirely sure if there is one on this walk. On the leaflet next to The Willow Trail there were some guided walks available with one of them being led by Senior Forest Keeper Nick Baker which promised “a ascinating insight into the management of the Deer Sanctuary”. Hmmm…..

Walks And Walking - Essex Walks Epping Forest Willow Trail Walking Route - ascinating

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Willow Trail Walking Route – ascinating

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Kates Cellar Walking Route

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Kate’s Cellar Walking Route

This is quite a straight forward walking route starting at Chingford Station to Connaught Water car park, up Fairmead Road in the heart of Epping Forest and then back down through Little Monk Wood following the Green Ride passed Loughton Camp and Kate’s Cellar, Strawberry Hill Ponds, Warren Hill and then back to the car park and station.

I am still breaking in my new Scarpa walking boots so this 7 mile Epping Forest walk should be quite comfortable, I’ve also just bought some new zinc oxide tape for my heels so I’m testing that out too. Tomorrow I’m going to test out my Scapra boots in anger on a 15 mile Essex walk in Chelmsford and next week I’m doing a series of 15 mile walks in West Sussex so I need to make sure the boots are going to be OK so I don’t have to carry my trusted old The North Face boots in my rucksack in amongst my spare walking clothes!

Walks And Walking - Essex Walks Epping Forest Kates Cellar Walking Route Map

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Kates Cellar Walking Route Map

Anyway, back to the walking route…. From Chingford train station I turned right to walk uphill along Rangers Road passed the Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge all the way up to the car park at Connaught Watrer. At the car park I found the main information board and walked along the path at the right hand side of the water to its far right hand side corner where I then turned left at its most northern point turning right at the next corner on to a small path walking right and then left with the shallow hollow drainage ditch on my left hand side. I walked along this path until it became a track where I then went right (where I was shamelessley overtaken by some Nordic walkers!) and then left and then right until I reached the long straight track keeping right as the track curved right to a metal barrier and the start of Fairmead Road.

Walks And Walking - Essex Walks Epping Forest Kates Cellar Walking Route - Fairmead Road

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Kates Cellar Walking Route – Fairmead Road

I walked left to follow the road all the way up to Cross Roads with the car park and tea hut on my right hand side. I then walked ahead and to the left towards High Beach turning right at the metal bar barrier before the 20 mile an hour zone sign on to the forest track.I then walked along this track as it undulated 3 times and when the track had leveled out I then went right along the track that curved right to the Epping New Road and car park opposite. I then walked across to the right hand side of the car park and entered Little Monk Wood.

I then walked along the wide gravel track turning right at the junction of paths keeping straight ahead at the next crossroad of paths walking all the way along until the path descended. It is here you can turn right and climb steeply up through the forest to Loughton Camp which is also an area known as Kate’s Cellar, she was a tiny beautiful Witch that lived in the year 1313.

Walks And Walking - Essex Walks Epping Forest Kates CellarWalking Route - Kate's Cellar

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Kates CellarWalking Route – Kate’s Cellar

I continued my walk, with Loughton brook on my left hand side, keeping straight ahead climbing upwards to cross over Earl’s Path road to the track beside Strawberry Hill Pond on my right hand side where I then continued to walk along this track to an open area. At the end of the open area I then turned right and then left to walk on to a wide path where I then reached a gravel path junction where I then turned left to the cottages beside Nursery Road where I then walked down the track by the left hand side of the cottages uphill back in to the forest up to the top of Warren Hill. I left the track by the large oak tree and seat continuing on the right to a grass path with a small heathland on my right hand side.

Walks And Walking - Essex Walks Epping Forest Kates Cellar Walking Route - Large Oak Tree And Seat

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Kates Cellar Walking Route – Large Oak Tree And Seat

I continued walking along the path to a junction where I kept left to the A104 close to its junction with the A1069 Ranger’s Road crossing to the path opposite. I then kept left close by the road keeping right as it then went left to a small path in to the forest following it back to Connaught Water and left to the car park and back on to Rangers Road passed the Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge pond, where I saw a Heron proudly perching on a stump, down to Chingford Station 3 hours and 7 miles later with the zinc oxide tape still in place and no blisters!

Walks And Walking - Essex Walks Epping Forest Kates Cellar Walking Route - Heron by Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge Pond

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Kates Cellar Walking Route – Heron by Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge Pond

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 april 2011

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.