For those looking to escape the City of London for a day surrounded by natural beauty, Epping Forest in Essex offers a varied and rich array of trails and routes to suit people of all ages and abilities. Whether you’re a casual rambler or a seasoned hiker, you’ll find a route here to suit you down to the ground. Many of these Epping Forest walks are circular routes which are signposted, and begin and end close to car parks and access to public transport. Therefore, you can tick them off one by one and not have to worry about when to turn back or having to retrace your footsteps. This handy guide gives you everything you need to explore as much or as little as you please of the 2,400 hectares that makes up Epping Forest.
Table of Contents
Beech Trail
Length: 2.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Starting at High Beech car park, this idyllic stroll through the forest offers a wide array of colours and sights, depending on which time of year you visit. As the name suggests, the route is lined by the beech trees which populate this part of the forest. During the Autumn, these trees are resplendent in their yellow and orange colours. You will walk upon a thick bed of leaves which match those still clinging to their branches, creating a beautiful all-encompassing autumnal feel to the route.
Whilst this route is relatively short and unchallenging, there are a couple of steep sections and it can be uneven underfoot, so make sure to wear appropriate footwear. Also, another key feature of the Beech Trail is an ancient monument dating back to 500BC. This Iron Age earthwork between the trees at Loughton Camp is well worth visiting as you make your way through the forest.
You can find a detailed route map for the Beech Trail here.
Gifford Trail
Length: 1.25 miles
Difficulty: Easy
The Gifford Trail is the most recent addition to Epping Forest’s extensive range of trails, with the woods only having been planted in 2013. With the help of volunteers and children from local schools, over 4,500 trees were planted following the acquisition of the woods by the City of London Corporation. Despite only being recently formed, this trail is home to an array of species of tree. The magnificent English oak, along with others such as birch and alder trees, can be located along the route. The oak and it’s acorns are a favourite of the native squirrels, who can be observed here, as can a sizable strain of fallow deer.
Beginning at Sergeant’s Green Lane, the route itself is quite short and can be completed in around an hour, so is perfect for those looking for a brief introduction to the forest.
You can find a detailed route map for the Gifford Trail here.
Chestnut Trail
Length: 3.25 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Despite being relatively short, the Chestnut Trail gives you the most bang for your buck if you’re looking for varied terrain. Beginning at the Warren Road entrance to the historic Wanstead Park, this route takes in the serene Chalet Wood, famed for the bluebell sprouts which can be spied by lucky walkers in the springtime. Breaking out from the woodland, the route then opens up to stunning sections of lush green parkland as it follows the banks of Henrory and Perch ponds.
At the midpoint of the route you have the opportunity to stop and buy refreshments, before pushing on to the final stretch which follows the aptly named Ornamental Waters. A favourite spot for walkers and fishermen alike, this is a haven for all kinds of wildlife which call these waters home. You can also see what remains of the 18th century boathouse, known as The Grotto, which has undergone some landscaping over the last decade. This has allowed the remains to be visible once again from the banks of the water.
Whilst a little longer than some of the other routes on this list, the Chestnut Trail is one of the most flat, which lends itself well to the casual walker whose main concern is the natural beauty on show.
You can find a detailed route map for the Chestnut Trail here.
Holly Trail
Length: 2.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
The Holly Trail begins at Chingford, and consists primarily of woodland paths. The terrain isn’t particularly challenging, however, it can be muddy in winter months, so make sure to wear appropriate footwear and clothing for this route. Unsurprisingly, you will find many holly bushes along the route, which due to their trademark resilience, are a mainstay in the area.
Despite the uniform nature of the route, you will still note some interesting features along the way. Bury Wood is home to trees which are over 400 years old, and provide a natural habitat for many species of animal and insect. Also native to this area is the diminutive Muntjac deer. This species of deer is around the same size as a Labrador, and can be identified by the distinctive tuft of ginger fur on its forehead. There are some small sections of open land as the route crosses Chingford Plain. This route should take you no more than an hour.
You can find a detailed route map for the Holly Trail here.
Oak Trail
Length: 6.6 miles
Difficulty: Medium
The Oak Trail begins and ends – conveniently for those using public transport – close to Theydon Bois Underground Station. The route itself may not be the longest, however it does offer much more in the way of uphill terrain than any of the previous routes on this list. You should expect to complete this route within 3-4 hours, due to the undulating and uneven terrain. If you do take up the challenge, however, you will be rewarded with a wide variety of sights along the way.
The trail takes you through Great Gregories Farm, before delving deep into the forest to take in the ancient earthworks of Ambresbury Banks, dating back to the middle of the first millennium BC. Towards the end of the route, you will pass the Deer Sanctuary. Whilst this sanctuary isn’t open to the public, you can rest assured that over 100 fallow deer graze safely here, following the opening of the sanctuary in 1959.
You can find a detailed route map for the Oak Trail here.
The Grand Epping Forest Circular Walk
Length:15.7 miles
Difficulty: Hard
By far and away the longest route on this list, the Grand Epping Forest Circular Walk spans almost 16 miles and contains a wide variety of terrain, as you would expect for a route of this length. Popular with walkers, runners and mountain bikers alike, this mammoth trail is often muddy in winter and signposts can be few and far between, so make sure to check the map regularly to avoid going off route.
You can find a detailed route map for The Grand Epping Forest Circular Walk here.
Hornbeam Trail
Length: 3.5mi
Difficulty: Medium
Starting at the car park on Snaresbrook Road, the Hornbeam Trail is a perfect middle ground for those of you who are looking for a route with varied terrain, a reasonable distance and a level of difficulty that is challenging without being overly difficult. The trail is mostly flat. However, there is a steep incline between Canada Plain and Waterworks Wood.
The trail takes its name from the species of tree which is native to the route. However, they are often mistaken for beech trees due to the similarities between their leaves, the Hornbeam’s doubly serrated leaf edges sets them apart. On the other hand, beech leaves have wavy edges, rather than toothed.
During the summer months, visitors flock to the nearby Hollow Pond to hire rowing boats and to fish. The Hornbeam trail takes you around the pond along with a couple of other smaller ponds – Cow and Bulrush – before looping back on itself for a straight line to the finish.
You can find a detailed route map for the Hornbeam Trail here.
Lime Trail
Length: 1.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
The Lime Trail is a mini route that begins at Harrow Road Sports Pavilion. The route takes you around the sports pitches and up into Bush Wood, the ancient woodland, once part of Wanstead House Park. This woodland is home to species such as the greater spotted woodpecker, whose distinctive tapping on the wood of the local lime trees can be heard from a great distance.
This route is one of the easiest on this list. You can finish it in around half an hour, and the terrain is flat and predictable, therefore making it perfect for a leisurely afternoon stroll. The route follows a loop within Bush Wood, and you emerge back onto the grassland which runs adjacent to Wanstead Flats before making your way back to the start/end point.
You can find a detailed route map for the Lime Trail here.
Rowan Trail
Length: 1.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
If you are looking for an easy woodland walk, the Rowan Trail is the one for you. This route picks its way through Lords Bushes and Knighton Wood near Buckhurst Hill. Starting from Knighton Hill car park, the route quickly picks up the banks of Knighton Lake, which is a thriving habitat for all manner of amphibious creatures, and boasts some of the most picturesque scenery in the local area. Furthermore, emperor dragonflies can often be seen hovering above the lily pads in the lake.
The terrain is mostly flat, with a few gentle slopes here and there. Therefore, you will be able to complete the route in under an hour, even after stopping to admire the rowan trees from which the trail takes its name. The berries that you can see on these trees are inedible when raw, however you can enjoy them if you cook them.
You can find a detailed route map for the Rowan Trail here.
Willow Trail
Length: 2.5mi
Difficulty: Easy
The Willow Trail guides you on a path around Fairmead and Connaught Water between Chingford and Loughton. You can complete this route within one hour. During the course of your walk, you will walk through a portion of dense woodland, where willow trees grow freely. These woods are also home to Grimstone’s Oak. Estimated to be over 350 years old, this oak pollard sits approximately halfway through the route.
Perhaps the most exciting part of this route is at the very beginning. Connaught Water is home to the great crested grebe. This bird has a distinctive appearance and, during courtship, can be seen rising from the water to shake their heads in an attempt to impress their potential mate. Overall, this route is considered easy, with just the single steep incline from Chingford Plain up to the lake.
You can find a detailed route map for the Willow Trail here.
Other Important Considerations for Epping Forest Walks
Arriving by Car
You can park in a number of car parks around each route. These are highlighted on the map for each of the above Epping Forest walks. You will need to arrive early to secure a space as they do fill up quickly, especially on weekends.
Arriving by Public Transport
You can get to Epping Forest on the overground from Liverpool Street which takes you to Chingford. This takes around half an hour. You can walk the short distance from the station to the forest. You can also take the Central Line to Theydon Bois or Loughton. Again, you can walk to the forest from either station without much effort. You can catch the bus to the forest, and there are numerous routes which serve the local area. You should check the timetabling as there is often a limited service on bank holidays and weekends.
What to Wear on Epping Forest Walks
You can complete some of the above Epping Forest walks in casual clothing, however you should consider wearing hiking boots where possible. You will find many of the forest trails to be muddy. This is normal in winter and after rainfall, so be prepared to get muddy.
Final Thoughts
You should now have a good idea of which Epping Forest walks you want to complete in the future. The woodlands here offer a great deal of variety. You can come back time and time again without ever walking the same path, and the forest is a beautiful environment practically all year round. Whether you are escaping London or live nearby, these Epping Forest walks will allow you to experience all the great outdoors has to offer without venturing too far off the beaten track.