Epping Forest Walks

Epping Forest – The best walks and walking routes in Epping Forest

This is a simple to follow guide to over 30 of the best walks and walking routes in Epping Forest, including easy short walks, family walks and good long walks.

Click on the link for the latest Epping Forest Map 2012 with up to date news, visitor centre details and information on Epping Forest walking routes. There is also a very good Epping Forest walking map available at the Epping Forest shop at the Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge in Chingford so that you can plan your own special walking routes in and around the ancient royal hunting grounds of Epping Forest.

The Holly Trail Walk Epping 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 theirofficial website here.

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.

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.

Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge Walk Epping Forest

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.

The Forest Way Walk Epping Forest

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.

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
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Epping Forest

Epping Forest Walks

There is a magnificent world on the borders of North London Town which has been allowing Londoners and visitors to the area an opportunity to escape into the wilderness for hundreds and thousands of years. This amazing tranquil and idyllic land which is protected by Parliament itself and the City of London is no other than the great Epping Forest.

Epping Forest is a sprawl of 6500 acres which stretches over the borders of Essex and London from the North to the East and encompasses fields for cattle grazing which in rotation allows the public access to perfectly naturally maintained fields all year round.

Other amenities range from playing areas, paths for walking, guided walks and cycle rides, leisure activities from camping to yachting on the lakes and heritage events and theatre performances in the fresh open air of Epping Forest.

The cattle grazing are usually the outstanding and bulky English Longhorn with their inwardly curved horns, such a more beautiful brown and white cow did you ever wish to meet while walking in the wilderness of London’s suburbs. This bred of cow, rare until the mid 1980s, the latest grazing project right at the heart ofEpping Forest will aid in the survival of the great English longhorn breed.

With animal welfare, wildlife management, forestry management and natural grazing projects at its heart, Epping Forest continues to offer the young and the old an opportunity to glimpse wilderness on their doorstep whilst offering a range of outdoor activities and even a few that are usually found inside.

The parks and open spaces that make up the 6,5000 acres of Epping Forest and its wide and all inclusive land is open to cyclists, horse riding and hikers of all ages and what better way than to engage one of many Epping Forest walks and cycle routes.

With over 650 species of plants, over 80 lakes and ponds the many animals and wildlife that live within Epping Forest leave much for you to unearth and discover both physically and visually when on the paths and tracks and partaking in the great Epping Forest walks on offer.

The UK’s green and pleasant land is not to be sniffed at or taken for granted, to ensure Londoners and visitors to London and the suburbs get to visit such great and wonderous places such as Epping Forest then the areas need to used in every day society. Or land usage gets bought and used by other interested parties like builders and planners, Epping Forest walks are open to every one and all year round with carefully plotted routes and paths which take you past interesting and colourful flora and fauna.

There are many ways you can partake in Epping Forest Walks, aside from the guided tours and venturing out into the plains, woods and navigating your own way around Epping Forest, There are organised Epping Forest Health Walks on Tuesdays and Thursdays with a Centenary walk in mid September.

It’s only walking in Epping Forest that is catered for, but cycling too. You can hire Mountain Bikes for specific trails within Epping Forest and utilise the many tracks and guided tours on offer. Epping Forest walks and trails are in leaflet form or by guided tour but feel free to ramble and take in the sights and sounds of the local wildlife on the doorstep of London Town its very self.

Walks

Walking Routes

The main purpose of this walking routes website is to encourage people to explore our beautiful UK countryside and walk a good 5, 10 or 15 miles. I have personally completed all of the featured walks and have included a descriptive walking route or, in some cases, a link to a more detailed walking map.

Each walking route also includes information about the walk, a little of the area's history, photographs or a link to the photo album for each walk, video links for the really special walking routes and  recommendations for walking boots, walking clothes and walking accessories.

You can also upload your own walking routes and walking experiences to our Walks And Walking facebook page, +1 Walks And Walking on Google+ and please follow us on Walks And Walking twitter for latest news and retailer special offers.

There are currently over 125 free UK walking routes available with new walks added each week. From February 2012 most walks will now include a ViewRanger map. All of the walks are completely free with no subscription fees, no registration fees and no download fees. This website is funded by our retailer advertisers so please visit the Walks And Walking Shop

And most of all, please enjoy your walks!

Walking Routes - UK Walks - UK Walking - British Walks

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Essex Walks

Epping Forest

Click here for the latest Epping Forest Map 2012

a. Short Walks in Epping Forest

b. Long Walks in Epping Forest

c. Day walks in Epping Forest

d. Epping Forest Walks and descriptions

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 Copped Hall

8. Epping Forest Walks in Theydon Bois

9. Epping Forest Walks in Ambresbury Banks Fort

10. Epping Forest Walks in Loughton

11. Epping Forest Walks in Epping Green

12. Epping Forest Walks in Abridge

13. Epping Forest Walks in Hainault Forest

14. Epping Forest High Beach Church Walking Route

15. Epping Forest Queen Elizabeth's Walking Route

16. Epping Forest Waltham Abbey to Epping Walking Route

17. Epping Forest South Woodford Walking Route

18. Epping Forest The Essex Way Walking Route

19. Epping Forest Pole Hill Obelisk Walking Route

20. Epping Forest Deer Sanctuary Walking Route

21. Epping Forest - A Family Walk In Pictures

22. Epping Forest Kate's Cellar Walking Route

23. Epping Forest The Willow Trail Walking Route

24. Epping Forest The Holly Trail Walking Route

25. Epping Forest The Chestnut Trail Walking Route

26. Epping Forest Queen Boudicca Walking Route

27. Epping Forest 5 Mile Family Circular Walking Route

28. Epping Forest Jacks Hill Walking Route

29. Epping Forest District Walking Route

30. Epping Forest The Oak Trail Walking Route

31. Family Favourite Epping Forest Walking Route

The Rest Of Essex

1. Thorndon Country Park Walking Route

2. Kelvedon and Coggeshall Essex Walking Routes

3. The Forest Way Loughton to Hatfield Walking Route

4. Lee Valley Walking Route

5. Waltham Abbey Walking Route

6. Chipping Ongar Walking Route

7. Gunpowder Park Walking Route

8. Moreton Walking Route

9. Billericay to Chelmsford Walking Route

10. Rochford Walking Route

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Wales Walks

1. Walks in Wales

2. Henryhd Waterfall, Brecon Beacons, South Wales

3. Welsh Waterfalls Walk, Brecon Beacons, South Wales

4. Table Mountain, Brecon Beacons, South Wales

5. The Mumbles, Gower Peninsula, South Wales

6. The Brecon Mountain Railway, Brecon Beacons, South Wales

7. The Llanberis Path, Snowdon

8. The Miners Track and The PYG TRack, Snowdon

9. Criccieth Castle and Cardigan Bay

10. Portmeirion Italian Hill Village Walk

11. Wales Coast Path Walking Route

12. Coed y Brenin Forest Park Snowdonia

13. Snowdonia Betws-y-Coed Walking Route

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Cornwall Walks

1. Walks in Cornwall

2. South West Coastal Path Circular Walk - Cape Cornwall

3. South West Coastal Path Circular Walk - Lands End

4. South West Coastal Path Circular Walk - St Ives

5. South West Coastal Path Circular Walk - Sydney Cove

6. South West Coastal Path Circular Walk - Fowey

7. South West Coastal Path - Polruan Walking Route

8. South West Coastal Path - Polperro Walking Route

9. South West Coastal Path - Looe Walking Route

10. South West Coastal Path - Looe to Polperro Circular Walking Route

11. South West Coastal Path - Plymouth Walking Route

12. Bodmin Moor Cheesewring Walk

13. Liskeard to Looe Walk

14. The Hurlers Bodmin Moor Walk

15. South West Coastal Path - Chun Quoit Walking Route

16. South West Coastal Path - Looe to Polperro Walking Route

17. Bodmin Moor Rough Tor And Brown Willy Walking Route

18. St Mawes Castle Walking Route

19. Pendennis Castle Falmouth Walking Route

20. Bodmin Moor Caradon Hill Walking Route

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Somerset Walks

1. South West Coastal Path - Minehead Walking Route

2. Dulverton Tarr Steps Walking Route

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Devon  Walks

1. South West Coastal Path - Lynton Valley Of The Rocks Walking Route

2. Lynton Watersmeet Waterfalls Walking Route

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Dorset Walks

1. The Swanage and Purbeck 2012 Walking Festival

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Kent Walks

1. Broadstairs to Ramsgate

2. Ramsgate and Broadstairs Photos

3. Margate Walking Route

4. Elham Valley Way Walking Route - Guest Post by A Walk in the Garden

5. Herne Bay Walking Route

6. Sturry Walking Route

7. Sandwich Walking Route

8. Dover To Folkestone Walking Route

9. Folkestone White Horse Walking Route

10. Whitstable Crab and Winkle Way Walking Route

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Berkshire Walks

1. Combe Gibbet Newbury Walking Route

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Suffolk Walks

1. Walks in Suffolk

2. Summer Walks In Suffolk: Walberswick

3. Summer Walks In Suffolk: Walberswick And Southwold

4. Summer Walks In Suffolk: Aldeburgh

5. Summer Walks In Suffolk: Dunwich

6. Summer Walks In Suffolk

7. The Stanton Rides Walking Routes

8. Constable Country Stoke by Nayland Church Walking Route

9. Constable Country Stoke by Nayland Arger Fen Walking Route

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Hertfordshire Walks

1. Deacon Hill Hertfordshire Walking Route

2. Broxbourne Woods NNR Trail Walking Route

3. Hertford Heath Walking Route

4. St Albans Ver Valley Walking Route

5. Forty Hall Enfield Walking Route

6. Buntingford Walking Route

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Hampshire Walks

1. Walks in Hampshire

2. Isle of Wight Walks

3. The Tennyson Trail Walking Route

4. Ryde Pier to Bembridge Lifeboat Walking Route

5. Bembridge Fort Walking Route 

6. New Forest Walking Routes

7. Isle of Wight Walking Festival 2012

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West Sussex Walks

1. Arundel Castle Walking Route

2. Bognor Regis Walking Route

3. Slindon Estate National Trust Walking Route

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East Sussex Walks

1. 1066 Country Walk Walking Route

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Click here if you want to know what to wear walking.

Please also visit the Walks And Walking Shop

Sadly, I can't get to every great walking route in the UK so here is a short list of experienced walkers that I follow. All of them have really good walks available to read, walking routes that are easy to follow and some great stories too!

Lake District Walks from BG

Land's End to John O'Groats LEJOG Walk from Alan Sloman

Scotland Walks from Splendid Isolation

Scotland Walks from Summit And Valley

Southern England Walks from Worthing Wanderer

Yorkshire, Lake District and Derbyshire Walks from Happy Hiker

Walks Across The UK from London Backpackers

Walking in England 

Wye Valley, Forest of Dean and Monmouthshire, Wales from Chepstow Walkers Are Welcome