An elite 5 assembled at the station. The weather was not too bad sunny at times, cloudy at others. Some paths were firm underfoot, but, right from the start, there was lashings of mud available for those who like it.

We went slightly adrift in the woods in the morning. This was explained as ‘mud avoidance’. But not L-word.

Later, we took the firmer metalled path to Upshire because the start of the through-the-trees route looked exceptionally muddy. At the road, one went straight on and the others doubled back in the direction of the Horseshoes. All 4 stopped in the space behind the church for sandwiches. Later, one went for a pint of McMullen’s mild in the pub and 3 were given a guided tour of the church by locals.

The big slopey field up to the motorway crossing was one big slitherfest.

In Epping, our arrival was heralded by a rainbow. 2 headed straight for the station and 2 for a brief stop in the George and Dragon.

Thanks for posting this - it's the first posting of this walk since I revised it in February. I’m not sure I will be able to get there myself because of the train strike, but it would be good to get some feedback, especially from anyone using the rewritten directions. Something seems to have gone slightly awry with the alternative routes on the map page, which I won't be able to fix before the weekend, so fingers crossed that the GPX also works

If you're into Summer Fêtes and Open Days, Copped Hall (passed near the end of today's walk) has an open day the following day (Sunday 4th). It's an easy stroll from Epping Tube Station and you can find details and where to buy tickets at https://www.coppedhalltrust.org.uk/index.php/services/22-guided-tours/119-open-days

I can recommend the topiary in the walled garden

Thanks for posting about events at Copped Hall. I’ve booked a Sugarcraft class on 10June and hope to check out the grounds. I last visited 50 years ago when it was a ruin with all the floors collapsed into the cellars. My boyfriend at the time took photos of me in the ruins whilst a nasty farmer shouted ’get off my land’. The house was privately owned then so it will be interesting to catch up with the latest developments. Glad to hear that the house is being restored which I was not aware of.

16 altogether, two of whom magically appeared in the forest, like Merry Men. The day started cool and cloudy turned hot and sunny

Approaching the pub, we took the more direct route. Some picnicked in the green space behind.

Pub portions were large and some had trouble finishing.

Buttercups were much in evidence. Also red campion. The fields between Copped Hall and the M25 were an amazing sea of yellow, all buttercups. Quite a sight. One or two butterflies sighted, mainly blue.

By then, the group had split into fast and slow, the slower group (who had waited on a bench for Mr Tiger to catch up) took the quicker route to the station.

Unbeknownst to Mr Tiger, the ‘slowies’ didn’t realise there were no refreshments near the station and he hadn’t thought to tell them. (There was, actually, a van but not one that satisfied a craving for ice cream)

So back they traipsed, up to the High Street, in search of ice cream, coffee, cakes and tea, all of which were found and procured. On the way up, they met the fasties on their way down who asked what they were doing. “Going to the High Street” they said, sheepishly.

Directions seemed fine,although Mr Tiger also deployed other navigational aids, like following the others and GPS.

Anyway, a grand day out.

6 at the station plus a tiny dog. .One of our number knew the Forest well and showed us an alternative way in. But after that, we followed the walk route. Honest. The day started cloudy and cool ended sunny and hot Quite a brisk pace got us to the Horseshoes for 1230. ( I could have got there for 12 if I wasn’t waiting for a blackberry feeding frenzy to end). But every cloud has a purple lining. This allowed a late starter to catch us up, and that late starter bought me a drink. So 7 Plus the dog.

The Horseshoes was fully booked but luckily they could still squeeze us onto ‘The Bench’. Baguettes all round - except for yours truly. The afternoon was particularly strenuous because we had to keep throwing a ball for the dog- a straggly disjointed drippy thing covered in dog spit. (That’s the ball, not the dog).

No afternoon tea stop but a couple tarried at the Perky Blenders coffee-stall outside the Forest Gate.

Enjoyable day, enjoyable walk.

Intend going👍

3 of us on this one, including a newcomer both to SWC and the UK, equipped with impressive boots that were less pristine at the end of their baptism of mud than they had been at the start.

Though the walk poster was not among us, his description of The Horsehoes in Copthall Green as having "friendly service and good food" was spot on; well above average in both dimensions.

A branch of Costa is as much as Epping's High Street was ever likely to provide for tea on a Boxing Day Sunday. The detour up the hill to that, and a couple of others that were not quite so intentional, had us clock up just over 10 miles.

As the train started back to London, so did the rain, though we have been walking through a murky low cloud for much of the day.

Postscript: Google reports the recommended tea stop, Verde Cafe, as permanently closed.

I requested an Epping forest walk thanks for posting Mr Tiger but weather looks dire for tomorrow and won't probably attend, so sorry.. 🤦‍♀️

Waited until 11.00 so set of alone and promptly got lost. Suggest instructions are reviewed as the the post with the white horse shoe had vaporised! Set off on towards the Three Horseshoes Pub by a circuitous route arriving there at 13.10. Left at around 14.00 using the instructions and arrived in Epping for tea at 15.30. Weather overcast at first but sunny spells with the odd shower later. The Railwayman

1

overcast then sunny with showers

I'm not the best person to add a walk report as I started late and didn't catch up till 8 (looking at the map again, I made the mistake of following the full day walk route out of Loughton, and although I did cut a corner, it wasn't as short as the direct Forest Way route which I think the other walkers followed).

However . . . I can report that 12 walkers attended in dull weather, and most then went to the outdoor seating area of the Black Lion in Epping for some very enjoyable if chilly post-walk drinks. My latest night out since October!

Just to add to the report....the trees in Epping forest were stunning -- almost glowing bright green leaves on the newly leafed beech trees...and, likewise, yes, I think it may also have been my latest night out in some time....

A conveniently numbered 6 gathered at the station. We let the 3 younger ones scamper off ahead leaving a slower, steadier trio to soldier along behind. The advance 3 weren't seen again. The day was mostly sunny some cloud There was one teensy shower near the end that gave us a rainbow. The slow 3 stopped at High Beach for a mix of hot drinks, chips and packed lunch. At the end, we didn't visit the High St, we went straight to the station. A nice walk but the leaves not turned yet. Some fungi seen and 3 lazy longhorns asleep in a meadow. There are one or two points where the directions seem ambiguous but we got through just fine without resorting to map, compass or gps.

The walk page comments function seems to be out of action at present so posting this here.

Directions work quite well. Just one or two things.

Point 4 Unless I missed an earlier fork, the "right fork" is really a 90 degree right TURN and, in my eyes, its on more of a crosspath than anything else. We overshot this turn looking for a fork.

Also I did't see a white topped post with a horseshoe on.

Point 7 It might be helpful to describe this bridge and dip as the second such. We spent time trying to find the left turn at the first dip. The description of the second bridge as 'barely noticeable' is disconcerting. I had no trouble noticing it and the brickwork is fairly prominent. (This might sound pedantic but it helped sow seeds of doubt).

(Following the path to the left along the waymark posts went well but we ended up nearer the Kings Oak than intended, possibly because we could see the car park through the trees).

Point 33 I went astray here before and nearly did again. Its easy to lose bearings here. I think one problem is that the track is variously described as a road and a "track". "Tarmac track" is, I think the better term. I don't think its quite grand enough to be considered a road. (Again, this might sound pedantic but it sows seeds of doubt). A helpful motorist driving away from his house put us right here.

One thing that might be helpful if the walk is updated (I'm not volunteering!) Forest entry/exit points (at road crossings) are numbered e.g Gate 62 This would be helpful confirmatory detail.

Another teensy thing: if people don't want to go to the Horseshoes or the church, it might be helpful to direct them down the "Alternative Shorter" route with the added advice to go right at the road (not obvious unless you've done the walk before).

Thanks for this Ian. I have saved your comments and will amend the walk directions (sometime)

Just to say that I’ve done this walk twice independently and always find the walk directions confusing for the reasons given below.

16 , an excellent turn out for our first regular Wednesday walk of the New Year. The weather was overcast but dry and very mild all day , and the rain threatened for the afternoon did not materialise: we were lucky.

I showed up today partly because during my forty plus years living in central London I had never previously visited Epping Forest. What an unexpected treat was in store for me - and what a pleasant SWC walk this turned out to be through the heart of this vast forest. Its main tracks were mostly dry underfoot today and mud levels on minor paths elsewhere were manageable.

The group stayed together through the Forest up until the lunchtime pub, the Horseshoes, which coped very well with the 13 of us who showed up without pre-booking, hoping to dine there. A suitable number of adjacent tables were found for us, orders were taken efficiently and tasty meals arrived soon after, in generous sized portions and served with a smile. Merlins Cave in Chalfont St Doodah - take note how it should be done ! (see the walk report for the New Year's Day Walk North).

Most of the sandwichers joined us for a drink whilst the diners fed, before they set off alone on the afternoon leg. The rest of us followed in two waves: I was with the last group of 9. The afternoon section of the walk was outside the boundaries of the Forest and took us through varied, mostly open countryside - on tracks and along field edges, passing by Copthall Green and Copped Hall, which we did not visit. Some head scratching followed as we were now briefly off-piste (our trail blazer had blazed ahead, never to be seen again on the walk - hopefully his wife was reacquainted with him at the underground station). But in good SWC fashion we figured out an alternative way forward , and were soon back on the route proper. On reaching the outskirts of Epping, all but three of us headed for the tube, and two of us enjoyed an excellent tea with cakes in a small cafe at the top of Station Road-Cafe Dada by name. Recommended.

The Central Line was behaving itself today - and we were soon on our way back into Central London, just missing the rush hour.

An enjoyable day out in good company, and a promising start to the mid-week walk programme for 2020.

Copped Hall is slightly off the main route but it is only about 300m there and back in total and the walk instructions give details. Copped Hall appears to be subject to a never- ending renovation programme but it has an interesting history and well worth a visit.

Thanks for posting this walk Ian

I first remember Copped Hall 50 odd years back or so when it was a derelict building and you could wander through though this was before we woke up to H&S. There was always an air of mystique and sadness and rumour about why it was so as this was before Wikipedia etc.

Now Copped Hall is a marvellous building and the gardens are stunning, especially the walled kitchen garden.

I did briefly start to volunteer here a couple of years back and each visit was a delight and the work seems to continue apace.

Well worth a visit for just the gardens and the tea and cake were always a rather pleasant interlude during the work sessions.

In 1594,"A Midsummer's Nights Dream" was first performed here at a wedding.

5 on a very hot cloudless day. By lunchtime, the group had fragmented. 2 ate in the Horseshoes – huge roasts. They were joined later by Slowcoach at the back. The other 2 had disappeared. Forged on ahead? Stopped at High Beach? We may never know.

Did anyone visit Copped Hall? We may never know. Slowcoach knows he didn’t. Slowcoach had a half of cider in the Forest Gate then got the tube home. A hot stuffy tube crammed full of carnival-goers.

The pub-eating pair went to Copped Hall, where the interior offered welcome cool, since most of the windows are protected by metal shutters that are usually closed, so the brickwork had no chance to heat up in the sun.

There were

- a good talk on the history

- endless rooms full of exhibits

- good views in all directions as the building is on a ridge

- a pleasing classical guitar player

- an interesting display of old cars, including a Ford Thunderbird which was longer than any car I've seen but only provided seats for two

- an impressive walled garden

- quite a bit of parkland

- friendly volunteers clearly engaged by and committed to the cause of reconstructing the ruin

- tea and mildly disappointing cakes.

I had no particular interest in coughing up £10 to go in, but a persuasive volunteer at the barrier was effective at listing the attractions, and I spent nearly two hours there. Very worthwhile: it transformed what I thought would be a short and suburban walk within the underground system, likely to be over by 3pm, into a complete and interesting day.

Bear in mind that this was an open day and few of these things would be offered on most weekends.

Note to B: Monzo says yes.

Is anyone going on this walk? Gavin

I am planning to!

John P.

9 (including one first timer) assembled at the Loughton tube exit and graciously allowed a 5 minute grace for any late comers (including me)....We enjoyed a lovely evening saunter through Epping Forest in soft evening light with some dappled sun filtering through the leaves....This makes a lovely evening walk...with a delightfully rural feel, notwithstanding its proximity to London. The route is very easy to follow and surprisingly we had it nearly all to ourselves....Some of us made a detour to visit the Ambresbury Banks fort (missed last year). We had planned to stop for drinks and a meal at the Forest Gate Inn, just on the edge of the forest -- but sadly, they only serve food until 8:00 (we arrived about 8:20)...so onto Epping proper where one diverted to the tube and 8 went to the pub for drinks and a meal...After dinner, the stragglers of the group had a jolly journey home...rather embarrassingly, for a group of walkers, a decision was taken to take the train on the first platform (sitting there with welcoming open doors) which left a minute later than the one up and over the bridge on the far platform....wagers were made as to what train would leave first (the other as scheduled)....fortunately, our train was not regulated en route....we learned from research on our journey that a trip along the full length of the central line from Epping to West Ruislip takes 1 hour 20 minutes -- but, no one took up the challenge to time the journey first hand and report back to the group....A most enjoyable evening outing....

Brilliant walk in lovely warm sunshine.

Many thanks to Peter for leading us along the most scenic paths,

so many great vistas.

Thanks Anon- at least 20 gathered in the entrance hall of Loughton tube station and we met at least 1 late starter near the end of the walk. The Horsehoes pub was fully booked and this does pose a bit of a problem as this is now as very popular lunch-time stop and so people either had a quick lunch at High Beach or continued on for a picnic lunch in the attractive grounds of St Thomas's Church which has bench seats and some fine views and thankfully little traffic noise.

Plenty of leaf colour along the forest tracks but 95% of it was green so the "full autumn" will probably not appear for another 3 weeks. Six of us lunched at the Church and another group went to check out the Horseshoes.

After lunch six of us headed straight for the station after enjoying w= fine-and-sunny weather throughout. This walk can be enjoyed as a brisk outing to get back to London early or a "lazy Sunday" amble and I hope all others including a number of "Saturday refugees" enjoyed their day out.

I went for the brisk option hoping to see a top football match between Liverpool and Man City but it turned out a 0-0 bore fest. C'est la vie!

I'll probably be there if i don't have too much to finish off at work, but I won't be able to stay for dinner

Just to confirm...a GPX of the short route has been added...also, do not worry about the paucity of instructions for the short route -- I think we will be ok -- see you there!

6 in warm weather. Pleasant walk with a fair amount of undulation. Initially following the meandering Loughton Brook along narrow paths, then the main broad track through the forest, we arrived at The George & Something just after half 8. Their Real Ale barrels were all empty, so 2 moved on to one of the other pubs on the High Street, while 4 of us had a nice meal and a wine.

George and Dragon

Actually the non-diners went home, but it took me nearly 2 hours, so it would have been a pretty late one if I'd stayed. Maybe next time if it's nearer the centre . . .

Glad you had a good meal

Now I might do the Walk on Sunday. But I can't Guarantee I will. Another Thing. Would you know if any Buses run on a Sunday from Epping to Waltham Cross on Sundays?

Marc, the short answer is I don't know. It doesn't look like the 13 runs to Waltham X on Sundays. Both Journey planner (above) and Traveline suggest convoluted journeys that take an hour or more. Maybe someone local knows more?

Yes I can make it Today. I can take the 217 Bus to Waltham Cross. Then a 66A from Waltham Cross to Loughton. And on the way back. I just take a small Tube ride from Epping to Loughton. Then take the 2 Buses back the same way.

10 on this walk with the weather starting cloudy then persistent rain from noon . Tracks through the forest not too muddy and a local conservation group had repainted the signs so the trail after you leave the main track was quite easy to follow. At High Beach we stopped for refreshments at the mobile cafe - drinks, cornish pasties and rolls and though it was quite early we made this our lunch break as the weather was closing in. (This short walk does not really need a lunch pub as you can walk it in 3 hours.) In open country around Upshire it became increasingly bleak and sadly Le Petit Cafe in Epping was closed for a private party. So it was onward to Epping station and back to London on the Tube. Not a classic day out but a pleasant enough leg-stretcher and good company although the near constant thrum of Xmas traffic noise was a bit annoying. Back home by 3pm

There are lots of other tea and coffee options in Epping, for future reference, including better than average Neros and Costas.

7 on this with the forest looking splendidly atmospheric and sparkling in the dull early winter light. The weather was w= dull-and-overcast-but-dry. Definitely the best time of year to do this walk.

We stopped at High Beach visitor centre for a quick coffee before setting off for open countryside and the 2 pub options in Upshire where the pub lunchers settled for the Horseshoes and what a good choice it turned out to be! The roasts come in 3 sizes - small, medium and large and the one who had the medium could not finish it. You would have to be a real trencherman/woman to tackle the large! Also a very good veggie soup and baguette.

After lunch we enjoyed the open countryside north of Epping Forest slightly marred unfortunately by the low hum of busy traffic.

Two of us had tea at the excellent Verde cafe

before one went to explore Epping High Street and I caught the tube back to the East End.

(PS. I am coming to the conclusion that I will have to rethink the stretch through the Forest to High Beach as the narrow trails at this time of year are often invisible because of leaf drifts and poor signing and unless you have a map or gps route finding is difficult. I may try to redraft the route so it follows wider and better drained trails although these tend to be busy in fine weather.