The Epping Forest Oak Trail – Explore the North of the Forest and its Buffer Lands
Epping Forest is an ancient woodland that straddles the border of Greater London and Essex, making it perfectly located for a day out away from the city. While London is home to some amazing green spaces like Hampstead Heath or Regent’s Park, it always feels as though you’re never too far from the skyscrapers. Epping Forest, though, with its dense woodland and abundance of wildlife, feels a million miles away from the capital.
And with 176 miles of walking trails crisscrossing its 6000 acres, this former royal forest is the perfect location for nature-starved city-dwellers looking to enjoy a good old walk.
Epping Forest has 9 official waymarked walking trails, but the Epping Forest Oak Trail is the longest and arguably the best of the bunch. It forms a 6.6-mile loop beginning and ending in the village of Theydon Bois, taking you through some beautiful parts of northern Epping Forest and its surrounding Buffer Lands on its way.
Expect to stroll through farmland, countryside and small villages before entering the ancient forest itself. From here, you’ll meander along scenic forest tracks, see the remains of an Iron Age hill fort at Ambresbury Banks, and walk along the edge of a deer sanctuary, home to 100 fallow deer.
⮕ See the official Epping Forest Oak Trail map here.
How do I get to the Epping Forest Oak Trail?
The Oak Trail is a circular walk, starting and finishing from the town of Theydon Bois. It’s super easy to get to from London: take the Central Line to Theydon Bois, just 30 minutes from Liverpool Street or 40 minutes from Oxford Circus. There’s also some parking on Forest Drive for anyone who prefers to come by car.
When you exit the station, turn right out of the car park, then take another right onto Forest Drive (opposite The Bull pub). At the very end of Forest Drive, you’ll see a gate with a footpath to its left. This is where the Epping Forest Oak Trail begins.
However, because the Oak Trail is a loop, you don’t have to start at Theydon Bois. You can start from any point on the trail — Jack’s Hill car park, for instance, is a good option for those who are driving. But if you’re coming from London, the Tube to Theydon Bois will be the easiest option.
How long is the Epping Forest Oak Trail?
At 6.6 miles, the Oak Trail is the longest of Epping Forest’s 9 waymarked walking routes. That being said, the trail isn’t particularly challenging, so it can be walked in 2-3 hours. If you add in a 30-minute lunch break and pint/coffee at the end, you’re looking at about 4 hours in total.
Tip: From Theydon Bois to Bell Common, the signposting on the trail can be a little confusing. It’s a mismatch of yellow arrows, green arrows, and signs. All of these signs are correct for the Oak Trail, so you’re okay to follow them. Watch out for landmarks like the dead tree, the bridge over the M25 and the playground to keep you on track. Once you get into the forest itself, navigation is easy.
Epping Forest Oak Trail: Directions and route details
Assuming you’ve begun your walk from Theydon Bois station, turn left to leave the station car park, then follow the road round to the right. Take the first right onto Forest Drive, which is opposite The Bull pub. Follow Forest Drive all the way down until you come to a gate with a small footpath on the left. This is the start of the Epping Forest Oak Trail.
Follow the footpath for 200 metres or so, with the stream to your right and the fences to your left. Keep going past the fences, and when you reach a gate on your right with a “public footpath” sign, go through it. From here, you should spot the dead tree at the top of the hill.
Head up the hill, past the dead tree, and through another signed gate. Follow the dirt road ahead of you, and at the end of it, you’ll find a kissing gate that leads you into a field of horses. Go through it, turn right and walk along the edge of the field until you get to yet another gate.
Cross the bridge over the M25 to find yourself in an open field. Walk across the field, and the trail will deposit you onto Ivy Chimneys Road at the edge of Epping. Turn left and walk down the road a short way, before taking a right past the children’s playground and onto the fields and woodland beyond. This is the easiest place to get lost, as there are a few paths to choose from here, so make sure to follow the signposts.
The Oak Trail continues through this wooded area and to the settlement of Bell Common, before taking you through more woods and to the grounds of the Bell Common Cricket Club. On the opposite side of the cricket ground, you’ll see fairly dense woods. Walk along the edge of the grounds (you should be able to see the clubhouse) and this will lead you to an opening into the forest.
You’ve passed through the farmland and the villages — now, into Epping Forest itself. Once you’re in the forest, following the Oak Trail is really easy. The main path is obvious and there are regular signposts pointing the way.
After about 30 minutes of walking along forest trails, you’ll come to Ambresbury Banks. Ambresbury Banks are the remains of an Iron Age hill fort that covered an area of approximately 11 acres. The fort was surrounded by a 6ft single bank and a ditch, and you can still see the outline of this! According to legend, this was the site of the British Queen Boudica’s defeat by the Romans in 61 CE.
Ambresbury Banks is one of the most popular places to visit in Epping Forest, and well worth spending 10 minutes or so to explore.
Continuing onwards, you’ll pass through Jack’s Hill car park. You’ll need to cross the road at this point, but this means you’re on the right track. Beyond Jack’s Hill car park, the forest becomes denser as you walk through Jack’s Hill Plain, Hatgate Plain and Birchwood.
Continuing on the Oak Trail, you’ll soon find yourself at the edge of the Epping Forest Deer Sanctuary, which was founded in 1959 and is home to a herd of fallow deer. There are a couple of spots where you can get up close to the fence and have a look at the deer.
Once you leave the Deer Sanctuary, the Oak Trail will deposit you onto a narrow country road lined with houses. This road will take you across the B172 and into another section of woodland. Once on the main path, turn right to walk onward towards Genesis Slade.
Eventually, you’ll come out onto a road called Coppice Row, which you can follow all the way down to Theydon Bois tube station.
And that’s it — you’ve completed your Epping Forest Oak Trail walk!
More London walks:
About The Author
Lauren Pears is a freelance travel writer and blogger based in London. She writes about active adventure travel, aiming to encourage and inspire travellers to make the most of the great outdoors.
Thank you for reading! If you found this post useful, I’d be grateful if you would consider using the affiliate links below when planning your travels. I’ll make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This will help me to keep this blog running. Thanks for your support – Lauren.
Hotels – Booking.com
Hostels – Hostelworld
Cheap flights – Skyscanner
Travel insurance – World Nomads
Outdoor gear – Decathlon / GO Outdoors
Cycling gear – Chain Reaction Cycles
Alternatively, you could buy me a coffee to say thanks!
