Epping Forest Walks: A Guide to the Forest’s Best Trails
Spanning 8,000 acres across London and Essex, Epping Forest is the ideal location for city dwellers seeking greenery and fresh air. It’s a truly ancient woodland, home to around 55,000 centuries-old trees — more than anywhere else in England. These trees were around during the Spanish Armada, the signing of the Magna Carta, and some even during the Viking invasion of Britain. Yes, Epping Forest is old.
Despite being on London’s doorstep, Epping Forest feels a world away from the city. Towering oaks and twisted hornbeams create a canopy of green, while peaceful meadows and shimmering lakes make it easy to forget you’re so close to the capital. In spring, bluebells carpet the forest floor, while autumn transforms the woodland into a sea of gold and amber. It’s also brimming with wildlife — keep your eyes peeled for fallow deer grazing in the undergrowth or woodpeckers drumming on tree trunks.
With 176 miles of dedicated walking trails, Epping Forest offers something for everyone. Whether you prefer a short woodland loop or a full-day hike, there’s a trail to suit every ability. Well-marked routes guide walkers through some of the most scenic and historic parts of the forest, from the peaceful waters of Connaught Lake to ancient earthworks like Ambresbury Banks. This guide will take you through the best Epping Forest walks, helping you discover the most beautiful and accessible trails in London’s most historic woodland.
How to get to Epping Forest
There are lots of car parks scattered around Epping Forest, although they do get busy on weekends. Some convenient car park locations include Bury Road, Buckhurst Hill Cricket Ground, Chingford Golf Course, Connaught Water, High Beach Visitors Centre, Jack’s Hill, Knighton Wood, Leyton Flats, Snaresbrook Road, Strawberry Hill and Warren Road. You can see more about parking in the forest here.
Epping Forest is also served well by the London underground. Loughton, Theydon Bois, Snaresbrook, Buckhurst Hill, Wanstead and Redbridge are all on the Central Line and within walking distance of the forest. You can also take the Overground to Chingford from London Liverpool Street.
Epping Forest Walks: Waymarked Trails
The Epping Forest and Commons Committee have done a fantastic job of managing the forest, and have put a lot of effort into making it easy for everyone to enjoy. This includes the development of ten circular walking trails, all of which are well-signposted, simple to follow, and start near car parks and train stations. These trails are perfect for families and beginners, offering an easy way to explore the forest.
Each of these waymarked trails showcases a different side of Epping Forest, from the ancient woodland of the Beech Trail to the historic parklands of the Chestnut Trail. If you’re new to the forest or simply want a stress-free, well-maintained route, these trails are a great starting point. These are Epping Forest’s official waymarked trails:
Beech Trail
Distance: 2.5 miles
Start: High Beach car park
Public Transport: You can take the Central Line to Loughton, but it’s a 40-minute walk from there.
Starting from the High Beach car park, the Beech Trail will take you around the ancient mounts at Loughton Camp over surfaced forest tracks. As the name suggests, this trail will showcase some of Epping Forest’s beech trees, whose leaves are a vibrant lime green during the springtime. There are a few steep inclines, but nothing seriously strenuous. Map here.
Chestnut trail
Distance: 3.25 miles
Start: Warren Road car park
Public Transport: Wanstead and Redbridge are the closest train stations.
Starting from Warren Road, the Chestnut Trail will take you along surfaced forest tracks and through open grassland. You’ll stroll past a few water bodies — Ornamental Water, Heronry Pond and Perch Pond — where you’re likely to spot some birdlife. The walk will also take you past The Grotto, an 18th-century ornamental boat house. This is an easy trail consisting of mostly flat grounds with just a few gentle inclines.
Gifford Trail
Distance: 1.25 miles
Start: Sergeant’s Green Lane
Public Transport: Buses C3 & 213 stop at Horseshoe Hill.
The Gifford Trail starts from Sergeant’s Green Lane and will take you through the newly planted forest of Gifford Wood and the Buffer Lands of Oxleys and Potkiln Woods. While the trail officially starts at Sergeant’s Green Lane, it makes more sense to start at the entrance opposite the Upshire Village Hall on Horseshoe Hill, as this is where parking and bus stops are.
Golden Hill Trail
Distance: 1.6 miles
Start: Goldings Hill car park
Public Transport: Take the Central Line to Loughton, then it’s a 30-minute walk.
Starting from Goldings Hill car park, the Golden Hill Trail takes you through a mix of ancient woodland and open spaces, offering a peaceful yet varied walk. You’ll pass the enchanting Lost Pond, a secluded waterbody surrounded by towering trees that reflect beautifully on its surface. The terrain is uneven with some gentle inclines, making it a slightly more rugged walk compared to some of the flatter trails in Epping Forest. Map here.
Holly Trail
Distance: 2.5 miles
Start: Bury Road car park
Public Transport: Take the Overground to Chingford, and it’s a 5-minute walk from there.
Starting from Bury Road car park, the Holly Trail will take you through the open grassland at Chingford Plain, before meandering along surfaced forest tracks. This is an easy trail with a few gentle inclines. As the name suggests, you are likely to see holly during your walk, a resilient species that can grow through other foliage. Map here.
Hornbeam Trail
Distance: 3.25 miles
Start: Snaresbrook Road car park
Public Transport: Take the Central Line to Snaresbrook, and it’s an 11-minute walk from there. The W12 bus also stops on Snaresbrook Road.
Starting from Snaresbrook Road, the Hornbeam Trail follows a mostly flat forest track through woodland and open grassland. There is one steep incline between Canada Plain and Waterworks Garden, but the rest is easygoing. Be sure to look out for hornbeam trees, which can be identified by their oval-shaped leaves with serrated edges. Map here.
Lime Trail
Distance: 2.5 miles
Start: Harrow Road car park
Public Transport: Take the Elizabeth Line to Forest Gate and then a 58 bus to Wanstead Flats.
Starting from Harrow Road, the Lime Trail follows flat ground through open grassland and the woodland of Bush Wood. You’re likely to hear greater spotted woodpeckers in Bush Wood — listen for their distinctive ‘kek’ call or their drumming on the trees. This trail is one of the easiest to walk in terms of terrain, so is ideal for people with less mobility.
Rowan Trail
Distance: 1.5 miles
Start: Knighton Lane car park
Public Transport: Take the Central Line to Buckhurst Hill and it’s a 20-minute walk from there.
Starting from Knighton Lane, the Rowan Trail is an easy stroll along flat surfaces. It’s named after the Common Rowan which fruits in July and August and can be found near the base of oak trees.
Willow Trail
Distance: 2.5 miles
Start: Connaught Water car park
Public Transport: It’s a 20-minute walk from Chingford Station or a 35-minute walk from Buckhurst Hill.
In my opinion, the Willow Trail is one of the best Epping Forest walks as it showcases the beautiful Connaught Water and its diverse birdlife. There are always lots of people out walking along the water, so it’s nice for the atmosphere. It’s an easy walking trail that will take you along surfaced tracks and grasslands. Map here.
Epping Forest Walks: Curated trails
Of course, you don’t have to stick to the waymarked trails outlined above. Epping Forest has over 176 miles of paths weaving through 8,000 acres of woodland — you can simply arrive and start walking! Some of the most beautiful routes aren’t officially waymarked, but they can easily be followed with a map. Here are some of my personal favourite Epping Forest walks:
Connaught Water and Chingford Plain Circular
Distance: 4.8 miles | Time: 2 hours | Start/Finish: Bury Road Car Park | Map: Click here
The Connaught Water and Chingford Plain Circular is 4.8 mile trail that showcases some of Epping Forest’s most scenic and historic spots. Starting from the Bury Road car park, the route winds through ancient woodlands, where tall oaks and beeches create a peaceful canopy, and wildlife such as deer, woodpeckers, and foxes can sometimes be spotted. Highlights of the walk include the scenic Connaught Water, the Chingford Plains, and the Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge, a striking 16th-century timber-framed building originally commissioned by Henry VIII as a grandstand for observing hunts across Chingford Plain.
Epping Forest Oak Trail
Distance: 6.6 miles | Time: 3 hours | Start/Finish: Theydon Bois Station | Map: Click here
You may, or may not, have noticed that I only included 9 of the 10 official waymarked trails above. This is because I felt that the Oak Trail deserved its own section. At 6.6 miles, it’s by far the longest of the 10 waymarked trails. This makes it better suited for walkers looking for a longer hike.
Beginning and ending near Theydon Bois Station (on the Central Line), the Oak Trail takes you through some of the forest’s most historic and beautiful spots. The walk kicks off with peaceful paths past Great Gregories Farm, where you might spot grazing cattle, before leading into the Epping Thicks, a stretch of dense, ancient woodland. One of the highlights is Ambresbury Banks, an Iron Age fort that’s over 2,000 years old.
Near the end of the route, you’ll pass the Deer Sanctuary, where you might catch glimpses of fallow deer between the trees. Finishing back in Theydon Bois, you’ll be in the perfect spot to grab a well-earned drink or bite to eat. The Queen Victoria pub is just a short walk from the station, serving up classic pub food in a cosy setting — ideal for resting those legs after a long walk through the forest.
Epping Forest Centenary Walk
Distance: 15 miles | Time: 6 hours | Start/Finish: Manor Park/Epping | Map: Click here
If you’re up for giving your legs a serious workout, the 15-mile Epping Forest Centenary Walk should do the trick. Developed in 1978 to mark 100 years of the Epping Forest Act, this walk will take you from Manor Park to Epping via the locally-loved Wanstead Flats, Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge, Highams Park Lake and lots of ancient woodlands.
Forest Way Circular
Distance: 16 miles | Time: 6 hours | Start/Finish: Chingford | Map: Click here
The epic walk is almost 16 miles and will loop you around almost the entirety of the forest. As the name might suggest, the Forest Way Circular is, well, circular. The trail takes you from Chingford to Epping and then back round to Chingford again.
→ Want more inspiration for your Epping Forest walk? Have a look at some more curated trails here.
Tips for walking in Epping Forest
- The Holly, Hornbeam and Oak trails are best for those who don’t have a car and will be coming from inside London, as these three trails are all within a 15-minute walk from a train station.
- Epping Forest can get notoriously muddy, so be sure to wear your hiking boots.
- Fallow deer, muntjac deer, bats, woodpeckers and 28 species of butterfly can all be seen in the forest, so keep your eyes peeled.
- Epping Forest is a great place to see bluebells. Although it can vary each year, they usually bloom from mid-April to late May. For the best chance of seeing bluebells on your Epping Forest walk, head to Bury Wood, Chalet Wood or Strawberry Hill Ponds.
- There are various walking groups you can join to make new friends and explore Epping Forest with like-minded people. Epping Forest Heritage Trust, West Essex Ramblers and Forest Ramblers all offer walking events.
About The Author
Lauren Pears is a freelance travel writer and blogger who writes about active adventure travel. She’s been blogging for almost 10 years, and has written for publications such as Lonely Planet, World Nomads, and Southeast Asia Backpacker.
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 – Booking.com
Travel insurance – World Nomads
Outdoor gear – Decathlon / GO Outdoors
Alternatively, you could buy me a coffee to say thanks!
