15 Best Epping Forest Walks | Complete Trail Guide 2026
The Epping Forest map was first separately documented in the 17th century. Before this, it was considered part of Waltham Forest. The British Royal family used to hunt in the area during the reign of King Henry VIII.
Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge acts as evidence of this fact. Another former hunting lodge standing in the Loughton district currently serves as the Forest Headquarters.
Epping Forest is a beautiful place for those who love to walk in the natural world. Below are several trails, both long and short, for walking and hiking here.
All about Epping Forest
Hangman’s Hill, Epping Forest History
Hangman’s Hill in Epping Forest is well known among locals for its many gruesome legends. Many stories exist about how the hill got its name. The common story is of a serial killer who hunts a victim at night.
This killer brought victims to the bottom of this hill, tied a rope around their neck and dragged them to the top. Then, chop their heads and bury them in the ground.
Another story is that three men were wrongfully accused of crimes they never committed and were eventually hanged atop this hill. It can’t be said which story is true, but something probably did happen and led to this place being known as a haunted area.
Epping Forest was initially used as a hunting ground for the British Royal Family. Until the reign of King Henry VIII, it was known as Waltham Forest and served as a hunting ground. In the 17th century, hunting in the forest gradually came to a stop.
The name Epping was introduced after the Epping Forest Act was passed in 1878. This Act stated that the Corporation of the City of London would be the Conservator of this forest. Before this declaration, many wealthy groups tried to expand their property here.
They would usually deforest these lands and use them for their purposes. Thus, the Epping Forest Act saved the area from experiencing a similar fate.
How big is Epping Forest?
Epping Forest is 339 km², a 2,400-hectare ancient forest managed by the city of London. It is located in the county of Essex in southeast England. The woodland’s 4,270 acres (1,728 hectares) are conserved for special scientific interest.
The forest is about 12 miles (19 kilometres) long north-south and 2.5 miles (4 kilometres) east-west. The east-west path is narrow in most places. It consists of forests, grasslands, heaths, streams, reservoirs, and ponds and has loamy soils. Epping Forest is on a ridge between the Lea and Roding river valleys.
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Epping Forest Yacht Club
Alfred I. Dupont and Jessie Ball DuPont built the Epping Forest Yacht and Country Club in the 1920s. This 58-acre estate was used as their permanent residence. It’s a giant mansion with intricate architecture and design. The inside was decorated with expensive marble and tiles.
There were 25 rooms in it. After DuPont’s death, the mansion’s ownership changed and ultimately fell into the hands of Gate Petroleum Corporation in 1984. The company turned it into the Yacht and Country Club for the people of Jacksonville and Epping.
It’s now a recreational centre with swimming pools, fitness centres, and tennis courts for the club members. There is also a children’s activity centre. The members gather occasionally to indulge in family activities and tennis championships. Tennis lessons are also provided here.
Where is Epping Forest
Epping Forest is a district in Essex County, named after the forest. It is northeast of Greater London and southwest of Essex. The forest forms an elevated land between the two rivers, the Lea and the Roding.
Address: 6 Rangers Road, Chingford, London, E4 7qh
Epping Weather
Epping has tropical rainforest weather. The highest temperature is recorded in July, when it ranges between 15℃ and 20℃. February is the coldest month.
Best time to visit Epping Forest
Even though London residents visit Epping frequently, the forest is at its best from January to May.
Epping Forest visiting time and entry fee
Epping Forest is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday throughout the year. The gates open at 10:00 a.m. and close at 5:00 p.m.
No entrance fee is required. Entry is free for all.
Epping Forest Visitor Centre
The Epping Forest Heritage Trust has maintained the visitor centre since 2014. It is responsible for looking after visitors and helping them get the most out of their visit.
The centre is open 365 days a year from 10 am to 4 pm. It has a few bird feeding stations so people can observe them from closer.
They also organise activities, such as scavenger hunts, to bring children closer to nature. A help desk will provide a map of Epping Forest or directions if needed. A gift shop also exists.
Address: Paul’s Nursery Road, High Beach, Loughton, Essex, IG10 4af (behind Kings Oak pub).
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Epping Forest Directions
Several buses reach the Epping Forest, such as the 20 and 397. If you haven’t already, I recommend downloading the Citymapper app, which provides all the information you need about the London transport route. The app also notifies of expected strikes or repair work in London.
Train Booking: Rail Europe and Trainline are the best websites for booking trains anywhere in Europe. Both are easy to manage online and allow you to track your journey.
How to reach Epping Forest
Epping Forest can be reached from London in three ways:
- Subway: Take the Central Line of London’s underground tube system and enter Epping Forest tube station.
- By road: Epping Forest is 20 km from London. It takes half an hour to reach and is the fastest way to travel.
- Train: Take a 30-minute train to Chingford from Liverpool Street to reach the Epping district. Then, walk the remaining distance to the forest.
Epping Forest entrance by road
- Epping Forest Visitor Centre at Chingford at 6 Rangers Road, Chingford, London, E4 7qh. Adjacent to Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge.
- Epping Forest Visitor Centre at Paul’s Nursery Road, High Beach, Loughton, IG10 4af.
- The Temple at Wanstead Park is located off Warren Road, London, E11 2ls
- All these Epping Forest visitor centres have parking facilities.
Epping Forest Car Park
Parking is available around the forest, but it’s limited on busy days. If you’re travelling by car, consider arriving earlier to secure a spot for your ride.
They have plenty of parking zones, like
- Bakers Lane car park, CM16 5EG
- Civic Offices car park, CM16 4bz
- Cottis Lane car park, CM16 5dq
The car park costs approximately
- Monday to Friday – 08:00 am to 18:00 pm Up to 1 hour £0.90
- Weekends – 08:00 a.m. to 18:00 pm Up to 18:00 £1.00
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Different trees in Epping Forest
The forest’s chief trees are pedunculate oak, European beech, European hornbeam, and silver birch. It also has the highest number of ancient trees in the country.
There are 55,000 ancient trees in total, some of which have been here since the Anglo-Saxon period. In addition to these, conifers, small shrubs and bushes, creepers, and decaying trees are also found here.
It’s also well known for exotic mushrooms, some of which are highly prized for their rarity.
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Wildlife in Epping Forest (Includes animals, birds, reptiles, and butterflies)
Epping Forest is known for its impressive butterfly population. Of the 28 butterfly species in this forest, Small Heath and Small Blue are two endangered species. Some rare stag beetles are found here, resting on the ancient trees.
Animals that can be seen include deer, muntjac deer, hedgehogs, foxes, and rodents, among others. Bats also make up a large part of the wildlife in Epping Forest. Ten species of bats have been recorded here to date.
Activities in Epping Forest
Epping Forest is nature’s haven, welcoming people from all walks of life. Sunday mornings are all about small family picnics under the shade of a giant tree.
Regular visitors are going out for a hike on one of the many beautiful trails in the forest. There are also cycling trails alongside. All these trails are marked and well-maintained.
The vast open areas are used for golf, football, and fishing, among other activities. The High Beech Riding School offers beginner horse riding lessons in designated areas.
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10 Epping Forest Circular Walks, Trails and Directions
- Beech Trail
- Gifford Trail
- Chestnut Trail
- Holly Trail
- Hornbeam trail
- Lime trail
- Oak trail
- Rowan trail
- Willow trail
- The grand Epping Forest circular walk
1. Beech Trail
The Beech Trail is an exciting circular loop trail. It stretches 4 km and can be covered in an hour. It starts at the High Beach car park and follows a moderately uneven path with a few ups and downs. As the name suggests, the entire path is lined with beech trees.
These trees show a lovely transformation of red and brown leaves during autumn, making the trail even more beautiful. A hillfort from the Iron Age named Loughton Camp is the highlight of this trail. The entire way is marked with signs to help hikers find their way easily.
2. Gifford Trail
Belonging to the official walking route of Epping Forest, this trail is 2 km long. It’s a well-marked trail from Lodge Hall and proceeds to Gifford Woods. It passes Copped Hall, Upshire and Warlies Park on the way. The trail is relatively new compared to the others. The Gifford Forest was established in 2013 through an initiative by local volunteers and schoolchildren.
In this area, you can see a special species of deer called the Fallow deer. Huge native trees adorn the path.
3. Chestnut Trail
Chestnut Trail is among the more leisurely walks here. The official trail is circular, starting at the Warren Road entrance. The walk is 5 km long and has a precise altitude throughout. It’s your typical walking trail for all ages.
The surrounding forest and grassland views are amazing. After crossing Wanstead Park, the trail is decorated by three lakes: Ornamental Water, Heronry Pond, and Perch Pond. The view around these water bodies makes the trail more appealing.
4. Holly Trail
Holly Trail starts at Chingford and follows a circular path with a slight elevation change. It’s an official hiking trail with magnificent wildlife and nature.
Bury Wood, a specific tree along this trail, can be hundreds of years old. Many animals, such as squirrels, porcupines, and birds, take shelter in their large trunks. There’s a chance to see another deer species on this trail: the Muntjac. The total distance is 4 km.
5. Hornbeam Trail
The trail gets its name from the abundant Hornbeam trees along it. It begins from the Snaresbrook Road car park beside the Eagle Ponds. The majority of the route is smooth. A little elevation can be observed between Canada Plain and Waterworks Wood. Forest authorities properly mark all 6 km of this trail.
6. Lime Trail
This 2.5 km trail starts at Harrow Road Sports Pavilion. The walk is mostly through flat, open grasslands, with occasional wooded areas. The trail gets its name from common lime bark, a leafy plant that grows on tree bark. It can be frequently seen in the trees of this area. The entire trail can be covered within 40 minutes.
7. Oak Trail
Oak Trail is the longest and most challenging of all Epping Forest trails. It starts at Theydon Bois Underground Station and continues on an 11 km circular route from there. The trail involves the rough, uneven way and the cut-and-smoothed way. This makes the hike both interesting and relaxing.
This track has several interesting points. The Great Gregory’s Farm at Epping Thicks is close to the starting point. Next comes the historical point with Ambresbury Banks’ earthworks. These are ancient artefacts from the 1st B.C. and are valuable today. The concluding highlight of this trail is the Deer Sanctuary.
Fallow deer are conserved here and provide safe grazing for over 100 animals. The whole place is for animals only.
8. Rowan Trail
This trail falls among the shorter trail categories. It’s officially marked from Knighton Lane car park to the end. The total distance of this trail is 2.4 km. With a gentle elevation, the hike takes approximately 45-60 minutes.
Knighton Lake offers magnificent views during the hike. It’s adorned with reeds and water lilies, giving it a wild and beautiful appearance. As the name suggests, Rowan trees are commonly found here. A red berry-like fruit grows on these trees.
While taking this trail, you might come across bright blue-coloured male Emperor dragonflies. Their colour gives them a spectacular look and makes them stand out.
9. Willow Trail
Willow Trail is a beautiful route in Epping Forest. It is 4 km long, starts at Connaught Water, and takes an hour to complete. Most of the path is on even land except for one steep slope at Chingford Plain to reach the lake. Various trees are found in the area, among which the willow trees are the most prominent.
You will come across a 350-year-old oak tree on your way there. There are various birds around the lake, making it a great spot for bird watching. Longhorn cattle is nearby
10. The Grand Epping Forest Circular Walk
The Grand Epping Forest Circular Walk is the longest and grandest of all the marked hiking routes in Epping Forest. It’s a 25.4 km walking trail, considered the most challenging. The trail starts and ends at Chingford.
The circular path loops around the whole park, with a few elevations here and there. It has a few obstacles, but completing the entire length can be difficult. Giant forest trees shade some parts, while others are exposed to the open sky.
To avoid problems, stick to the waymarked region. Carry enough water when covering this trail; the long distance can be exhausting.
What 8 things to do in Epping Forest
- Visit the Epping Forest district museum to learn about the area’s history.
- Spend the night in Epping Forest by camping overnight.
- Go to the Epping Forest Visitor Centre to see birds being fed up close.
- Visit the gift shop to buy a present. You can also get a map here.
- The authorities arrange certain events and special walks throughout the year. Participate in those for a good cause.
- Visit the Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge on Rangers Road, Chingford
- Learn horse riding at High Beech Riding School.
- Fishing is allowed in 25 water bodies inside the forest.
Tips before you visit Epping Forest Walks
- Get proper hiking shoes or waterproof shoes, as the ground is usually muddy.
- Washrooms are mainly found in High Beech.
- If you opt for a longer trail, carry necessities like refreshments and water sufficient for 3-4 hours.
- Always carry a good map of the area or at least of your trail.
- Try to be quiet to see deer, birds and other wildlife from up close.
- Carry medical aid to be safe.
Where to stay in Epping Forest
- King’s Oak High Beach Hotel
- The Epping Forest Hotel
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Where is Epping Forest located?
The forest is located in Greater London and Essex, between Epping in Essex to the north and Forest Gate in Greater London to the south.
How old is Epping Forest?
The forest is more than 800 years old.
How big is Epping Forest?
The forest spans 5,900 acres (2,400 hectares).
How to get to Epping Forest from London?
You can take a train, a cab or a tube to reach Epping Forest from London.
Are there paths in Epping Forest?
There are 9 officially marked walking trails in Epping Forest.
Conclusion
Apart from its natural beauty, Epping Forest has a reputation as a crime hotspot. There are legends of crimes that occurred here in the 18th century. The story of Hangman’s Hill, the Babes in the Wood murders (1970), and Britain’s most notorious hitman (1989) are some of this place’s few popular crime stories. Crime rates have drastically decreased in recent years, but these legends still stand the test of time.
