Chingford to Chigwell: 4 miles (6.4 km)
Trail Landmarks
Chingford Plain - Picking up the path from the Holly Trail Cafe, the clear compressed gravel path along with some grassy tracks, meanders its way along Chingford Plain. At one time a very densely wooded forest, it has remainded open grassland since Henry VIII cleared the site to further improve the hunting grounds. Home to ‘Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge and Museum’, formerly the ‘standing‘ (spectator location for hunting) and the joyful ‘Butlers Retreat’, the path now arrives at the Rangers road.
Hatch Forest and Epping New Road - Crossing over Rangers Road and into the small car park, the path is best picked up from the southerly end of the car park from where the stoney path is much clearer to follow. On this occasion, much as before on the last section, the forest floor was still very muddy and boggy from earlier rainfall. A delightful stroll nonetheless through a youthful forest canopy and picturesque patchy sunlit floor brings the path over the River Ching and into the county of Essex. A gentle uphill grassland vista and path awaits at the top of which lies some magnificent trees and shelter. Crossing the Warren Road, through a small gate and another short strip of woodland path, a noticeable tranquility now descends highlighted by the delightful surrounding birdsong. Reaching an open cricket pitch, the path crosses the High Road and now’s enters Buckhurst Hill.
Buckhurst Hill and Roding Valley Recreation Ground - Negotiating a small signed section of road paths and intriguing alleyways eventually brings the path again out alongside open meadows and hedgerows with panoramic views to enjoy. Crossing over the Central Line footbridge, a peaceful urban footpath passes though the suburbs of Buckhurst Hill with local shops on hand, to reach the Roding Valley Recreation Ground. A broad area of playing fields and cricket pitches surround a pair of large lakes formerly gravel pits created by the excavation and construction of the nearby M11. Home to waterfowl, birdlife and much loved by anglers too, the path skirts the edge of these lakes and crosses over the River Roding.
Chigwell - Circumnavigating the David Lloyd Centre by a hedgerow path, passing through the car park and out onto the Roding Lane, the M11 comes into plain view over the road bridge. Continuing along Chigwell Rise, the paths leads into quaint Upper Chigwell bringing this section of the LOOP to a close. Turning right at the High Road, finds the Central Line underground station a few meters away along with a raft of local shops and Cafes and last but not least, the King William IVth Pub for a rewarding pint!
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