Chigwell to Havering-Atte-Bower: 7 miles (11.3 km)
Trail Landmarks
Upper Chigwell and Chigwell Row - Rejoining the trail at the junction of Chigwell Rise and the High Road, the path heads through attractive Upper Chigwell passing 12th C St. Mary Church and the Ye Old Kings Head pub opposite. Renamed ‘The Maypole’ in Charles Dickens ‘Barnaby Rudge’, frequented by Winston Churchill and now a Turkish restaurant owned by Alan Sugar, it holds an impressive position on the roadside. Turning off to the right, passing though a small horse field, some overgrown scrub and across onto farmland, the horizon now opens up as the path navigates around and across wide open corn fields with the full presence of proper countryside! Slipping down the side of the water treatment works, crossing Lambourne road, the route now twists through delightful Chigwell Row and into the nature reserve, a small remnant of the woodland that once covered the entire area.
Hainault Forest - guaranteed to keep you circling the path on end, this former hunting Forest nevertheless is a delight to pass through. The path switches between compressed soil and gravel and grassy tracks with many options to explore. Whilst depleted by development, there are many fine pollarded oaks and hornbeams and upon finally leaving its canopy the SSSI emerges onto open parkland and a nearby man-made lake. Whilst very tempting to take the fine compressed resin path straight ahead alongside the lake and towards the Global Cafe at the far end, the LOOP trail hugs the forest edge to the left and takes a wide arc around to the golf course beyond. Ground nesting birds in particular Skylarks are protected in this open meadow as numbers have decreased drastically over the last 40 years so keeping dogs on leads and sticking to the path is essential. At the high point, stunning views in a south westerly direction can be seen of Central London and the towering city skyline.
Hainault Forest Golf Course - marking the border between the boroughs of Redbridge and Hillingdon, safe passage across this huge course of 2 x 18 holes is achieved with well marked paths along the woodland and fairway edges. The elevation of the course again offers panoramic views across the Thames Valley and distant estuary.
Havering Country Park and Havering-Atte-Bower - leaving behind the golf course, the path now enters Havering Park crossing open countryside and sticking to hedgerows redolent with wild flowers and occasional bullrushes. Taking the straight compressed gravel path alongside Bigfield, an eventual left turn leads into woodland via an established series of footpaths, all easy going to bring the path onto a final heading to Havering-Atte-Bower. This stretch of woodland is delightful as the latter section is lined with 50m giant sequoia trees or Wellingtonias as the eastern half of this final section, now a road turning onto the village green, is named after the Duke of Wellington.
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