Walk

Epping Forest Extended Circuit from Chingford

London

Dog Friendly Rating: 8/10 An extended eleven kilometre Epping Forest circuit from Chingford with grazed plain, ancient pollards and Connaught Water, dog friendly with seasonal cattle.

Epping Forest is the largest open space in greater London, around 2400 hectares of ancient woodland and grassland looked after by the City of London Corporation. This dog friendly extended circular leaves Bury Road car park behind Chingford station, crosses Chingford Plain, loops via Connaught Water and the High Beach plateau, and returns via the Holly Trail through the hornbeam pollards.

Dogs are welcome off lead across most of the forest, but Chingford Plain is grazed by longhorn cattle from April to June and September to November, when leads on and respectful distance are essential. Connaught Water has its own popular dog walking circuit. The terrain mixes wide forest tracks, grass plain and woodland paths that get reliably muddy in winter. Bury Road has paid parking and the trailhead is a five minute walk from Chingford station for car free arrivals.

At a Glance

Distance 11.0 km (6.8 miles)

Difficulty Moderate

Duration 3 hr

Walk Type Forest, Woodland

Route Type Circular

Off Lead Potential High

Livestock Risk Moderate

Facilities Butler's Retreat tea room, Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge and the View visitor centre near Chingford Plain. Toilets at Bury Road.

Parking Pay and display Bury Road car park and other forest car parks (Connaught Water, Bury Wood). Free street parking around Chingford station is limited.