Saturday 22 June 2013

Hornbeam Trail

Epping Forest The Hornbeam Trail Walking Route

This short Epping Forest family walking route starts in the Snaresbrook road car park by the Eagle Ponds. At the back of the car park is the main track in to Epping Forest where you will find The Hornbeam Trail map on your right hand side with the distinctive Green Arrow sign posts and waymarkers clearly dotted along this thoroughly enjoyable walking route.

Epping Forest has been investing in developing lots of new walks in Epping Forest and this is another one that is extremely easy to follow, not too muddy and, at just over 3 miles, suitable for all of the family who want to enjoy a leisurely hour or so in this part of Epping Forest at Hollow Ponds.

Epping Forest The Hornbeam Trail Walking Route

Tuesday 11 June 2013

30 Walks In Epping Forest

30 Walks In Epping Forest

This is a simple to follow guide to over 30 of the best walks and walking routes in Epping Forest, including Easy Epping Forest WalksMedium Epping Forest Walks and Long Epping Forest Walks.

Easy Epping Forest Walks

Easy walks that are suitable for all of the family, mostly up to 5 miles which should take a leisurely 2 to 3 hours to complete. Epping Forest can be quite muddy so it is advisable to wear a good pair of walking boots or waterproof walking shoes. Facilities can be quite limited in Epping Forest with High Beach being the most central location for refreshments and toilet facilities. For more information about Epping Forest visit here.

Knighton Wood and Lords Bushes Walk
An easy 1 mile walk suitable for all of the family and small children through this small island of Epping Forest, can easily be extended by an extra few miles if required.

Horseshoe Hill Walking Route
The perfect walk for an adventurous toddler covering just over 1 mile in Epping Forest with plenty of streams and special cut-throughs to keep them entertained.

The Ditches Epping Forest
An easy, but very muddy, 2 mile walk from The Ditches car park to the Epping Forest Deer Sanctuary and back.

Gunpowder Park Walk
A simple 2 mile circular walk in Gunpowder Park offers leisurely walking routes in an area of conservation near Waltham Abbey.

South Woodford Walk
An easy 3 mile linear walk from South Woodford to Chingford following the Epping Forest Centenary Walk.

Willow Trail Walk
A simple 3 mile classic family circular walk following The Willow Trail, one of the official Epping Forest walking routes, around Connaught Water.

Epping Forest Family Walk
A 3 mile family stroll randomly around the ancient woodlands of Epping Forest from High Beach.

Holly Trail Walk
A simple 3 mile classic family circular walk following The Holly Trail, one of the official Epping Forest walking routes, starting in Chingford.

Chestnut Trail Walk
A simple 4 mile classic family circular walk following The Chestnut Trail, one of the official Epping Forest walking routes, starting in Wanstead.

Wanstead Park Walk
A gentle 4 mile circular walk in Wanstead Park, lakes and woodland on well maintained walking routes, tracks and paths.

Gifford Wood Walk
A good 5 mile official Epping Forest walking route from Lodge Road to Copped Hall, Upshire and Warlies Park to the new Gifford Wood and back.

Family Favourite Walk
An awesome 5 mile circular walk from Chingford taking in all of the best sights of this part of Epping Forest. Following the main walking routes this walk starts at Chingford Plain and takes you to High Beach, Loughton Camp, Kate's Cellar, Strawberry Hill Ponds, Connaught Water and the Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge.

Medium Epping Forest Walks

These walks are typically between 5 to 10 miles long and can be quite challenging. These types of walks can take between 3 to 5 hours to complete at a good walking pace. Epping Forest has a myriad of pathways so always make sure you have a paper or digital map with you and take refreshments and plenty of liquids with you to keep hydrated. There are plenty of Epping Forest Fallow Deer, Muntjacs and other wildlife to be found on these walking routes so it is always worth keeping as quite as you can to avoid scaring them off before you get to see them!

Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge Walk
An easy 6 mile circular walk from Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge to High Beach and back via the Epping Forest Green Ride walking routes.

Chingford Walk
An easy 6 mile circular walk from Chingford to the famous Epping Forest Bikers Cafe.

Pole Hill Walk
An easy 6 mile circular walk from Chingford to Pole Hill Obelisk and back via the Epping Forest Centenary Walk.

Gilwell Park Walk
A good 6 mile circular walk around Gilwell Park, home of the Scout Association, with a Secret Bluebell Wood Video as an extra bonus!

High Beach Church Walk
A simple 7 mile circular walk from Chingford to High Beach Church and back via the Centenary Walk, one of Epping Forest's most well known walking routes.

Oak Trail Walk
A gentle 7 mile circular walk along The Oak Trail, one of the official Epping Forest walking routes, including buffer lands, deer sanctuary and Ambresbury Banks.

High Beach Walk
A good 7 mile circular High Beach walk from Connaught Water in Chingford including a visit to the Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge.

Upshire Walk
A good 7 mile circular walk from High Beach, in the heart of Epping Forest, following The Forest Way walking routes through to Upshire and Copped Hall Gardens.

Waltham Abbey Walk
A leisurely 7 mile circular walk from Waltham Abbey through the Epping Forest Lee Valley Park walking routes and the Royal Gunpowder Mills.

Chipping Ongar Walk
A good 7 mile circular walk in Chipping Ongar starting at the unique Log Church in Greensted following the Essex Way walking routes and back via the Three Forest Way to Ongar Castle Motte and Baileys.

Jacks Hill Walk
A good 7 mile circular walk from Jacks Hill in Theydon Bois including a visit to the Epping Forest Deer Sanctuary.

Kates Cellar Walk
A decent 7 mile circular walk starting and finishing in Chingford, exploring Epping Forest's Kate's Cellar at Loughton Camp.

Ambresbury Banks Walk
A solid 8 mile circular walk from High Beach to Ambresbury Banks Fort and then following the main Epping Forest walking routes to Loughton Camp near Loughton.

Essex Way to Epping Walk
A solid 8 mile linear walk along The Essex Way walking routes from Chipping Ongar to the ancient woodlands of Epping Forest.

Deer Sanctuary Walk
A solid 9 mile circular walk starting in Debden following popular walking routes to Abridge, Theydon Bois and then back via the Epping Forest Deer Sanctuary at Birch Hall.

Epping Green Walk
An easy 9 mile linear walk starting in Epping Green following The Forest Way walking routes to the Centenary Way and ending at Chingford Plains.

Hainault Forest Country Park Walk
An easy 9 mile linear walk from Hainault Forest Country Park folloowing the Three Forests Way and London Loop walking routes to Chingford.

Waltham Abbey to Epping Walk
An epic 9 mile linear walk from Waltham Cross to Epping Town via Waltham Abbey and Epping Forest following the historic Green Lanes walking routes.

Long Epping Forest Walks

These walks are typically over 10 miles where you can really immerse yourself in Epping Forest and try some of the lesser known walking routes and hidden treasures, taking in as many as you can on a day long walk. Always be fully prepared for good long walks and long distance walking routes taking plenty of fluids, refreshments and plenty of plasters just in case!

Copped Hall Walk
A great 10 mile circular walk from Loughton to Copped Hall House, using some of the most popular walking routes in Epping Forest.

Loughton Walk
A solid 10 mile circular walk from Loughton to Jack's Hill and Copped Hall House following well known Epping Forest walking routes.

Gifford Wood Walk - Extended
A good 10 mile official Epping Forest walking route from extended from Theydon Bois to the start at Lodge Road to Copped Hall, Upshire and Warlies Park to the new Gifford Wood and back down to Theydon Bois via the Epping Forest Deer Sanctuary.

Abridge Walk
An easy 11 mile circular walk from Hainault Forest Country Park to Abridge and back folowing popular Essex walking routes.

Queen Boudicca Walk
An epic 12 mile circular walk, and one of my Epping Forest favourite walking routes, from Epping Town to Ambresbury Banks and the Queen Boudicca Obelisk with plenty of sightings of the Epping Forest Fallow Deer at Copped Hall.

Theydon Bois Walk
A solid 13 mile circular walk from Theydon Bois following The Essex Way walking routes to the Roman Road and Gernon Bushes Nature Reserve.

Epping Forest District Walk
An easy 14 miles circular walk from Epping Station to Birching Coppice, North Weald Bassett, Hastingwood and back via Thornwood. This is another of my favourite Epping Forest walking routes.

The Forest Way Walk
The Forest Way is a 25 mile long distance linear walk along the walking routes, footpaths and green lanes of Epping Forest and Hatfield Forest.

I hope you enjoyed reading this list of 30 Walks In Epping Forest including Easy Epping Forest WalksMedium Epping Forest Walks and Long Epping Forest Walks.

Saturday 8 June 2013

Top 5 Walking Trousers


For those of us that spend a lot of time in the outdoors we understand the importance of having the right walking clothes at the right time.

Keep to light, loose fitting trousers, or shorts if it's warm enough. This will allow you much more space to move, whether it be clambering through a forest or woodland walk trying to tackles those tricky stiles or big farmyard gates that are too heavy to open, requiring you to climb over. After an embracing and invigorating walk it is also important to keep your muscles warm so having the right walking clothes and a good fleece to hand is highly recommendable with many of the new microfleeces are all about warmth without the weight.

Here are a selection of fully tested walking trousers:


Read the full guide here Top 5 Walking Trousers

Monday 27 May 2013

Walking Festivals On Now

Lincolnshire Wolds Walking Festival 2013

Lincolnshire Wolds Walking Festival 2013 is now under way but there is still time for you to take part as for most of the walks you just have to turn up, with no advance booking.

Launched in 2005, the Lincolnshire Wolds Walking Festival is amongst the largest of its kind in England. A hands-on partnership between voluntary walk leaders from a range of organisations and the local authorities situated within the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, they have created a lively programme of walks designed to get you out and about in this beautiful and varied landscape.

Malvern Walking Festival 2013

The Malvern Walking Festival 2013 programme is now fully active running from, or should I say walking from, Saturday 25th May to Sunday 2nd June 2013. Malvern is a 9 day guided walking festival including the very popular Malvern Hills End-to-End, the End-to-End-And-Back and the Worcestershire-Way-in-a-day as well as a new 63 mile, 6 day Explorer Trail and a 3 day, 33 mile Teme-Theme Trail. So, get your walking boots out and book yourself a last minute walking holiday!

Details here Malvern Walking Festival 2013

For free days out why not visit Walks And Walking. Walks And Walking is a directory of free UK walking routes and also includes a Walking Shop for all the latest offers from the UKs leading outdoor retailers. Walks And Walking includes over 30 walks in Epping Forestwalks in EssexCornwallWalesKentSuffolk and plenty more. Most popular articles: Top 5 Walking BootsEpping Forest WalksFamily Favourite Walk and Free UK Walking Routes.

Saturday 25 May 2013

Gower Walking Festival

Gower Walking Festival 2013 - Saturday 1st June to Sunday 16th June

This year is the 9th Gower Walking Festival where you can explore the unique landscapes of Gower – dramatic cliffs, sandy beaches, wooded valleys and open moors and marsh. Delve into its history – Celtic Saints, Norman invasion and Copperopolis, taste their gorgeous local food, including my favourite; Welsh Cawl and discover a rich wildlife with their experts along the way. Wales is generally perfect for walking holidays, regardless of where you go.

Gower Walking Festival 2013 - Saturday 1st June to Sunday 16th June

For free days out why not visit Walks And Walking. Walks And Walking is a directory of free UK walking routes and also includes a Walking Shop for all the latest offers from the UKs leading outdoor retailers. Walks And Walking includes over 30 walks in Epping Forestwalks in EssexCornwallWalesKentSuffolk and plenty more. Most popular articles: Top 5 Walking BootsEpping Forest WalksFamily Favourite Walk and Free UK Walking Routes.

Friday 17 May 2013

MOTY2013

South West Coast Path Motographer Of The Year 2013 Competition

Don't know what a Motographer is? Neither did I until I read about the South West Coast Path Motographer Of The Year 2013 competion! The South West Coast Path Cornwall team is encouraging budding mobile phone photographers of all ages to capture a moment in time on the Coast Path as part of its Motographer of the Year 2103 competition.

South West Coast Path Motographer Of The Year 2013 could be a shot of a couple resting a while to admire the view or a child collecting seashells – the only rule is that it is taken on a mobile phone and includes a person out on any stretch of the 630-mile South West Coast Path.

More here South West Coast Path Motographer Of The Year 2013 Competition

For free days out why not visit Walks And Walking. Walks And Walking is a directory of free UK walking routes and also includes a Walking Shop for all the latest offers from the UKs leading outdoor retailers. Walks And Walking includes over 30 walks in Epping Forestwalks in EssexCornwallWalesKentSuffolk and plenty more. Most popular articles: Top 5 Walking BootsEpping Forest WalksFamily Favourite Walk and Free UK Walking Routes.

Friday 10 May 2013

IOW 2013

The Isle Of Wight Walking Festival 2013

The Isle of Wight walking festival is now in full swing as hundreds of walkers took to the footpaths over the bank holiday weekend. With over 270 walks to choose from over 16 days there are still plenty of walks left to do up to the 19th May.

Isle of Wight Walking Festival 2013

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

4 – 19th May 2013 Isle of Wight Walking Festival
Autumn Walking Weekend 25 – 28th October 2013

This will be the 15th Anniversary of the Annual Isle of Wight Walking Festival, which has grown from 39 walks in the programme to in excess of 250 PLUS in excess of 70 more walks in October for the Walking Weekend.

The Isle of Wight Walking Festival have an extensive programme for 2013 with alot of great new walks and events and featuring over 250 walks to suit all ages and abilities and with over half the Island being recognised as an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty including over 500 miles of well-maintained footpaths, the overwhelming success of this years Isle of Wight Walking Festival surprised no one, but exhausted many!

Isle of Wight Walking Festival 2013

The whole of the programme was a great success with in excess of 20,00 people taking part it has been the most successful to date. The Events Team would like to extend a big thank you to all walk leaders, and also sponsors and partners who help make the Isle of Wight Walking Festival the success it is today.

Isle of Wight Walking Festival 2013

More details Isle of Wight Walking Festival 2013 and you can enter all of their great competitions to win walking holidayswalking boots and goodies here.