The Owl pub to Fernhills

Trulove's is developing into an attractive and extensive meadow and the view from Fernhills is said by author Ken Hoy to provide, one of the finest in the Forest area'.

Indeed this is a walk of views across North London and Waltham Abbey together with Canary Wharf to the South.

If you have friends who believe that Essex is flat, this is the walk to take them on.

The views come at the cost of some quite challenging climbs.

We start from one of the most popular pubs in the area, travel out to the featured sections of the Forest and walk back from Sewardstone on a section of the London Loop via the manicured greens of the West Essex golf Club course.

1. Start

Turn right from the Owl to walk along the road. Where the road is about to go steeply down Lippitts Hill turn left at a finger post to go along a fenced path on the edge of a golf course.

(Here you will get the first of a whole series of fine views across the surrounding countryside. On the left you can just glimpse the Metropolitan Police firearms training area, often with a couple of helicopters at the ready.

A little further, set off the track to the left is a monument to 184th Anti Aircraft Artillery Battery of the U.S. Army for its help in defending London in 1944. Over to the left you will catch sight of Canary Wharf). Keep forward until you reach a fork.

2. 0.4 miles/0.6km

Go right down the golf course passing between avenues of young trees which cross the path at right angles.

This cinder track leads you off the golf course and you continue downhill ignoring a couple of gates to the right to reach a T-junction with a wide track.

3. 0.6 miles/1km

Go right and continue downhill until you reach a finger post where you turn right towards Lippitts Lane.

Immediately before you actually reach the lane, turn left on a narrow path which takes you to a wide field margin.

Go forward until you reach a barrier on the right. There are three mown tracks here: one going straight on around the edge of the field; one going to the left; and one going slightly left across open ground - take this one.

(This whole area is a very attractive meadow in springtime with a wide diversity of flowers.)

On the other side of the field you leave by a narrow path to re-join the main track.

4. 1.2 miles/1.9km

Turn left and look for a finger post on the right which takes you across a drive via two stiles.

Keep forward over a field to crouch under a barrier and continue uphill (when I was last here I was amazed to see a buzzard overhead).

From the top of this hill you can see the full extent of the Sainsbury's Distribution Centre with Waltham Abbey church just peeing over the top.

Once over the brow of the hill, cross a stile to join a fenced path taking you downhill towards Sewardstone Road.

You reach a track to go left and immediately right to continue with the footpath and circumvent a gas substation using two more stiles.

Just before you reach the main road there is a stile on the left.

5. 1.8 miles/2.9km

Climb over and go diagonally left across the field (you have now joined a section of the London Loop; a 150-mile route which encircles the Capital).

Directly ahead is a corrugated horse shelter and, higher up, Fernhills Wood which we explored earlier.

Behind the shelter cross a stile and continue forward gently uphill. As you swing right in front of a gate the path gets steeper.

After it goes left, look for a waymarked stile into a strip of woodland. The next stile returns you to pasture, keep up next to the trees (there exceptional views of the reservoirs and north London with a clear sighting of Alexandra Palace) to cross a stile in the upper left corner.

Go up steps, across a drive, and over a stile to go diagonally right across a field where you use two more stiles to cross a drive.

6. 2.6 miles/ 4.1km

Before reaching the road go left on a narrow path. When you reach a lane go right to reach a junction at Carolls Farm.

Go left past the pond. There is a path which runs parallel to the road on the right side, use this if it is not too muddy.

Continue past the entrance to the West Essex Golf Club on the left. When you reach the entrance to Gilwell Park on the right, cross to the left side of the road and look for a finger post a little further on.

7. 3 miles/ 4.8km

Cross a stile and go forward (the Clubhouse is up the hill to your left). Go through a gap at the field corner to reach the golf course.

There is a lack of signs - to fix your route, have your back to the metal notice and follow a line straight forward between young trees and then across the course.

If all goes well you will be eventually walking with a ditch on the left and going past a bridge.

On the far side of the course you will see another notice board. Leave the course via a heavy metal side gate.

8. 3.4 miles/ 5.4km

A track swings up hill to the left. Keep the hedge to the right following a path which winds its way up towards the Police Aerial.

On the way a stile takes you over a sleeper bridge and you continue up hill with a wooden fence on the left.

Cross right over a concrete bridge, along a chain-link fence to a road where you turn left to return to the Owl pub.

Factfile

Starting Point/Parking: We start from the Owl Pub which is at Lippitts Hill on a road running between Sewardstone and High Beach; only park here if you are going to give the pub your custom before or after the walk.

Distance: 3.7 miles/6km

Time: Two hours

Terrain: Surprisingly hilly and very muddy in parts (but well worth the effort!)

Suitability for Dogs: good (remember that dogs need to be kept under control across the golf course, in fields where there is livestock, and at times when birds are nesting)

Stiles: 14

Near: Waltham Abbey and Chingford

Refreshments: The Owl Pub - a popular family pub which has a children's menu

Public Toilets: none

Public Transport: none

Map and Grid Reference: Explorer 174 398 970 (see below)

More Information: If you visit the forest frequently you might consider purchasing a larger scale map of the area.

The 1:20000 map is published jointly by the Corporation of London and Ordnance Survey. Epping Forest is a wonderful place to explore. Ken Hoy MBE who was for many years Head teacher of Sun Trap, a marvellous forest resource for young schoolchildren, has written a highly informative book; Getting to Know Epping Forest which provides a mass of information about the Forest, its history and administration (ISBN 0 9543872 01).

The book is published by the Friends of Epping Forest, a local charity which was formed to represent the varied interests of all sections of the public who appreciate and use Epping Forest.

You can get information about membership by telephoning 020 8529 8594. General information about the forest can be obtained from Epping Forest Information Centre: 020 8502 8500.