The sun was shining brightly when ten members and one guest met at Chingford Station on Sunday 16th June for a six mile walk through a lesser known section of Epping Forest. The original route north of the station was changed as it replicated much of a recent walk in the same area. We headed south skirting a golf course and passing a 16th century hunting lodge before joining the Centenary Walk. It commemorates the 1878 Act which saved the ancient forest of Waltham from development. The way was fairly easy to follow despite poor waymarking. The terrain was mainly dry and the few muddy patches were generally easy to bypass. After a few miles we entered the Highams Park which was formerly the grounds of a manor house. Here we stopped for lunch at Humphrey’s Cafe and admired the lake which was formed by damming the river Ching. We continued on through the forest avoiding busy roads via footbridges and underpasses before reaching our destination Leytonstone. Here most of us quenched our thirst with a well-earned drink in a Wetherspoons.

Danny
Photos courtesy of Jackie Copeland