Welcome to Capital Walkers, the friendly London Ramblers group for people aged 40+. We walk every weekend and usually at least once during the week.
Angela K.
The Three Forests Way is a circular walk connecting the three great forests of Essex: Epping Forest, Hatfield Forest and Hainault Forest. Created by the West Essex Ramblers in 1977, this way covers almost 60 miles of Essex, an often underrated county by walkers.
Beginning at Epping Underground Station, we rejoin the 3 Forests Way at Epping Green before walking across the undulating Epping Uplands and along canal towpaths viewing the River Stort Sculpture Trail as we get closer to Sawbridgeworth. This section of the 3 Forests Way bridges the space between Epping and Hatfield Forests, passing through Roydon where we shall stop for lunch.
Please bring a picnic lunch as there will not be time to purchase food in Roydon. Drinks are available at the pub and a local shop. A polite reminder that it is not appropriate to eat your own food in pubs or cafes. If you are using toilet facilities please do make a purchase such as a drink or crisps. Please note that lunch will be after 1:00pm and walkers may like to ensure they carry snacks to sustain them as necessary for the morning.
Sturdy footwear is recommended as we will be crossing fields which may be freshly ploughed and there may be patches of muddy ground.
For those walkers who stay to the end, there will be an opportunity to stop near the station for a well deserved drink before returning to London.
Dogs are very welcome with well behaved owners who are respectful of other walkers, cyclists and who are happy to have their dog on a lead when requested by the walk leader or landowner signs. There will be plenty of opportunities for off lead time.
The finish time is the walk leaders best estimate and is dependent upon many factors including the size and speed of the group, the number of breaks taken and conditions on the day.
Travel details:
Take the Central Line Underground train to Epping to meet at 10.20am for a prompt 10.30am start. We will meet outside the station.
There are two exit points along this walk:
Roydon -after 10 miles where we shall be having a late lunch. Trains are at .05 & .26 past the hour to Stratford via Tottenham Hale.
Harlow Town - at 12 miles with numerous trains including .08, .23, & .38 past the hour either to London Liverpool Street or Stratford via Tottenham Hale.
All of these stations are within easy reach of our walk and directions shall be supplied to anyone leaving early.
Anyone intending to complete the walk should buy a single from Sawbridgeworth where there are regular trains at .02, .16 and .49 past the hour to either London Liverpool Street or Stratford via Tottenham Hale back to London.
Epping Underground Station
Sawbridgeworth Railway Station, Hertfordshire, England
