Epping Forest

Where: Northeast Greater London

Distance: As long as you like!

How to get there: Central Line, access the forest from either Loughton, Theydon Bois or Epping stations

For when you really only have a day, or even half of one. Epping Forest is the epitome of thick woodland serenity. A 30-minute ride on the Central Line out of London, Epping is easily accessible when you need an escape from the tarmac grind of urban life. It’s a wonderful place to stroll solo, go horse riding, or hike as a group. I have visited Epping Forest three times – once in February and twice at the height of summer. The great thing about south England is that it never gets truly wintry (not in the Scandinavian sense anyway), and I would say it is equally enjoyable to hike here no matter the season!

The best way to enjoy Epping Forest is to try to get lost. Take every small trail you stumble upon or leave the trails altogether. With a functioning smartphone you won’t get truly lost – there is a road running through the forest, and despite its considerable size it isn’t particularly wide across from east to west. Epping has several big dirt paths running along the main hiking routes, but also countless barely discernible tracks. There are small ponds, grassy fields perfect for frisbee throwing, a small ice cream stall selling old-fashioned 99s, and if you’re lucky you might come across some exotic wildlife…

Don’t get pricked by the holly bushes, but Epping is a tree climber’s dream. There’s a proper treehouse built in the middle of the forest, and countless trees with looooong branches not too high off the ground. My climbing partner Jake (whose amygdala is either missing or very, very small) knowns no limits and has climbed over 10m up these trees. At one point a giant branch broke off and I could only think of what I would say to his mother… (Jake: “shit, sorry!” and climbed on)

A highlight not to be missed are the majestic clusters of hornbeam trees. While they can be found throughout the park, they grow in particularly distinct patches in the northern half. I am from a country where needle trees dominate, and I find their dark uniformity thoroughly uninspiring. In Epping on the other hand, the trees are widely spaced and allow for so much light to come through. Whether you’re hiking in summer when the greenery is at its lushest, or in winter where brown and golden tones dominate, you will never get that oppressive feeling that some forests give.

While you certainly don’t need boots to hike in Epping, I recommend a pair of trail runners with grippy soles, as some of the tracks can get muddy after rainfalls. There are loads of little dips in the terrain where you cross small streams, and these banks will usually be slippery at any time of year. The forest floor is partly grassy but mostly leafy, take your time to bend down and admire the micro-details of this precious ecosystem!

A great way to end the day is making your way along the pretty road lined with houses down to the village of Theydon Bois. You exit the forest along some farm roads to the northeast, past a huge enclosure of deer and massive thickets of blackberries. Once in Theydon Bois, you will seriously question how it’s actually a part of the London tube system, it could not look more different to the city! There is a small Co-op and a cosy pub with outdoor seating right by the station where you can enjoy some culinary rewards for your efforts.