Through Epping Forest from Theydon Bois to Loughton

Nine members of the Epping Forest Outdoor Group - Trevor, Jill V, Cathy, Parviz, Lynne, Nigel, Louise, Marion and myself - met at Theydon Bois Station for this walk on 12th April. 

Heading up to enter Epping Forest via Theydon Plain, we took the main path up through Genesis Slade, taking a right onto Wormleyton Pits Ride and a left to the Four Wantz. These names always amaze me - I just call it ‘The Theydon Loop’. We then took another left, walking past Ambresbury Banks.  Passing by the Thames Valley Bog, the path becomes The Green Ride for a short section before crossing over Coppice Row at Jacks Hill and becoming The Ditches Ride. On taking a right fork, the path turns back to being called The Green Path. Crossing over Goldings Hill we continued on The Green Path unil we took a right turn just before Sandpit Plain, towards Mount Pleasant, crossing the Epping New Road and on through to High Beech for a lunch stop. Luckily no one wanted oysters, as the queue for the oyster shack was very long.

After lunch we dropped into the Epping Forest Visitors Centre before retracing our steps back to Sandpit Plain and rejoined The Green Path down the ‘big hill’ (that’s what I call it). At the bottom, we left the main path to take a forest path down to Loughton Brook and through to the Reservoir, leaving the forest at Staples Road and into Forest Road to head to Loughton Station for the end of the walk. 

According to my step counter It was a 7 mile walk (apologies to Louise, as I only put 6 miles!). It was a lovely day, with a chill wind at the start but sunny most of the time, and the April showers held off.  The forest looked splendid with lots of new green growth coming through.

Sue S.  12th April 2026