Forest Way, Essex
The Forest Way, Essex is a long-distance footpath in west Essex, England. The 25-mile (40 km) path runs from Loughton via Epping Forest to Hatfield Forest. It is waymarked, and named on Ordnance Survey mapping.
The path
[edit]The path runs from Loughton station (51°38’29”N 0°03’20”E) to Hatfield Forest (51°51′28″N 0°13′45″E).
The name Forest Way refers to the two forests which this path connects, the 2,400-hectare (5,900-acre) Epping Forest and the 403-hectare (996-acre) Hatfield Forest. The walk was developed by Essex County Council as part of its ‘Ways through Essex’ project, to help people enjoy the Essex countryside.[1]
The linear walk can be started at several locations and can follow a West to East or East to West direction. The route goes through both rural and some urban areas. These include fields, pasture, and woodland; along rural roads and through villages and some built-up areas.[1]
The path is waymarked in both directions by a green circular marker with a black leafless tree and the text: ‘The Forest Way’ 'A walk between Epping Forest and Hatfield Forest'.[2]
Several railway and underground stations are close to the west end of the walk, and some villages have a bus service.[1]
Route
[edit]The Forest Way passes through the following locations: Loughton station, Epping Forest Field Centre, Upshire, Epping Green, Rye Hill Common, Latton Bush, Potter Street, Matching Tye, Matching, Gunnets Green, Hatfield Heath, The Ryes, Hatfield Forest Country Park.[3]
Adjoining paths
[edit]The Forest Way adjoins four long-distance paths:[3]
- Stort Valley Way (a 30-mile (48 km) circular walk along the Stort Navigation Sawbridgeworth and Roydon) intersects from Latton Bush to Nazeingwood Common
- Three Forests Way (a 60-mile (97 km) circular walk linking Epping, Hatfield and Hainault forests) intersects from Loughton to Epping Green
- Epping Forest Centenary Walk (a 15-mile (24 km) walk from Manor Park to Epping) intersects at Epping Forest
- Flitch Way (a 15-mile (25-km) walk from Braintree Station to Bishop's Stortford) intersects at Hatfield Forest Country Park
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "The Forest Way" (PDF). Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ "Forest Way (Essex)". Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ a b Ordnance Survey, Explorer 174, 183 & 195