Harold Wood 10k Winter Run

Starts at Thames Chase Forest Centre, the headquarters of the Thames Chase Community Forest, at Broadfields Farm. Route passes thru' the old village of Cranham, then Cranham Marsh Nature Reserve, Corbets Tey, Belhus Country Park, Belhus Chase & the town of Aveley. For the last two miles we follow the Mardyke Way thru' Davy Down, then thru' Stifford Green and Warren Gorge Nature Reserve to finish at Chafford Hundre Railway Station.

From wooden bus stop we follow Hutton Village, then off-road to the old church. We go cross-country to Ingrave, past the huge pile of Thorndon House & thru' Thorndon Park North. As well as the park, the route takes in many other properties owned by the Thames Chase Community Forest, including Warley Gap, Codham Hall Woods & Franks Wood. We pass thru' Little Warley, Great Warley and skirt the outside of Upminster on our way to the finish at the Thames Chase Forest Centre at Broadfields Farm.

For a more challenging walk in London, the Belvedere to Greenwich trail via the Thames Path is what you need. This long-distance trail starts at the Natural Reserve of Crossness then through the marshes, before linking to the Thames Path all the way to the O2 arena and ends in Greenwich park with a takeaway from the market stall. Ready for a challenge?

We divert off the Essex Way to take in some of the histories of this old town. Rejoin the Essex Way for a short distance, before leaving it for one last time. Then follow St Peters Way thru' High Ongar & most of the way to Blackmore. We follow St Peter's Way for over a mile to Fryerning then thru' the village & across fields to Mountnessing. A short walk thru' a housing estate & industrial estate to enter Hutton Nature Reserve to soon finish at Hutton Village.

This beautiful circular walk which mainly uses Chestnut Trail is a good way to discover Wanstead Park walking along several lovely ponds and River Roding.

This quiet circular walk uses a section of Epping Forest Centenary Walk close to Ambresbury Banks (remains of banks) before you follow a path in Birch Wood with lovely views over Deer Sanctuary and its wildlife!

From Epping Station, we follow the Essex Way for our whole route. Thru' fields and an ancient track to Coopersale Street, then across fields to Gernon Bushes Nature Reserve. Cross over the M11 and go in a straight line towards Toot Hill. Thru' Toot Hill village and fields to Greensted and onto Chipping Ongar. Two videos at YouTube, one by John Rogers and a second by voxley19, both cover this whole walk.

If you are looking at this walk, it is likely that you want to leave the city for a breath of fresh air. And you can … without leaving it! So, take your Oyster card (or contactless card) and jump on the Central Line with me for a walk through Epping Forest!