One stretch follows the line of a long‑lost Roman road. As we walked, we spotted deer pretending to be statutes, red kites circling overhead, and one particularly assertive hare who sat bolt upright within 50 metres of us, fully aware of our presence but entirely unimpressed by it. He held his ground until we passed, as if he owned the area.
What truly astonished me, though, was stumbling across the site of the "North Weald Redoubt" — one of 13 late‑19th‑century forts built around 1896 to defend London from invasion. Despite my strong interest in local history, I am slightly ashamed to admit that I had no idea these forts existed. The main site is shut off as "dangerous" for whatever reason but it is a reminder of a period when Britain feared attack from continental Europe long before the world wars reshaped those anxieties. (Reference: https://www.visiteppingforest.org/things-to-do/north-weald-redoubt-p1833191 )
Nearby fields were also dotted with dozens of seemingly random concrete blocks. I have never seen anything like it? At first I assumed they were part of the Victorian defensive system or perhaps connected to the nearby "Battle of Britain" airfield. But it appears they may have been anchoring points for very early post first world war Marconi telecommunications masts — though information is sparse and the truth remains a little unclear. A small mystery for another day.
We ended the walk in the rear garden of The Kings Head, one of the oldest pubs in Essex. Parts of the building date back nearly 450 years. The main structure — a beautiful half‑timbered building — was constructed in the 17th century using old ships’ timbers. Sitting there with a drink in the late afternoon sun felt like the perfect way to finish a walk steeped in layers of history.
A forgotten route rediscovered, and a reminder that even in places we think we know, there is always more to learn.
