Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge, Chingford to Forest Gate Walk

Off message but on Sunday, Gill and I took the magic train from Wanstead Park station to Chingford (change at Walthamstow Queens Road then walk to nearby Walthamstow Central to catch the connection for Chingford). It only took just over 30 minutes but we were lucky with connection. 

We then had lunch at the Royal Forest Hotel next to Queen Elizabeth Hunting lodge then walked back to Forest Gate, largely along the the Epping Forest Centenary walk (see below). The full walk is Newham to Epping. 

A lovely walk despite the mud and occasional light drizzle. The map says 6.2 miles but it felt longer due to the mud. Gill had wellies and I thankfully had gaiter's over my Brasher boots. 

Epping Forest is an incredible green lung for East London. On this walk it is surrounded on both sides by housing and you have to cross some roads but you overwhelmingly walk through magnificent woods, heathland and lakes. 

Recommended if you want to work off some Xmas cheer this holiday (or give yourself an appetite for more indulgences). 

I will post further photos and comments on Facebook

Epping Forest run/walk, Longhorn cattle & Radicals on Wansted flats

Off message: Gill and I went for a great run/walk in Epping Forest today. We are both out of condition so walked uphill and ran down hill (also slowly) and on level paths. We started off near the Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge in Chingford then followed the Epping Forest Holly Trail path. It took us about 45 minutes start to finish.

Epping Forest is lovely at this time of the year (in fact all times of the year!). There is a carpet of leaves in the woods and the trees are turning autumnal brown but there is still a large amount of greenery.

We came across some of the longhorn cows grazing in the Forest. Despite the scary horns and being very large, they are pretty docile. There was a Forest Ranger near them who told us that in a couple of weeks they will all be moved to winter pastures. I asked her when will cattle be reintroduced into Wansted Flats (there used to be roaming cattle near us before BSE - aka "Mad Cow disease") and she just smiled.

I hope to attend the local history talk "On the Edge - Religions and Radicals on Wanstead Flats" on 9 November. Check out https://newsfromnowhereweb.wordpress.com/meetings/on-the-edge-religions-and-radicals-on-wanstead-flats/

Walk from Forest Gate to Chingford

Off message but a lovely walk today from the People's Republic to Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge at Chingford. Highlights are :- Great sky. Fantastic breakfast at the Lakeside Diner. Then got lost. Found way across A406. Had coffee at Higham lake. At end of walk, Butler's Retreat was too packed to visit. Train from Chingford station back to Liverpool Street.