Eppstap two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Eppstap here.

I walked this on a mostly overcast afternoon, with an occasional rain shower from Stableford Abbots to Epping.

From the church, the cut through to Stapleford Road was nearly impenetrable (photo #1). After then crossing the road, a nice section cutting through fields with crops was lovely (photo #2, #3). Up towards the aerodrome was also pleasant along field boundaries (photo #4).

After having passed the runway a narrow bridge (photo #5) brings you onto a field. The footpath was blocked with crops, but a slight detour along the field boundary wasn't a problem. The route then heads up to Ongar Road along some laser tag and soft air facilities.

The section between Ongar Road and Epping Lane was problematic. The paths were either invisible or very overgrown (photo #6, #7). The horses in the field nearer to Epping Lane were too much in the way for me to feel safe to cross the field. The diversion towards the East up to Skinners Farm / North Fishery was even more troublesome.

After my diversion and coming off Epping Lane (photo #8), the route became enjoyable again (photo #9, #10), although the path was a little muddy at times (photo #11). The horses in the field at the north end of Fiveponds Wood were inquisitive, but left me alone once they noticed I hadn't any food for them.

The section around the M11 and M25 was remarkably less noisy than I feared, although there was a fair climb up the hill (photo #12) just north of the crossing underneath the M25. From there it is a gentle downhill towards the outskirts of Epping, where the last section is all up hill again towards the finish (photo #13).

I walked from Stapleford Abbotts to Epping.
From the church there's a cut-through to the main road, cross by the bus stop. Then over fields and around field edges and past the end of an aerodrome. just past a pill box and into a wood down to another pill box and a narrow bridge. An invisible path across a field (bearing 310) takes you to Patch Park, a small industrial estate, then past Mayhem paintball with a yellow tank. Across the road to a narrow footbridge across the River Rodding. Following the OS map takes you across flooded, sticky, muddy, fields with no path, don't do this. Stick to the riverbank where there is an established path. There's a footbridge with a couple of missing planks and a 1m high barrier at either end to step over, take great care. Through a field of horses to a road. Part of the road has no verge and there is traffic, hiviz advised and only walk in good light. This bit is quite short. This is followed by a nice section northward along tracks and through woodland. There is a tunnel under the M11 after which the path becomes indistinct, head uphill and slightly right to a gap where a track takes you down to another tunnel under the M25. More woods to a farm and a track down to the outskirts of Epping, uphill to the tube station.
Invisible paths, footbridges, mud, and obstacles make this walk a little challenging. But there are some good views, abundant wildlife and nice woodland.

Share your views about this route, give it a star rating, indicate whether it should be verified or not.

Include information that will be useful to others considering to walk or wheel it.

You can add up to 15 photos.