The London Loop Leg 7
Enfield Lock Station to Chigwell Station
Saturday, 26th May, 2007 
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The London Loop is a 140 mile walk around London and roughly just inside the M25 (although you do not see it) passing through as many green places as possible such as parks, woods, commons, riverside protected areas and open farmland. The West Essex Ramblers are covering this in about 10 mile stretches over the period 2006 to 2008. We are following the path through "The London Loop" by David Sharp, ISBN1854107593, £13 rrp.
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Click photos below for larger image
- typically 640x480 pixels
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Click below for larger image as specified
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Some commentary on the photos,
which is also a reflection on the walk
[Road information is just to help identify where we were].
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We left Enfield Lock Station and at end of a side road we arrived at this bridge over Turkey Brook and then walked by the brook easterly towards the Lee.
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There were then five waters to cross, all essentially the Lee. The first is just before the Norh South Road (A1055, Mollison Avenue), we crossed both river and road. We walked a while until we reached the Lee & Stort Navigation, which flowed downstream West of King George's Reservoir, and the Lock which gives the area its name. There was soon a water link between a Branch of the River Lee and the Navigation; the Branch of the River Lee; and the River Lee itself, which flowed downstream East of King George's Reservoir. The latter two rejoin and form Enfield Island Village.
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The Information Board for the Lee Valley Park. (The rivers we crossed were shown just as one blue line).
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Looking North, this is a weir on the Branched River Lee and the Enfield Island Village was on our right.
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We walked along the Branch River (Image 1), Enfield Island Village on our left, crossed over the Branch River bridge (Image 2), saw the King George V Pumping Station (image 3) - a Grade 2 listed building - and finally crossed the River Lee (Image 4), photo looking West.
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After a vegetative area we crossed the Sewardstone Road and began the gentle climb to the higher ridge of Epping Forest as seen here.
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From a higher point we could see the valley to the North West below. In the centre were, I thought greenhouses, and higher up was Sainsbury's enormous distribution centre (on the M25).
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A little higher, Barn Hill, and this beautiful horse stood in front of a backdrop of the Valley with its Reservoirs as we looked South West.
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We reach the Daws Hill road at this picturesque House and Pond (Image 1), crossed the road and walked beside it to Gilwell Park (Image 2), the Headquarters of the Scouting Movement. In the grounds was the Whitehouse (Image 3) - 17th century, Grade 2 listed - and around the back in the garden was a balustrade which was salvaged from London Bridge when it was demolished in 1923.
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We left Gilwell and continued East. Here two walkers (Image 1) followed the path through bushes and the start of a hill (Image 2) was soon reached. This was our next path through the trees (Image 3) of Epping forest. We re-crossed what was Daws Hill road, now Bury Road, and were on the way to The Royal Forest Hotel this Horse and Rider (Image 4) passed us.
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We stopped for lunch in the vicinity of the Royal Forest Hotel, Chingford.
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Beside the Royal Forest Hotel was Queen Elizabeth (the first) Lodge. This, a historic building, was for viewing The Hunt which would have taken place on Chingford Plain below.
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Opposite the Hotel and Lodge (over the A1069, Rangers Road) we continued and there, an information board, readable at the larger image, was well worth having a look at.
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The Forest Ramblers' Club started in 1884! This stone (Image 1) commemorates its centenary but the oaks planted have only aged 23 years. However the three oaks (top right Images) show a good age as many oaks around here do. We continued through the woods, and up the hill (opposite Connaught Water) on a path through a field of a long grasses (lower left Image) and passed this tree (lower right Image) - which was still alive - before we crossed the A104, Epping New Road.
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Still gently climbing, everybody seems to be here.
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We circumnavigated this cricket match (Image 1), which was on the edge of the A121, High Road, Buckhurst Hill. After crossing the road and a little road walking we were into a bush lined path (Image 2) which lead to a field (Image 3) by the railway. As we took to the bridge over the line a train sped North to Loughton.
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We went through a Housing Estate but soon were in an open area of the Roding Valley walking by a lake - many were deep in conversation.
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The lake again.
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This was taken from a footbridge over the River Roding which was quite dark in the trees, but I used a little photoshop to lighten it.
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More countryside and we cross the M11 (Image 1) before we took a variation on the Loop (it was nicer) and walked through pleasant roads and passed the house of the television's 'Apprentice Master'. Then we went through the Metropolitan Police's Chigwell Sports Ground (Images 2, 3 & 4). Chigwell Station was down the road and we had completed this section of the walk.
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