Leisure facilities
The Forest’s leisure facilities include 60
football pitches, 18-hole public golf
course and three cricket pitches. Cross-country running,
dog walking and cycling are also popular activities, while horse
riders have 50 miles of tracks to explore (horses can be hired
locally, contact
the
Epping Forest Visitor Centre on 020 8508 0028 for further
details).
Walking and picnicking are popular, however, please note that
barbecues are not permitted in the Forest. There are opportunities
for boating, fishing and model aircraft flying at specific
locations within the Forest. Six self-guided walk leaflets
offer a variety of walks throughout different areas of Epping
Forest. These are available to buy at
the
Epping Forest Visitor Centre for 30p each. Also available to
purchase, at £6.95, is a very detailed Ordnance Survey Map of the
entire Forest. Some easy access paths are provided for those with
restricted mobility, see the
‘
Access’ page or contact
the
Epping Forest Visitor Centre for more details on 020 8508
0028.
Horse riding
Horse riding is permitted on Epping
Forest although all horse riders must have a
licence and be displaying a valid licence disc. Please
refer to
the
Epping Forest Visitor Centre to apply for the Horse Riding
License. There are currently over 50 miles of surfaced and
un-surfaced rides throughout the Forest and, during the summer
months, most of the northern area of the Forest is open for
free-range riding. Occasionally rides are closed because of
unsuitable ground conditions (particularly during the wet winter
months) and these are clearly signed. Horse riding is not permitted
around the Iron Age Camps, easy access paths, Loughton Brook and
other ecologically or geomorphologically sensitive areas.
Permissive ride routes have recently been created on the Forest's
Buffer Land at Warlies Park and the Woodredon Estate close to
Epping.
There are numerous riding schools in and around the Forest
providing opportunities for lessons, accompanied hacks or hire.
Occasionally the mounted Forest keepers lead Guided Rides through
different areas of the Forest, click below to view the current
Events Programme.
Events in Epping Forest Summer
2008 (518kb)
Other events are organised by the
Epping Forest
Riders Association (EFRA) who are also a useful source of
information about riding in Epping Forest. Further details of
events, the licence scheme, car parks suitable for horse boxes or
trailers and where to ride are available from the
Epping Forest Visitor Centre, please telephone 020 8508 0028 or
email us at
epping.forest@cityoflondon.gov.uk.
Cycling
Cycling is popular throughout the
Forest although cycling is not permitted around the easy
access paths, on the Iron Age Camps, in Wanstead Park, on Pole
Hill and around Loughton Brook. Cycling is not permitted on
the Buffer Land except on the appropriate public rights of way
(not footpaths). Much of the Forest is a Site of Special
Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation so we do
ask cyclists to avoid the out of bounds areas listed above and
to avoid riding too close to the exposed roots of veteran
trees which can be seriously damaged by such activity.
Although cyclists are welcome to use the designated surfaced
and unsurfaced horse rides please give way to horse riders and
pedestrians. We also ask that cyclists take care not to
startle other Forest users (especially walkers and horse
riders) by cycling too close or too fast and not giving
adequate warnings. The digging up of the Forest to create
ramps and jumps is not permitted under any circumstances.
Download the latest Cycling Forum notes
here (24kb)
Occasionally, the Forest Keepers lead guided bike rides. Details
are available from the
Epping Forest Visitor Centre on 020 8508 0028 or email us at
epping.forest@cityoflondon.gov.uk.
See
the
Publications page to view the leaflets on Cycling.
Dog walking
Epping Forest is a popular venue for
dog walkers and there are many places to go and let your pet
run off some steam. However your dog should always be under
effective control (ie, within sight and able to be recalled)
and should never be allowed to hunt or chase other animals or
disturb nests. We ask that no more than four dogs are walked
by any one person at a time and these must be under control.
On the buffer land dogs must either be on a lead at all times
(Copped Hall) or on a lead during times indicated by signs (eg
during the nesting season or deer fawning). If dog waste bins
are provided (eg around formal sports areas) we do ask you to
clear up after your pet.
You and Your Dog (402kb)
Angling
There are many ponds and lakes at
which angling is permitted free of charge outside of the Close
Season but with certain restrictions. See
the
Publications page to view the leaflets on Angling.
There is no charge for this activity although you must have a valid
rod licence (available from a Post Office). Night fishing is not
allowed. Occasionally we organise Junior Angling training days -
for details contact the Visitor Centre on 020 508 0028 or email us
at
epping.forest@cityoflondon.gov.uk.
Licensed activities
Please note that any organised group activities and events do
require a licence if they are to take place on the Forest. Please
apply to the Superintendent in writing to apply for a licence. Your
application should contain full details of the proposed event.
Should you require any further information regarding this, please
contact the Warren office on 020 8532 1010.
Byelaws
A copy of the Byelaws relating to public use of the
Forest is available from the
Epping Forest Visitor Centre (25p plus postage). Serious
breaches of the byelaws may be reported by the Forest Keepers to
the Superintendent of Epping Forest and may lead to
prosecution.
Chingford Golf Course
This public 18 hole golf course is
at the corner of Bury Road and Station Road, Chingford E4,
within a short walk of both the railway station and bus
terminus. As well as a car park it also has a Caddie House
shop taking bookings and offering a range of golf equipment
for sale.
One important rule of the golf course is that all golfers must wear
prominent red in the form of either a shirt, jumper or trousers for
visibility by members of the public as the course is part of Epping
Forest, a public open space. Three clubs share the facilities:
- Royal Epping Forest Golf Club (Secretary Mr R Bright-Thomas,
Forest Approach, Chingford E4 7AZ)
- Chingford Golf Club (Secretary Mr B Sinden, 158 Station Road,
Chingford, London E4 6AN)
- Chingford Ladies' Golf Club (Secretary Mrs R Furness, 4 Malford
Grove, South Woodford, London E18 2DX)
Caddie House shop, information and bookings – advance booking is
recommended, please telephone 020 8529 5708.
Model aircraft
Model aircraft can be flown on Chingford Plain.
Wanstead Flats Playing Fields
The playing fields are situated in
the southern area of Epping Forest between Wanstead, Redbridge
and Manor Park underground or mainline rail stations. One
hundred and fifty acres of land is set aside for organised
sport, with 60 football pitches suitable for mini, junior and
adult football. The season is based on 16 games over a 32 week
period - from the second week in September through to the
third week in April (excluding the Christmas and New Year
period).
The area is suitable for all types of open air event by prior
agreement.
Pitch hire
This season's (2008 - 2009) prices for pitch hire can
be downloaded from the link below.
Wanstead flats pitch
charges (15kb)
Download the terms and
conditions (61kb)
Schools £8 per hour.
The season is based on 16 games over a 32 week period which
excludes the Christmas and New Year period.
There is a 10% discount for the hire of five or more
pitches.
An information line is now operating for Wanstead Flats Playing
Fields. For information on football pitch conditions and other
information about weekend play, please telephone 020 8530 6531
Bookings
City of London, The Warren, Loughton, Essex IG10 4RW, tel 020 8532
1010 or email
Wanstead.flats@cityoflondon.gov.uk.
Leisure links
Epping Epping Forest Mountain Bike Club
Chigwell &
Epping Orienteering Club
Cross
Country Running – The Orion Harriers
Epping Forest
Riders Association