Epping Forest: A Gateway to London Dirt
London, England · Aug 29, 2024
A loop that leaves the streets of Walthamstow and climbs into Epping Forest, the perfect introduction to North London gravel. It links fast flow tracks, wide crushed-gravel paths, and a few rolling hills, with just over half the ride off tarmac. Expect a compact sampler of everything that makes the city's northeast edge a gravel rider's dream.
Epping Forest is the ride to do first if you are new to London gravel. The loop sets off from the streets of Walthamstow in the northeast of the city and works its way into the forest, where the urban sprawl gives way to a maze of green trails and the tarmac quickly disappears behind you. Just over half the ride is off-road, and that easy jump from city to forest is the whole appeal.
If you can, base yourself in Walthamstow itself. It puts you right on the doorstep of the best trails and turns the first pedal stroke into the start of the adventure rather than a slog across town. From there the forest opens up as a compact package that offers a bit of everything: fun, fast flow tracks, wide-open crushed-gravel paths, and a few rolling hills that get the heart pumping without ever feeling brutal. It is the kind of terrain that rewards a relaxed pace and a bit of curiosity, so leave time to follow the side paths and get pleasantly lost.
The line leans on the Great London Gravel Routes map put together by Wild Cycles, a local bike-hire and adventure outfit worth looking up if you want company on the dirt. This route is one of the picks from Barry Lachapelle's London gravel guide.
A couple of things are worth planning for. Bikes are not allowed on every path in the forest, so check your line before you set off and respect the signs along the way. Water can also be a tease here, because many of the sources are stagnant, so it pays to carry what you need rather than count on filtering from the first pond you pass. Hollow Ponds, on the southern fringe, is one of the few worth stopping at and a good place to catch your breath before turning for home.
Come on a proper gravel bike with a bit of tyre volume and you will have a grin the whole way. The route is a true loop, so you finish back near where you started in Walthamstow, with the Overground close by if you need to ferry yourself across the city first. The surfaces stay friendly enough that beginners and seasoned riders alike can have a great day, and while London gravel is a year-round affair, late spring through autumn gives you the driest paths and the greenest forest.
