Epping Forest Mountain Biking

Epping Forest Mountain Biking

Epping Forest is one of the best mountain biking options for riders based in or around North London and west Essex. This ancient royal forest covers around 2,476 hectares and stretches roughly 19km from Forest Gate in East London up to Epping, with over 284km of shared-use paths and bridleways woven through it. None of it is waymarked for mountain biking, the terrain is rooty and turns heavy with mud, and it is easy to get turned around, though you are never far from a road. Download a route or use GPS navigation before you set off, or hook up with a local guided ride.

The Trails

• All riding at Epping Forest is on natural singletrack woven through ancient woodland. There is no official MTB trail network, and the City of London Corporation, which manages the forest, does not permit built jumps, berms or other trail features, protecting ecologically sensitive habitat and scheduled ancient monuments.
• High Beach is the best starting point for exploring. It has a cafe known locally for its bread pudding, the Epping Forest Visitor Centre, parking and toilets, and the King's Oak pub and hotel nearby.
• The Epping Forest Killer Loop is the best known route, a 48km (30 mile) circuit devised by local rider Lawrence Page that runs from Buckhurst Hill north via Chingford, Pole Hill, Loughton and Epping, then back to High Beach. It is around 95 percent off-road and 90 percent singletrack, with little elevation change beyond Pole Hill's 91m climb. Find it on AllTrails or MBR. Navigation is genuinely tricky in among the trees, so carry an OS map or GPS as backup on top of your phone.
• A shorter 12km loop starts on the south side of the forest near Chingford station. From the station, head up Station Road for 200m then take the second left into Bury Road. The trailhead is about 150m up on the right, opposite the golf course.
• Give way to pedestrians and horse riders, take corners with care, and avoid skidding to limit erosion. Cycling is not permitted at the Iron Age earthworks of Loughton Camp and Ambresbury Banks, both Scheduled Ancient Monuments already showing erosion damage from past riding, or at Loughton Brook and the easy-access paths around High Beach, Connaught Water, Knighton Wood and Jubilee Pond.

Gravel Riding

• Beyond the singletrack, Epping Forest carries a large network of bridleways and byways well suited to gravel bikes. The Three Forests Way links Epping Forest with Hainault Forest and Hatfield Forest on largely hardpacked tracks, and several dedicated gravel routes cover the forest's wider paths without dropping onto singletrack.

Local Organisation

• Epping Forest MTB run guided rides, skills coaching, MIAS mountain bike leader training and a youth MTB club, with booking through their website.

Getting Here

• High Beach is the main hub, with parking, the Epping Forest Visitor Centre on Nursery Road (open Friday to Sunday and bank holidays), a cafe and toilets.
• Further car parking is available around the forest, including Earl's Path car park on Forest Road.
• Chingford (London Overground) and Loughton (Central line) stations both put you within riding distance of the trails, and Buckhurst Hill (Central line) is the start point for the Killer Loop.
• Bike hire, including mountain and gravel bikes, is available from Go Further Cycling on Bury Road, opposite Chingford station.

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