London Loop - Chigwell to Harold Wood - Friday 6th June 2014

Almost took off more than I could chew with this section. Having left work at 17:00 I did not arrive at Chigwell until 18:00 I then had an 11 mile walk. Given that I had a 9 mile walk last week and I finished at just gone 9:15 I would be pushing it to finish at a similar time and when it got to 20:45 and I had only covered 6 miles I had visions of floundering around the countryside in the dark and missing the last train home!

But first back to the beginning, the tube journey from Liverpool Street to Chigwell was the journey from hell, the tube was so busy, to think that people have to travel this way every single day of their working lives is beyond belief, I've got it easy on SouthEastern Trains, I get a seat everyday unless there's a cancellation.

Formerly know as The Kings Head

St Mary's Chigwell

Having arrived at Chigwell I retraced my steps and walked up the hill I to Chigwell Village with its delightful church, St Mary's and what my walk guide describe as 'everyone's image of an ancient inn' The Kings Head, unfortunately whilst it's a delightful building, timber framed with leaded light windows it now appears to be an Indian Restuarant called Sheesh. Chigwell village proved to be one of the few highlights of this walk, little did I know at the time.

Leaving Chigwell I cut across country with the hum of cars in the distance or the screams of children from local housing. I then arrived at one of those spots all so common on this trail, a path pushed up against a metal fence edging onto some industrial site, in this case a water treatment centre. This has been a common feature of this whole route, and I like a it of industrial landscape but not like this.

I'm on a downer, I need something to pick me up, unfortunately there is isn't very much, some woods, a large open expanse of grass which could have had a good view over London but for the haze, and then of course I stumbled on to a golf course. I did last week and I expect I will next week. I always get the feeling walkers are unwelcome, but of course we are. In this case I was directed through a strip of woodland.

Woodhenge Owl

Lake in the Park

However things were soon to pick up temporarially, whilst walking through some trees there's a five way sign, one points to Woodhenge, no idea what this is, no mention of this in my out of date guide book but a few steps on and to my right are a number of carved wooden pillers, ah Woodhenge. There's one particular branched trunk that's been carved into an owl. 

Next highlight did not arrive until I had gone through pikeyville. The route took me through Havering Country Park and here there are some 100 Giant Redwood (Sequoia) trees which line a track that used to lead to a mansion house here, and were they impressive, yes they were and they stil have a lot of growing to go. A short burst of the lumberjack song was called for! I must add that Jack Woods were I live also has a couple of giant redwoods!

Giant Redwoods

Sun sets through Pyrgo Park gateposts

The track leads me to Havering-atte-Bower and it was at this point I realised I had covered six miles and it was alreay 20:45, 28 minutes to sunset, drastic action was called for and I had to speed up, I even run parts of the way. Actually running is a bit of an exaggeration maybe jog, anyway it did the trick as I managed the last five miles in slightly over an hour.

Some of the views on this section with the sun setting were quite good but I did not have time to enjoy them and the last couple of miles took me through a housing estate along a number of joined up parks, not very inspiring.

I arrived at Harold Wood station and as I stepped onto the platform my train arrived (21:52) to take me back into London.

A final sunset over the Essex countryside

Overall impressions of this walk, not so good, last week's was nicer, good highlights but generally disappointing, but hey the weather was good. Saw more people this week mainly dog walkers with those rather aggressive looking dogs, just the type of Dogs you need in this part of London no doubt.

Short video of today's walk

http://youtu.be/rx0THdHuF2g