GPS Cycle and Walking Routes

Hainault Forest Country Park

4 miles (7 km)

This country park contains open space parklands, numerous public footpaths, a large lake, the Hainault Forest Golf Club and Fox Burrow Farm. There are 336 acres to explore with several paths suitable for cyclists so you can bring your bike and enjoy miles of traffic free cycling.
The park is located between Chigwell and Romford with Hainault underground station a good access point.
If you'd like to extend your outing you could follow the London Loop to the nearby Havering Country Park.

Postcode

IG7 4QN - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

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Hainault Forest Country Park OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Hainault Forest Country Park Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

There's a very good on site cafe where you can enjoy refreshments after your exercise.

Dog Walking

The woodland trails in the park are ideal for dog walking so you'll probably see other owners on your visit.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Just over a mile to the south west you'll find Fairlop Waters Country Park. It's another popular site with a series of lakeside trails and a photogenic boulder park to explore.
The circular walk from Loughton visits the park from the nearby town's London Underground station. It's an attractive place worthy of exploration with dozens of historic listed buildings and three conservation areas. The route also visits the Roding Valley Meadows nature reserve on the River Roding.

Photos

New track into Hainault Forest - geograph.org.uk - 273900

New track into Hainault Forest. Recently completed by the Woodland Trust into the ancient forest woodlands.

Sheep Water Pond, Hainault Forest - geograph.org.uk - 280577

Sheep Water Pond. This pond would have been used as water supply for animals when much of Hainault Forest was wood pasture (i.e. pollarded trees in grassland over) 100 years ago.

Wild Wood Trail, Hainault Forest - geograph.org.uk - 91236

A view of the Wild Wood Trail in autumn. Part of a 2.5km circular public footpath around the north-east part of the forest.

Camelot Car Park, Hainault Forest - geograph.org.uk - 273865

Camelot Car Park. The forest is notable as possibly the largest area of old pollarded hornbeam trees in Europe.

The start of the Pond Trail through Hainault Forest - geograph.org.uk - 751911

Waymarker posts at the start of the Pond Trail in the forest.

The Lake, Hainault Forest Country Park - geograph.org.uk - 91226

Geese on the Lake

GPS Files

GPX File

Hainault Forest Country Park.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>'Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Share>Save to Files')

Memory Map Route

Hainault Forest Country Park.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>'Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Share>Save to Files)