The Walk: From Romford station, the walk climbs through a green corridor of Municipal and Country Parks to a high point at the village of Havering-Atte-Bower, then descends, finally passing through Hainault Forest to end at the Visitor Centre. (This walk is based on walk number 3 described in the book 'Hillwalking London' by Caroline Buckland, Safe Haven Books, 2023, with an extension to include Hainault Forest Country Park.)
Map
NB The map shows my route, with various diversions and excursions which you may not wish to follow precisely. Main route: BLUE (includes 2 mile round trip excursion to Sandhills Viewpoint). PURPLE: Break point to 365 buses. RED: Direct route from Havering Country Park to Sandhills via Eastern entrance to Hainault Forest.
Why do it: The walk makes use of a green corridor formed by accident or design from various parks and open spaces: Lodge Farm Park, Raphael Park, Rise Park, Bedfords Park, Havering Country Park and Hainault Forest Country Park. As so often, the natural surroundings belie the image of London as one continuous built up area.
The walk climbs steadily, reaching a high point at the village of Havering-Atte-Bower on Orange Tree Hill (105m).There are several panoramic viewpoints looking out over London to the South, namely from Foxes Hill in Bedfords Park, the latter's Visitor centre, Havering-Atte-Bower (especially the cricket ground), the exit from Havering Country Park, Sandhills in Hainault Forest and the Hainault Forest Visitor Centre. The views in total include (from East to West) the two giant pylons carrying electricity cables over the Thames at Swanscombe and West Thurrock, the towers of the Queen Elizabeth Bridge (M25 Dartford Crossing), the Dagenham Wind Turbines, Shooters Hill, the O2, the Crystal Palace and Croydon transmitter towers, the office blocks of Docklands and the City, and the ever growing number of towers across Central and West London (most recognisably, The Shard).
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| Towers of London from Havering Country Park |
Other points of interest include the picturesque lake with fountain in Raphael's Park, the red deer herd in Bedfords Park, the surprisingly rural-feeling village of Havering-Atte-Bower, with its cricket pitch and village green, the avenue of giant redwoods (Wellingtonia) in Havering Country Park, and Hainault Forest, a remnant of the once extensive Royal Hunting Forest which also includes Epping Forest.
There are excellent Visitor Centres (with cafes) at Bedfords Park and Hainault Forest Country Park.
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| Hainault Forest Cafe and Visitor Centre |
Distance: 10.5 miles. This excludes an optional two-mile round trip excursion to the Sandhills viewpoint in Hainault Forest. (NB It is also possible to walk more directly from Havering Country Park to Sandhills, using the Eastern entrance to Hainault Forest, see Red line on Google map. This avoids the golf course, and is also about 10.5 miles.
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| Eastern entrance to Hainault Forest near Sandhills |
Bailing out after Havering Country Park will reduce the distance to about 7 miles.
Logistics: The start at Romford Station is on the Elizabeth Line. From the finish at the entrance to Hainault Forest Visitor Centre the frequent 267 bus will take you back to Romford Station.
You could reduce the walk by finishing after Havering Country Park: having emerged from the woods and taken in the panoramic view, walk down Clockhouse Lane to the roundabout, near where you can catch the 365 bus back to Romford.
Challenges: Expect mud in winter and after heavy rain.
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| London Loop, twixt Havering and Hainault Forest Country Parks |
Most of the walk is in green spaces, but there is some walking on urban streets, notably about a mile between Raphael Park and Rise Park, including crossing the busy A12 on a footbridge.
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| Footbridge over A12 |
To reach Hainault Forest, it is necessary to cross Hainault Golf Course: the path is not clearly signed, and you need to watch out for flying golf balls.
The views are quite distant, so to get the best from the views, you will need a clear day and, preferably, a pair of binoculars.
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| Zoom view from Foxes Hill in Bedfords Park. You can make out the giant pylons carrying Electricity cables over the Thames at Thurrock and also the support towers for the QE2 M25 Dartford Crossing bridge |
Refreshments: There are the usual eateries and shops near Romford Station. There are cafes in Raphael Park, and at the Visitor Centres for Bedfords Park and Hainault Forest. There is a pub, the Orange Tree, just down the hill at Havering-Atte-Bower: it looks from its website to be quite upmarket.
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| Popular cafe in Raphael's Park |
Similar Walks
For an overview map of all my London walks see this page.
Croydon to New Addington in South London, see this blog.
Stanmore to Hatch End, see this blog.
More Photos
Late April, bright day, chilly wind
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| Romford Station |
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| Plenty of shops etc next to the station |
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| Miniature Railway in Lodge Farm Park |
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| Flowery corner in Lodge farm Park |
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| Lake, Raphael's Park |
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| Entrance, Raphael's Park |
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| Woodland Walk, Raphael's Park |
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| Entrance, Rise Park |
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| Rise Park |
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| Woodlnd Walk, Rise park |
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| Entrance, Bedfords Park |
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| Foxes Hill, Bedfords Park |
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| View from Foxes Hill (Shooters Hill on the right) |
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| Path leading from Foxes Hill |
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| View at woodland edge |
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| Gateway to woods, Bedfords Park |
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| Summit plateau, Bedfords Park |
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| Red Deer enclosure, Bedfords Park |
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| Bedfords Park Visitor Centre and Cafe |
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| View board, Bedfords Park Visitor centre |
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| View from Visitor Centre |
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| Woodland path from Visitor Centre |
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| Havering-Atte-Bower cricket pitch |
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| View from cricket pitch |
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| Cricket Pitch (plus water tower) |
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| Village Green, Havering-Atte-Bower |
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| View North from Havering Country Park (towards M25!) |
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| Wellingtonia Avenue (relic of the mansion which once stood here) |
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| View upon emerging from Havering woods |
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| Zoom |
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| Entering Hainault Forest (anti-deer fences) |
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| Hainault golf course (duck!) |
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| Direct route to Sandhills |
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| Sandhills viewpoint (will disappear as saplings grow in this newly planted woodland) |
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| Zoom towards Dartford Crossing bridge towers |
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| In Hainault Forest Country Park |
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| View approaching Hainault Forest Visitor Centre |
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| Access road, Hainault Forest Visitor Centre |
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