Loughton Brook - A Walk Print
Written by Peter Burgess   
Tuesday, 19 May 2009

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The flood alleviation scheme
Flood bank
About 30 minutes drive from home is the delightful Loughton Brook.  Susceptible to intense flooding in recent years, the valley now has its own flood alleviation scheme - site for many a school GCSE Geography fieldwork down the years.  Leaving the car beneath the great bank of the flood reservoir, Linda and I walked up the valley of Loughton Brook first passing the weirs leading into the reservoir before diving into the canopy of Beech trees heading upstream to Baldwins Pond.

Loughton Brook as it meanders through the forest
Epping Forest
Whoever Baldwin was I am not sure, but the walk up the brook was an immersion in green with just the odd shaft of sunlight hitting the ground.  As we reached the pond there were a few specks of rain before we continued up valley to one of the highest points in the forest - a lofty 100 metres above sea level here abouts! (The highest point in the forest is a mighty 117m!) We were both keen to try and find the Iron Age Loughton Camp, so we turned west onto the Green Ride and followed its sweeping course as it passed through Monk Wood.  With some clever map navigation we left the bridleway at the alloted point and wandered into the 'camp' marked on the ground by a succession of banks and ditches which apparently once stood to 9 metres in height and no doubt topped with a wooden palacade.  More information on the camp is available in the link above.  

A 3-D rendition of the valley
3D Oblique View
After circumnavigating the camp's embankment we intercepted a path leading back down to Loughton Brook and the car.  One last piece of interest was a chap photographing something red in the undergrowth.  From a distance it looked like a flower but on closer inspection we found this bright red beetle with black head and legs - neither Linda, myself or the other interested party knew its identity.  

This had been a short walk of just over two miles but walking under the gorgeous canopy of trees with spring sunshine filtering down was magical.  Loughton Brook and the environs of Epping Forest might not be considered a range of hills, but with its close proximity to London, it really does count as one of those fantastic places.  If you live in London or are just passing by, I'd heartily recommend it as an escape from the urban mêlée.



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