This week on the map
Find the places mentioned in this edition. The outline includes the forest and its neighbouring towns.
4 things to know about this week. Full detail is below the map.
Shops, cafés, restaurants & pubs
Local finds and changes around the forest.
High Road, Loughton
Bellevue, a restaurant at 153 High Road in Loughton, is listed on the local council's food-hygiene register as a trading business. We have no opening date for it.
Road closures & access
Things that might affect getting around the forest.
High Beech, Loughton water mains replacement
OngoingLoughton
A roughly 19km, three-year mains replacement across more than 60 roads in Loughton. Streets with work underway or starting around now include Traps Hill (June to December 2026), Kings Hill (September to November 2026), Carroll Hill (September to December 2026) and Hillcroft (October to December 2026). England's Lane and Staples Road are scheduled from August 2026 to July 2027. Not confirmed again this week -- worth checking before relying on it.
Source: Thames Water project page
Bakers Lane / Cottis Lane, Epping carriageway improvements
OngoingEpping
Multi-phase carriageway reconstruction near Bakers Lane and Cottis Lane in Epping, with signed diversions via St John's Road, Coronation Hill and Lincolns Field. A July 2026 residents' letter put final surfacing around 26 July 2026 (subject to change), but no later update was found, so the current status is unconfirmed.
Source: Essex Highways: Bakers Lane / Cottis Lane project page
Shorter car park hours
OngoingEpping Forest car parks
Car park opening hours were shortened from 7:00am-8:00pm to 7:00am-6:30pm from Monday 15 September 2026.
Open riding season
OngoingEpping Forest
Open riding (horse riding off the designated riding routes) started at 00:01 on Friday 17 April 2026. The end date for the season is not stated. Not confirmed again this week -- worth checking before relying on it.
Baldwins Pond dam investigation works
OngoingBaldwins Pond
Site investigations are under way to inform future improvements to the Baldwins Pond dam. A public consultation is expected to follow, with construction expected to begin in spring (year not stated, presumably 2027).
Events in the forest
What's on this week, and what's coming up over the next month.
This week
Top Picks: litter pick at Hollow Ponds
This weekHollow Ponds, Epping Forest
Free, volunteer-run litter pick at Hollow Ponds, part of the Epping Forest charity's recurring 'Top Picks' series.
Source: Eventbrite: Top Picks collection
Coming up in the next month
Archives on Show: Epping Forest
RecurringThe London Archives, 40 Northampton Road, EC1R 0HB
Free, one-hour drop-in sessions (1pm or 2pm) on Epping Forest's archives, run on multiple dates. Check the listing for the next date. Not confirmed again this week -- worth checking before relying on it.
Source: Eventbrite listing
The forest's grazing cattle
Epping Forest's conservation-grazing cattle move around the forest through the year.
Where the cattle are grazing
No change this weekHigh Beach
The forest's grazing cattle haven't moved paddocks this week -- they're still in the same area, close to High Beach.
A little closer to the forest
Local discoveries, things to do and updates for your next visit. You do not need the app to enjoy the Ledger.
Sign up for launch news, to take part as an early tester, and for weekly Ledger updates when they launch.
Keep me in the loop →Take the forest with you
Epping Forest Finds is a free map for your next walk: find nearby cafés, ancient trees, paths and places to pause.
Works with no signal. Load the map before you leave. Cattle positions update when you are online; offline you see the last saved locations.
The app is in early testing. Already have access? Open the map and add it to your phone’s home screen.