28 EPPING FOREST.
definite guides. It is, therefore, probable that many
will wander from the trail without intending to do
so. To those who are not blessed with a bump
of locality, and who fail to follow my descriptions,
I commend a close attention to the maps, which
are, I think, as clear and accurate as it is possible
for the scale of 3 inches to a mile to be.
The intersecting lines, which divide them into
squares of an inch and a half, are arranged in the
direction of the four points of the compass. They
are for the combined purpose of readily estimating
the distance,—each side of a square representing
exactly half a mile,—and of showing the direction,
at a glance, to those who carry a compass, a
practice which I strongly recommend.1
I have also here and there cut the distinguishing
letter of the route on the stem of a tree by the
path I am indicating, but I hope this will not be
taken as a precedent justifying the practice of
engraving initials and love emblems in similar
positions.
The greater number of visitors to the Forest
come by railway. I have, therefore, as a rule,
started and terminated each route at stations,
generally on the same line of railway. The time-
tables of the Chingford and Loughton Railways
are given in an Appendix on page 138. They
are seldom altered, and may be relied on with
tolerable confidence. On bank holidays trains
run every quarter of an hour. Return tickets to
Woodford and all stations beyond it are available
from Chingford for the return journey.
1 Messrs. Negretti and Zambra, of Cornhill, have under-
taken to make an excellent pocket compass in a brass case,
which will be sold for 1s, for use with this Guide.