44 EPPING FOREST
be reserved for dry weather. It is easily identified
by following the hollow upwards. I have only
partially indicated it by a red line on the map,
lest it should be confused with other routes which
intersect it.
ROUTE S
THEYDON TO EPPING
23/4 miles to the Station
Follow the road past the church as directed in
Route Q. Cross, in a N.N.W. direction, the green
beyond it, as described in the last route. On
entering the thicket, and after following up the
right-hand side of the little watercourse for a few
yards, turn to the right up the hill, whence a track
to the N.N.E. leads to Piercing Hill, near some
villas on the right. From here the tall red water
tower at Epping comes in sight. Keeping a point
or two to the left of this landmark, traverse the
little stream at the bottom of the hollow, and pass
through " Epping Thicks " to the town of Epping.
ROUTE T
THE LOWER FOREST
This very pretty wood, of about 300 acres in a
triangular block, is isolated from the rest of the
Forest, and lies just beyond the town of Epping.
I shall not attempt to describe any routes through
it, as they would be difficult to identify. But a
summer's afternoon may be well devoted to its
exploration; I say summer advisedly, as parts of
it lie low and swampy. An ancient bridle-way, at
one time the high road from Harlow to London,
known as the " Stump Road," bisects it from
north to south. The Lower Forest lies between
Epping and North Weald Station, and equidistant
from them. The prettiest road from the former
station is that which passes through Coopersale ;
the shortest through the town of Epping.