On this walk you'll see many of the woodland management techniques that make Hatfield Forest (+44 (0)1279 874040/870678, nationaltrust.org.uk/hatfieldforest) so special. You can walk through the wide open plains, explore the coppices and see the natural sculptures that are the ancient pollards. Imagine what life was like in the forest as you visit the site of an Iron Age settlement, wander through medieval coppices and visit a Georgian Shell house.
If you are quiet as you walk through the coppice, you may be lucky enough to spot fallow deer, which are descended from King Henry I's original herd. Look down on the ground to spot some beautiful fungi growing and look up into the trees to spot some mistletoe (but please leave it growing for others to enjoy); Hatfield Forest is the last stronghold for mistletoe in Essex.
One of the best things at this time of year is the crunching sound of leaves under your feet and my favourite part of the walk is through Gravel Pit Coppice. Here the hornbeams have not been coppiced for about 80 years, leaving them like enormous hands with the fingers stretched skywards.
For a bite to eat, the Green Man pub is just outside the Forest's northern boundary on the Takeley Road. It's a traditional pub full of character and a warm fire.
Make sure you wear walking boots and be prepared to get a bit muddy.
• Find out more at nationaltrust.org.uk/walks
Route and directions
Start: Shell House. Grid ref: TL540197. Map: OS Landranger 167
1. From the rear of Shell House follow right-hand side of lake and join a board-walked path for about 120 metres. Turn left at arrow-marker and follow lake until gate (5). Look out for a group of conifers - Scots, Corsican and Austrian pine, together with Cedar of Lebanon,
2. Pass through the gate (please shut behind you) and skirt the marsh area (6). Immediately after this area bear right around the Gravel Pit area (7) (small area of hillocks and hollows). In springtime look out for orchids. Bear right and cross the entrance road.
3. Bearing left skirt around edge of Spittlemore Coppice. Continue downhill looking out for large disused badger sets (8) now colonised by rabbits as well as large ant-hills, which are home to the yellow meadow-ant. Cross Shermore Brook using the horse bridge (9).
4. Continue slightly left and enter the coppice (10), continuing past marker post (11) to Beggarshall Coppice (12). Look out for low mounds and ditches which are visible remains of a small iron-age settlement.
5. Turn left and follow the ride until marker post (13). Turn left again and follow the wide ride until reaching the open area of reclaimed wood pasture. Look out for young pollarded trees. Turn right and aim for marker post (14). You are now on the Main Plain.
6. Continue straight to a large horse chestnut tree (15) planted in about 1860 by the Houblon family together with other exotic species. Horse chestnuts were brought to this country from Turkey in the late 16th century.
7. Cross the entrance road and follow the path over the foot-bridge. Bear left and proceed through the gate, looking out for a 450-year old oak. The base of this tree is protected by a ring of stakes. Walk around the outside of the stakes and finish back at the Shell House and cafeteria in time for a cup of tea!
Terrain and accessibility
Allow 1½ to 2 hours for this 1.75 mile (2.8 km) circular walk, waymarked by marker posts 1 to 16. The route runs alongside the lake and then through the forest. Paths can be muddy after wet weather so boots may be necessary. No bins are provided – please take your litter home. Dogs welcome on leads near livestock, around the lake and wherever temporarily signed.
Getting here and local facilities
By foot: Flitch Way from Braintree. The Three Forests Way and Forest Way all pass through the forest
By bike: Flitch Way from Braintree
By bus: 301, Bishop's Stortford to Elsenham. Alight Takeley (Green Man), then ½ mile, follow the signs
By train: Stansted Airport station, 3 miles
By car: From M11 (J8), take B1256 towards Takeley/Gt. Dunmow. Follow signs at Takeley to Hatfield Forest
Lakeside Cafe (licensed, not NT), WCs, baby-changing and feeding facilities. Car-parking (charge applies for non-NT members)
