Trial separation

After many weeks of being together 24/7 we decided today to do our own thing. I went off trying to buy presents to take home which despite my best efforts over the past couple of months, has been proving very hard to do.

Geoff went off walking for the day in Epping Forest.

Travel to Epping was so easy it is on the central line, trains leave Stratford station every 3 minutes and 20 minutes to Loughton station. From the station about 30 minutes walk through suburbs and I am walking in the Forrest. My first stop is at the Forrest field centre and purchase an OS explorer map ( 1: 25,000) so I can find my way arround - I am not confident using the phone based sat Nav.

First stop is Loughton Camp An ancient ( 500BC ) earthworks used to house and protect animals at times of threat or attack. It is one of the highest points arround so also served as a lookout. The earth banks enclose over 4 hectares of land.

 

 

 

After exploring some more tracks and walking through monks wood l came upon another ancient earthworks - Ambresbury banks the place is very atmospheric

 

 

Walking out of the ancient forest I briefly needed to navigate my way over a 21st century obstacle - the M25 then out into rural England and Cropped hall park. The estate dates to the 12 th century. In 1537 an abbot gave it to Henry VIII hoping to save the dissolution of Waltham Abbey . Henry still dissolved the abbey