Loughton, Lodge Lake and Teardrop Lakes
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| pic by Sue Haithe |
Approx time: 2 hours 30 mins
Grade: circular/easy going/surfaced paths with plenty of seats.
Note: In some places the walk is along quiet lanes without footpaths
Download sketch map of route
Some of the buildings in Loughton date back to the 16th century. There were originally two villages, Little and Great Loughton spearated by a brook. They were amalgamated in 1408. The brook has been landscaped to form a series of pools, ponds and lakes.
Start at the car park in Bradwell Road, off H4 Dansteed Way (see plan).
From the car park walk straight ahead to join the lakeside path, keeping Lodge Lake on the right-hand side. Lodge Lake is one of the city's balancing lakes, designed to hold excess floodwater until it can be slowly released into Loughton Brook.
Go over the footbridge and follow the path under the road. The path twists and turns as alongside Loughton Brook.
Go over another footbridge and turn left at the T-junction. Follow the path which goes under another road and keep straight ahead, keeping the brook on your left-hand side.
Continue along the path, taking a left-hand fork which is signposted Loughton Village, and go over a bridge. Continue along the path now keeping the brook on the right-hand side. The ross carefully over the road and take the path opposite.
Continue along this to a T-junction where you should turn right over a bridge. Walk a short distance to the next T-junction where you will see The Green ahead of you. there is an information panel at this junction.
Take the path to the left which leads up to the road. Cross over this into Leys Road and continue ahead. To avoid walking on the road join the path to the left over a footbridge. Leys Road narrows to a lane and at the end of this take the path on the right leading back into the Loughton Valley Park and Teardrop Lakes.
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| pic by Sue Haithe |
Follow the path along the brook, cross over the road and continue along the path. Pass the weir and go under the road, keeping left.
You have now reached Teardrop Lakes, so-called because of their shape. The path bears left to join the redway where you should turn right to follow it along the lakes.
Eventually the redway bears right to run between the third and fourth lake and this is where you start back along the other side of the lakes. Don't miss the path which tracks off to the left, just after you've passed a small wodden bridge, to climb a viewpoint.
Continue along the path to the end of the lakes and back under the road. This time go to the left of the weir into a car park. Go through this , across the road and turn left along the redway. On your right-hand side you will see Loughton Manor Equestrian Centre.
Continue along the redway to the crosroads and turn right - signposted to local centre and Great Holm. At the end of the paddock turn right into Whitworth Lane. As this lane bears to the left take the path on your right, looking out for an information panel which will tell you wbout the history of Loughton village.
Rejoin Leys Road and retrace your outwards steps, crossing over to The Green. Just before the thatched cottage take the path on your right over the bridge and then back down the path immediately on the left.
Continue along the path, cross over the road and take the path opposite back over the bridge (keeping the brook on your right side) and back under the road. Keep straight ahead at this junction and then take the next right in front of the Kam Tong Garden restaurant, following this path around the west side of Lodge Lake.
At one point the path leaves the lake but quickly rejoins it at a T-junction. You will see the car park where you started - but if you've still got energy left, why not try the Trim trail around the lake!!