Best walks to or from Romford

Romford Station to Brentwood Station

some great views of London. A varied, undulating route: grey urban roads out of Romford, then green and pleasant parks, nature reserves, common land and farm fields, with some steeper parts. Mostly good paths but some muddy and boggy sections near the M25 crossing; barriers and stiles exclude wheels. Briefly joins the London Loop near Harold Wood Park. No facilities in the middle section. Crosses from Greater London into Essex.

Tough: steep ascents. 12km.

The A127 crossing has a central refuge but no lights, so requires care. Some stiles in poor repair before the M25 road bridge and boggy lower-lying paths; the entrance to Tyler's Common from the south-west is unclear.

Lunch: Shops and pubs at either end but no facilities in the middle.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Romford Station to West Horndon Station

A mix of countryside and urban paths through woods, fields and a burial ground, with residential streets, a stretch of the London Loop and some rough, rocky and rooty ground. Several field paths are pathless or badly overgrown, with one stretch effectively impassable. Stiles and steps to bridges and a steep gradient near Avon Road.

15km. Gentle ascents.

Both ends are blocked as plotted: a locked alleyway at the Romford start (detour via the main road and crossings) and fencing around the West Horndon industrial estate (a gate to the left gives access). Warley Street is narrow, very busy and has no verge. Field crossings can be pathless and some sections so overgrown as to be impassable. Stiles, steps and a steep gradient near Avon Road.

End-of-walk reward: the Railway.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Ilford Station to Romford Station

The most direct route, following the High Road (an old Roman road) almost its entire length, paved all the way but narrow in places. Easy, straight navigation with lots of architectural and shopping interest that gradually peters out; brief glimpses of greenery and the River Rom near Romford, but no steps and stiles or tricky crossings. Follows a Roman road. Passes the Havering Stone (a boundary stone) and crosses the River Rom.

8km.

Heavy, fast traffic makes the route noisy and polluted, and you must watch for turning vehicles at crossings. Two crossings carry an element of danger - Aldborough Road South and the filter lane into Cameron Road by Seven Kings station.

Lunch: Cafes, shops and pubs at both ends, with food and drink pitstops along the way.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route