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As I've suggested before, the best thing would be to see if the Ramblers have info on it and for them to take action if necessary. The locals may be right, of course, but they may also be wrong.
Oliver Schick-
The locals are right - there is no bridleway in this area according to the OS Map - Bing maps is good for this (the only thing its good for) as you can toggle the OS map on and off. The gravel track isn't even on the map, suggesting it's quite new.
Agree it would be nice if the farmer was more welcoming of the folks who've come to avail themselves of his gravel road, but the fact is, it's up to him. Agree if its pissing him off this much he should probably put a sign up.
Looks like you can either miss it out quite easily by heading on down to Passingford Bridge, or loop up to the north and explore the actual bridleway from Woodhatch to Little Tawny Hall. Caution - if it's little used, it could be nettle/bramble disaster this time of year.
Scrabble
Back on the matter of this stretch of gravel cutting from Theydon Mount to Stapleford Tawney, also found on Stayer's route #1, last time we discussed the Stapleford Tawney end of it, this time is the other end.
My wife and I were coming from Theydon Mount, where you turn into the highlighted bit below, before you turn right into the wide gravel road, we were sneakily followed by a pickup up to this point. As soon as we turned right into the gravel, the man from the pickup shouted at us. Followed a somewhat polite discussion, saying that this stretch is private land and we cannot ride there and that "Someone put this on the internet and a lot of cyclists are coming this way and it pisses me off". We turned around and rerouted.
Facts: