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I should have read this post before setting out, it was a bit of a mudbath.. plus got two punctures in quick succession and had to train it home from Chingford. But still weirdly fun! Thanks for the route, I will bank it for next time.
This section was absolutely horrid, I don't think it's even a path more just a big long clearing, which was mud/frozen puddles and then weirdly some kind of a drainage stream every couple of hundred metres?
The section you mention was single track out the back of some kind of homestead garden centre thing, pretty brambly and slippy, wouldn't recommend it. Although there was some nice tunnel hedging scenes.
exteroceptive-
This section was absolutely horrid, I don't think it's even a path more just a big long clearing, which was mud/frozen puddles and then weirdly some kind of a drainage stream every couple of hundred metres?
Yep, been there, done that, it's bad in Summer, let alone this time of the year. It is a path, although not many people ride there, mostly walkers/horses, hence the lack of a good line.
giofox
Never tried that path linking Sewardstone Rd to the bottom of Mott Street, only done it from Daws Hill. Might be muddy, might be gated.
The part of route between Whitehall Plain and Hollow Pond is pure SFAB this time of the year.
The canal is not bad early on weekends, especially if going out of London rather than coming back.
Not sure how familiar you are with Epping, but the main path is a good one to follow for a first outing on a new bike, route below. Have a look on my RWGPS as well if you want, but bear in mind that routes are very much seasonal in Epping.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34620369