ITS TOPOGRAPHY. 45 



Route J, cross the heathery plateau at the top of it 

 to the high trees of Mo?ik Wood. A north-easterly 

 direction will lead the visitor the whole length of 

 the wood. This is considered by many to be the 

 choicest bit of the Forest. Nowhere is there 

 so wide an extent of well-grown trees, alternating 

 with wild rushy plains, and intersected by deep 

 picturesque dells. Cross the Loughton and Epping 

 Road by the keeper's cottage, and descend the hill 

 to the bottom of the next hollow, called '■'■Hangboy'' 

 Slade. Follow this up the stream. The valley runs 

 north at first and then bends round slightly to the 

 north-east. Where the open glade appears to come 

 to an end, an arrow has been cut as a director in the 

 smooth bark of a pollard beech. Here turn to the 

 right through the grove of beech-trees and up a little 

 mossy hollow, until the Theydon Road is reached. 

 On the farther side of this is an open heathery 

 plain nearly bare of trees, owing to forest fires. 

 After crossing the road, keep along near the thicket 

 on the right hand side. The tall firs on the left 

 show the position of Copped Hall Wood. Our 

 route lies at right angles to this direction. At 

 the northern apex of the plain a well-defined track 

 is found. This keeps along the side of the hill 

 which slopes down to the left to a little stream, on 

 the opposite side of which stand the fine beeches of 

 " Epping Thicks " — probably the best grown trees 

 in the Forest. At the point at which some villas 

 on Piercing Hill come fully into view, 300 yards 

 ahead, turn to the left, down a little hollow, and 

 crossing the intervening stream into the " Thicks" 

 rise the opposite slope to the wide Green Ride. 

 Follow this ride to Epping. 



I am aware that my directions for this walk are 



