Horse-riding in Epping Forest
Riding in Epping Forest
The Forest is a great place for a ride with your horse.
You can ride on any of the 96km of shared use paths that run through the Forest. We also have open riding during the drier months of the year, when you can ride almost anywhere.
Open riding in Epping Forest commences for 2026 from 00:01 on Friday 17 April.
| Car park | what3words address | Suitable for large horse boxes? |
|---|---|---|
| Bury Road Extension | ///baking.myself.glare | Yes |
| Centre Road | ///newly.crowd.blocks | Yes |
| Lakeside Diner | ///opens.folds.safety | No |
| Lodge Road | ///change.tunnel.voice | No |
| Snaresbrook | ///bonus.verge.rarely | No |
| Wake Valley | ///bravo.sport.risky | No |
Licences
You need a licence to ride in Epping Forest and you can be fined if you ride without one. We have daily, weekly and annual licences that you can apply for below.
Have a look at our guide to horse riding if you'd like some help planning your day out with us.
Guidelines
There are guidelines you must follow when you're riding here:
- You need to have a valid horse-riding licence to ride here
- You have to show your licence disc on the left side of your bridle
- If you lose your disc, you can get a replacement from us for £10
- Wear a hard hat, sensible footwear, and high-visibility clothes
- Make sure someone knows your route if you're riding alone
- Don't jump any obstacle in the Forest for your own safety
- Always pass walkers, cyclists and other Forest users slowly
- Also pass slowly if you meet any of our grazing cattle
- Leave gates as you find them
Places you can't ride
There are a few places you can't ride your horse in the Forest, because they're protected for one reason or another. Key areas where this applies are:
- the Iron Age earthworks at Loughton Brook, Loughton Camp and Ambresbury Bank
- our easy access paths
- Sunshine Plain and Deershelter Plain
A full list of prohibited areas can be found within a guide to horse riding in Epping Forest.