🌀 Easing Into Autumn - The Slow Crawls October Walk
welcome back to slow crawl club 🌀 a soft, restorative space to slow down, touch grass, and spend a few hours away from the noise.
for our october crawl, we're heading into epping forest for “easing into autumn” 🍂🌲 a slow afternoon to notice the season changing, take things a little easier, and let autumn arrive at its own pace.
this is a space for gentle connection, sensory grounding and low-pressure conversation, with a very slow, rest-focused pace. there'll be plenty of opportunities to stop, sit, snack, look around, chat, or simply do absolutely nothing for a while.
during our main rest stop at connaught water, we'll have a gentle reflection activity called “what are you leaving behind?” with a few prompts to think about what you're ready to leave behind, what you'd like to make more room for, and what you want to take slowly.
you can write, draw, doodle, journal, chat, listen to the music, or just sit by the water. the activity is completely optional. it's an invitation, not an assignment. 🌀🍂
we're meeting outside chingford station at 11:00 am (look out for us!)
getting there (public transport)
london overground (weaver line): direct services run from london liverpool street to chingford, with stops including bethnal green, hackney downs, walthamstow central and highams park.
from the tube: make your way to liverpool street and change for the london overground towards chingford.
local buses: chingford station is also served by local bus routes including the 97, 179, 212, 313, 379, 385, 397, 444 and n26.
if you're travelling from further out: your easiest option is generally to make your way towards london liverpool street and change for the overground to chingford.
getting there (parking)
accessible parking: there are blue badge spaces directly at epping forest visitor centre, with additional disabled bays at barn hoppitt opposite the visitor centre.
general parking: nearby car parks include barn hoppitt, bury road and connaught water.
please check parking restrictions and charges before travelling, and allow extra time if you're driving.
our route
we'll meet outside chingford station before making our way together towards the epping forest visitor centre, then continuing through the forest towards connaught water.
the route is approximately 3–4 km, but this isn't a walk we're trying to complete quickly. we'll be moving at a deliberately slow pace, with regular pauses and plenty of time to stop and notice what's around us.
once we reach connaught water, we'll have a longer rest by the lake before slowly making our way back towards chingford station.
the route includes some natural woodland paths and uneven ground, as well as a short incline approaching connaught water. the path around the lake is firm, level and well surfaced.
here is our route map: 🔗 route
late arrivals
if you're running late, please send us a message as soon as possible so we know you're still coming.
if we've already left chingford station, please don't try to catch up with us alone through the forest.
our first late-arrival meeting point will be the epping forest visitor centre, which is around a 10–15 minute walk from chingford station.
once you arrive, message us and we'll let you know where the group is and the safest way to join us.
what to bring
feel free to bring:
a light picnic, lunch or snacks for yourself
a warm flask or water bottle
a raincoat or waterproof layer
comfortable shoes suitable for natural woodland paths
layers - october weather can be unpredictable
a picnic blanket, sit-mat or something waterproof to sit on
a notebook or journal if you'd like to use one during the reflection activity
we'll provide the reflection cards, and some spare pens, notebooks and pencils.
the weather
a little rain won't stop us 🍂
we'll still walk in light rain, so please come prepared with suitable waterproof clothing and footwear.
if conditions become too heavy or unsafe — including severe rain, strong winds or other dangerous conditions — we'll postpone or adapt the walk.
any changes will be shared through the slow crawl announcements on whatsapp, so please check before setting off.
toilets
there are public toilets at the epping forest visitor centre, including an accessible toilet.
we'll have an opportunity to use the facilities before heading further into the forest, and we'll be able to return to the area afterwards.
connaught water itself also has an accessible, firm and level walking route with benches and wheelchair passing spaces.
accessibility
slow crawl is intentionally slow and rest-focused, and we'll have plenty of opportunities to stop and sit.
that said, this particular route includes some natural woodland paths, uneven ground and a short incline, so the full route isn't wheelchair accessible. the connaught water section is much firmer and easier to navigate.
if you have specific access needs or aren't sure whether the route will work for you, please get in touch with us before booking we'd much rather help you figure it out than have you arrive unsure. 🌀
i'm so excited to crawl through the forest with you for our october walk. 🌀🐞🌲
to keep slow crawl a gentle, low-stimulation experience, we're keeping the group intentionally small.
if you book a place and can no longer make it, please release your spot so someone on the waiting list has the chance to join.
🐞 three-strike no-show rule
if you reserve a spot for one of our events and don't show up without letting us know, it will count as a strike.
we plan things like activities, food, water and materials based on the number of people who RSVP, so when someone reserves a place and doesn't come, that spot could have gone to someone else.
if you realise you can't make it at any point, no worries at all, just update your RSVP or let us know so we have an accurate idea of numbers. 🤍
after three no-shows without notice, you won't be able to reserve a place at future Slow Crawl events.
this isn't about making anyone feel bad for missing a walk -things happen! we just want to make sure our little community stays fair and that people who want to come actually get the chance to. 🌀
if you'd like to keep up to date with future walks, activities and little slow crawl things, join our and follow us on instagram @slowcrawls 🐞🐞🐞