Soon after the start of section 20, you turn right off the main road in Chigwell at the public footpath sign to follow the Epping Forest Countrycare walk just after a restaurant (formerly Ye Olde Kings Head). Then, as described in the fourth paragraph on page 4 of our walk guidance, you go through a gate and into a meadow. You walk straight ahead across the open field to a gate into the road opposite.
A walker recently told us that this gate is now padlocked (see first image on the right) so that you have no choice but to climb over it (with no easy footholds) or to climb the fence which is topped with barbed wire.
However we have followed this up and the lock as been removed (see second image on the left).
We do not know who is responsible for this lock.