Lea Valley Walk

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Lea Valley Walk
The trail goes through Wardown Park
Length50 mi (80 km)
LocationSouth East England
TrailheadsLeagrave
Limehouse Basin
UseHiking, Cycling, Angling, Boating
SeasonAll year

The Lea Valley Walk is a 50-mile (80 km)

River Lee Navigation, and it becomes increasingly urbanised as it approaches London. The walk was opened in 1993 and is waymarked throughout using a swan
logo.

Route

Stage 1 Leagrave - Hatfield

Approximately 19.9 miles (32.0 km)

Signpost above Enfield Lock. A glimpse of Government Row in the background. Note the variant spellings of the river

The walk can be accessed close to

St Mary's Church as it heads close to the runways of Luton Airport. The A505 road is crossed as the trail makes its way through open countryside towards Harpenden
.

The path descends into the Lea Valley, passing under the railway lines before crossing the B653 road. The route now follows the track of a disused railway, the former Luton, Dunstable and Welwyn Junction line. After Harpenden the path leaves the railway track and heads uphill into Wheathampstead, then it goes through the village, past the church, and crosses over to the other bank of the river. The path now follows the river towards Water End Lane and the grounds of Brocket Hall where it crosses the middle of a golf course on its way towards Lemsford. The path goes under the A1 road to Stanborough Park.

Stage 2 Hatfield - Broxbourne

Approximately 16.1 miles (25.9 km)

The original path runs alongside the

Hertford Town F.C and Hertford Castle
before following Maidenhead Street and Bull Plain to rejoin the River Lea.

At this point the Lea becomes the canalised

SSSI
.

Dobbs Weir lies on the trail

Rye Meads nature reserve
. Close to the confluence of the
Rye House Power Station dominates the skyline. Crossing the river opposite the Fish and Eels public house which is above Dobbs Weir and then over the Hoddesdon to Nazeing road close to the Lee Valley Camping site (Permanently closed 2010) where a stretch of the Old River Lea can be seen. With the canal to the right the path passes Dobbs Weir Lock and then onto Carthagena Lock behind the lock is Carthagena Weir. Below the lock the tail end of the weir pool joins the main river. The path carries on under the Broxbourne to the Nazeing road bridge, close to Broxbourne railway station
.

Stage 3 Broxbourne - Lea Bridge Road (Walthamstow Marshes)

Approximately 13.1 miles (21.1 km)

Waymark
on the walk

The Crown public house is located adjacent to towpath. Attractions in this area include a boat centre and

Waltham Abbey
are close by.

Lea Valley Walk within Greater London

On the

Long-distance path can be joined. Crossing the bridge over the Swan and Pike pool a former barge turning basin
.

Edmonton Incinerator
dominating the skyline

The grassed embankment of the

Ponder's End Lock come into view. The Ponders End Mill Stream leaves the Navigation to flow through the historic Wright's Flour Mill close by to Ponders End railway station. Above Ponders End lock opposite the towpath is the Navigation Inn, a former pumping station built in 1899. The inn offers moorings for passing boats and views of the grassed embankment of the King George V reservoir. Past the lock and under a road bridge the mill stream merges with the Lee on the far bank. To the east is the start of the William Girling Reservoir. The west bank opens up with views of the golf course– part of the Lee Valley Leisure Complex
.

At

North Circular Road past the site of the Cooks Ferry Inn public house (well known music venue-demolished late 20th century for road widening).[3] Both sides of the river are industrialised. The river opens up with views of Banbury Reservoir to the East and Tottenham Marshes. Under a small footbridge known locally as Chalk Bridge. Walking towards Stonebridge Lock with Lockwood Reservoir
to the east.

Walthamstow Marshes lie on the route

Crossing the river here it is less than 1 mile to

Leyton Marshes are passed as the path heads towards Lea Bridge Road
.

Stage 4 Lea Bridge Road (Walthamstow Marshes) - Limehouse Basin

Approximately 4.9 miles (7.9 km)

Amenities in Lea Bridge Road area include the

Victoria Park
.

The Navigation Inn at Ponders End
Three Mills - The Mill House

Heading towards

Bow Creek to its confluence with the Thames. The path now follows the Limehouse Cut and passing the disused Bromley and Britannia Stop Locks to Limehouse Basin where the walk ends. Close by is the Thames Path
.

Other users

The towpath section of the river is popular with cyclists, and much of it forms part of National Cycle Route 1.

Angling is available on much of the river.[4]

Maps

Ordnance Survey Explorer 162.174.182.193 Landranger 166.177

Further reading

Lea Valley Walk by Leigh Hatts

ISBN 978-1-85284-522-3 Published by Cicerone Press

References

  1. ^ Photo of the saw mill Retrieved 23 August 2010
  2. ^ News item Archived 21 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 17 February 2011
  3. ^ Cooks Ferry Inn Retrieved 23 August 2010
  4. ^ River Lea Anglers Club Retrieved 2 December 2014

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lee Valley Walk.
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