The Lea Valley Walk is a
long-distance path
A long-distance trail (or long-distance footpath, track, way, greenway) is a longer recreational trail mainly through rural areas used for hiking, backpacking, cycling, horse riding or cross-country skiing. They exist on all continents exce ...
located between
Leagrave
Leagrave is a former village and now a suburb of Luton, in the Luton district, in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England, in the northwest of the town. The area is roughly bounded by Vincent Road, Torquay Drive and High Street to the nor ...
, the source of the
River Lea
The River Lea ( ) is in South East England. It originates in Bedfordshire, in the Chiltern Hills, and flows southeast through Hertfordshire, along the Essex border and into Greater London, to meet the River Thames at Bow Creek. It is one of ...
near
Luton
Luton () is a town and unitary authority with borough status, in Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 census, the Luton built-up area subdivision had a population of 211,228 and its built-up area, including the adjacent towns of Dunstable an ...
, and the
Thames
The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the second-longest in the United Kingdom, after the R ...
, at
Limehouse Basin
Limehouse Basin is a body of water 2 miles east of London Bridge that is also a navigable link between the River Thames and two of London's canals. First dug in 1820 as the eastern terminus of the new Regent's Canal, its wet area was less than ...
,
Limehouse
Limehouse is a district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in East London. It is east of Charing Cross, on the northern bank of the River Thames. Its proximity to the river has given it a strong maritime character, which it retains through ...
, east London. From its source much of the walk is rural. At
Hertford
Hertford ( ) is the county town of Hertfordshire, England, and is also a civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district of the county. The parish had a population of 26,783 at the 2011 census.
The town grew around a ford on the River Lea, n ...
the path follows the
towpath
A towpath is a road or trail on the bank of a river, canal, or other inland waterway. The purpose of a towpath is to allow a land vehicle, beasts of burden, or a team of human pullers to tow a boat, often a barge. This mode of transport w ...
of the
River Lee Navigation
The Lee Navigation is a canalised river incorporating the River Lea (also called the River Lee along the sections that are navigable). It flows from Hertford Castle Weir to the River Thames at Bow Creek; its first lock is Hertford Lock and i ...
, and it becomes increasingly urbanised as it approaches
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
. The walk was opened in 1993 and is waymarked throughout using a
swan
Swans are birds of the family Anatidae within the genus ''Cygnus''. The swans' closest relatives include the geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Som ...
logo.
Route
Stage 1 Leagrave - Hatfield
Approximately
The walk can be accessed close to
Leagrave railway station at Leagrave Common where there are a number of springs and ponds from which the Lea forms. The first part of the walk is through the suburbs of
Luton
Luton () is a town and unitary authority with borough status, in Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 census, the Luton built-up area subdivision had a population of 211,228 and its built-up area, including the adjacent towns of Dunstable an ...
. After passing through
Wardown Park
Wardown Park is situated on the River Lea in Luton. The park has various sporting facilities, is home to the Wardown Park Museum and contains formal gardens. The park is located between ''Old Bedford Road'' and the A6, ''New Bedford Road'' and ...
the path joins the
A6 road and goes through the town centre passing
St Mary's Church as it heads close to the runways of
Luton Airport
London Luton Airport is an international airport located in Luton, Bedfordshire, England, situated east of the town centre, and north of Central London. The airport is owned by London Luton Airport Ltd (LLAL), a company wholly owned by L ...
. The
A505 road
The A505 is an A-class road in England. It follows part of the route of the Icknield Way and the corresponding Icknield Way Path and runs from Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire to the A11 Abington Interchange North in Cambridgeshire.
Route ...
is crossed as the trail makes its way through open countryside towards
Harpenden
Harpenden () is a town and civil parish in the City and District of St Albans in the county of Hertfordshire, England. The population of the built-up area was 30,240 in the 2011 census, whilst the population of the civil parish was 29,448. Ha ...
.
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
Brocket Hall is a neo-classical country house set in a large park at the western side of the urban area of Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire, England. The estate is equipped with two golf courses and seven smaller listed buildings, apart fro ...
where it crosses the middle of a golf course on its way towards
Lemsford
Lemsford is a village and parish in Hertfordshire, England. It is near Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield and is in the Hatfield Villages Ward of the Borough of Welwyn/Hatfield.
Lemsford Springs is a small nature reserve. Its lagoons are importan ...
. The path goes under the
A1 road
A list of roads designated A1, sorted by alphabetical order of country.
* A01 highway (Afghanistan), a long ring road or beltway connecting Kabul, Kandahar, Herat and Mazar
* A1 motorway (Albania), connecting Durrës and Kukës
* A001 highw ...
to
Stanborough Park
Stanborough Park, also referred to as Stanborough Lakes is a park in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England.
The park features two lakes, which were opened more recently in 1970. They are man-made and were built as a result of gravel extra ...
.
Stage 2 Hatfield - Broxbourne
Approximately
The original path runs alongside the
A414 road in the grounds of Home Park
Hatfield cutting through a small woodland to the Cecil Saw Mill. A short stretch of road leads to a bridleway and then the river. The path crosses the river at Holwell Bridge the trail continues through woodland opposite Holwell Court and joins the Cole Green Way. The path has been diverted due to access issues and now follows roads past the
New QEII Hospital in
Welwyn Garden City
Welwyn Garden City ( ) is a town in Hertfordshire, England, north of London. It was the second garden city in England (founded 1920) and one of the first new towns (designated 1948). It is unique in being both a garden city and a new town and ...
to join the
Cole Green Way the disused Welwyn to Hertford railway line at the edge of the town. The route is shared with the
Hertfordshire Chain Walk as it approaches the outskirts of
Hertford
Hertford ( ) is the county town of Hertfordshire, England, and is also a civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district of the county. The parish had a population of 26,783 at the 2011 census.
The town grew around a ford on the River Lea, n ...
. The path continues to Hertford town centre passing
Hertford Town F.C and
Hertford Castle
Hertford Castle was built in Norman times by the River Lea in Hertford, the county town of Hertfordshire, England. Most of the internal buildings of the castle have been demolished. The main surviving section is the Tudor gatehouse, which is a Gr ...
before following Maidenhead Street and Bull Plain to rejoin the River Lea.
At this point the Lea becomes the canalised
River Lee Navigation
The Lee Navigation is a canalised river incorporating the River Lea (also called the River Lee along the sections that are navigable). It flows from Hertford Castle Weir to the River Thames at Bow Creek; its first lock is Hertford Lock and i ...
. For the remainder of its length, the walk follows the towpath all the way to the Thames. The first lock located at the edge of the town is
Hertford Lock
Hertford Lock (No1) is a lock situated on the River Lea on the eastern side of Hartham Common, Hertford in the English county of Hertfordshire. It is owned and managed by British Waterways and is the first lock of the River Lee Navigation.
...
. The rivers
Beane and
Rib
In vertebrate anatomy, ribs ( la, costae) are the long curved bones which form the rib cage, part of the axial skeleton. In most tetrapods, ribs surround the chest, enabling the lungs to expand and thus facilitate breathing by expanding the ches ...
enter the Lea on the opposite bank. The walk passes through the town of
Ware which is the start of
Lee Valley Park
Lee Valley Regional Park is a long linear park, much of it green spaces, running through the northeast of Greater London, Essex and Hertfordshire from the River Thames to Ware, through areas such as Stratford, Clapton, Tottenham, Enfi ...
. Passing
Ware Lock
Ware Lock (No2) is a lock on the River Lee Navigation at Ware. The lock stands adjacent to Ware Weir and is the only lock on the Navigation to be operated and maintained by the Environment Agency.gazebos
A gazebo is a pavilion structure, sometimes octagonal or turret-shaped, often built in a park, garden or spacious public area. Some are used on occasions as bandstands.
Etymology
The etymology given by Oxford Dictionaries is "Mid 18th centu ...
can be seen in some of the far bank riverside gardens. The path goes under the
A1170 road opposite the ''Saracen's Head''
public house
A pub (short for public house) is a kind of drinking establishment which is licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term ''public house'' first appeared in the United Kingdom in late 17th century, and wa ...
and then passing
Hardmead Lock
Hardmead Lock (No3) is a lock on the River Lee Navigation at Great Amwell close to the town of Ware.
The lock has a reputation as being difficult to negotiate.
Location
The lock-keeper's cottage stands on an island formed by a section of ...
. On the far bank is
Amwell Quarry, an
SSSI.
Stanstead Lock
Stanstead Lock (No4) is a lock on the River Lee Navigation close to the villages of Stanstead Abbotts and St Margarets. The lock which incorporates a rare example of a swing-bridge, has the reputation of being one of the country's most difficul ...
is next before continuing under the A414 road towards
Rye House, in
Hoddesdon
Hoddesdon () is a town in the Borough of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, lying entirely within the London Metropolitan Area and Greater London Urban Area. The area is on the River Lea and the Lee Navigation along with the New River.
Hoddesdon ...
. Attractions nearby include
Rye House Stadium
Rye House Stadium is a former greyhound racing and speedway venue in Rye Road, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. It is situated adjacent to the River Lea Navigation.
Origins
The name Rye House originates from a collection of medieval buildings on an ...
, the gatehouse of
Rye House and RSPB
Rye Meads nature reserve
. Close to the confluence of the
River Stort
The River Stort is a river in Essex and Hertfordshire, England. It is 24 miles (38 km) long and flows from just south of the village of Langley to the River Lea at Hoddesdon.
The river's name is a back-formation; the town of Bishop's Sto ...
and Lea is
Feildes Weir
Feildes Weir is a weir on the River Lea located in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire at the confluence of the River Lea and River Stort. The weir marks the start of the Lower Lee. A channel of the man-made River Lee Flood Relief Channel is incorporat ...
. Passing
Feildes Weir Lock
Feildes Weir Lock (No5) is a lock on the River Lee Navigation located in Hoddesdon.
Location
The lock is adjacent to the confluence of the River Lea and the River Stort at Feildes Weir.
The Glen Faba lake is to the east of the lock.
Publ ...
, the
Rye House Power Station
Rye House Power Station is a 715 MW combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power station close to Rye House railway station in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire.
History
The current station was built on the site of an earlier 128 MW coal-fired power station b ...
dominates the skyline. Crossing the river opposite the ''Fish and Eels'' public house which is above
Dobbs Weir and then over the
Hoddesdon
Hoddesdon () is a town in the Borough of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, lying entirely within the London Metropolitan Area and Greater London Urban Area. The area is on the River Lea and the Lee Navigation along with the New River.
Hoddesdon ...
to
Nazeing road close to the Lee Valley Camping site (Permanently closed 2010) where a stretch of the Old
River Lea
The River Lea ( ) is in South East England. It originates in Bedfordshire, in the Chiltern Hills, and flows southeast through Hertfordshire, along the Essex border and into Greater London, to meet the River Thames at Bow Creek. It is one of ...
can be seen. With the canal to the right the path passes
Dobbs Weir Lock and then onto
Carthagena Lock
Carthagena Lock (No7) is a lock on the River Lee Navigation at Broxbourne
Location
Directly behind the lock is Carthagena Weir part of a fishery which also includes two lakes and a section of the Old River Lea.
To the east of the lock is t ...
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
Broxbourne is a town and former civil parish, now in the unparished area of Hoddesdon, in the Broxbourne district, in Hertfordshire, England, north of London, with a population of 15,303 at the 2011 Census.Broxbourne Town population 2011 I ...
to the
Nazeing road bridge, close to
Broxbourne railway station
Broxbourne railway station is on the West Anglia Main Line serving the towns of Broxbourne and Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire, England. It is down the line from London Liverpool Street and is situated between and . Its three-letter station code is ...
.
Stage 3 Broxbourne - Lea Bridge Road (Walthamstow Marshes)
Approximately
''The Crown'' public house is located adjacent to towpath. Attractions in this area include a boat centre and
Broxbourne Mill. Adjacent to the walk, the Lee Valley leisure pool closed in 2008. The river is crossed to the west bank by bridge. On the opposite bank there are a number of riverside houses. Over a small bridge under which flows the
Broxbourne Mill Stream. Above
Aqueduct Lock
Aqueduct Lock (Number 8) is a lock on the River Lee Navigation close to Turnford.
Location
The lock is located in the River Lee Country Park and is adjacent to the Old River Lea and the Holyfield Lake which incorporates part of the River ...
a channel from the river feeds into
Kings Weir and a stretch of the Old
River Lea
The River Lea ( ) is in South East England. It originates in Bedfordshire, in the Chiltern Hills, and flows southeast through Hertfordshire, along the Essex border and into Greater London, to meet the River Thames at Bow Creek. It is one of ...
can be found. On both sides of the river mature flooded
gravel
Gravel is a loose aggregation of rock fragments. Gravel occurs naturally throughout the world as a result of sedimentary and erosive geologic processes; it is also produced in large quantities commercially as crushed stone.
Gravel is classifi ...
workings can be seen, a legacy of this areas large sand and gravel industry, some of which form part of the
Turnford and Cheshunt Pits
The Turnford and Cheshunt Pits is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest near Cheshunt in Hertfordshire and Essex and covers a total of 428.17 acres (173.28 ha).[Cheshunt Lock
Cheshunt Lock (No 9) is a lock on the River Lee Navigation at Cheshunt, Hertfordshire.
Geography
The lock is located in the River Lee Country Park which is a part of the Lee Valley Park. The Seventy Acres Lake to the east is an important site ...]
. Close to
Cheshunt railway station
Cheshunt is a National Rail and London Overground station in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, England. On the National Rail network it is on the West Anglia Main Line, from London Liverpool Street and situated between and . On the London Overground ne ...
is the Lee Valley Youth Hostel. A glimpse of the
Small River Lea
The Small River Lea is a minor tributary of the River Lea, which flows through the Lee Valley Park between Cheshunt and Enfield Lock. It forms part of the Turnford and Cheshunt Pits Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) as it flows through ...
can be seen which flows nearby under Windmill Lane. Past
Waltham Common Lock
Waltham Common Lock (No 10) is a lock on the River Lee Navigation at Waltham Cross in Hertfordshire, England. The lock is located in the River Lee Country Park and stands close to the Broxbourne White Water Canoe Centre. At the tail of the l ...
and then
Waltham Town Lock which is adjacent to the Showground Site the chosen venue to host the
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012) was an international multi-sport event held from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. The first event, th ...
canoeing and kayak slalom events will be known as the
Broxbourne White Water Canoe Centre. The towns of
Waltham Cross
Waltham Cross is a town in the Borough of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, England, located north of central London. In the south-eastern corner of Hertfordshire, it borders Cheshunt to the north, Waltham Abbey to the east, and Enfield to the sou ...
and
Waltham Abbey
Waltham Abbey is a town and civil parish in the Epping Forest District of Essex, within the metropolitan and urban area of London, England, north-east of Charing Cross. It lies on the Greenwich Meridian, between the River Lea in the west and ...
are close by.
On the
A121 road bridge stands the ''Old English Gentlemen'' public house ( closed May 2008 ). Close by are the
Royal Gunpowder Mills which are open to the public. The path goes under the
M25 motorway
The M25 or London Orbital Motorway is a major road encircling most of Greater London. The motorway is one of the most important roads in the UK and one of the busiest. Margaret Thatcher opened the final section in 1986, making the M25 the lon ...
to
Rammey Marsh Lock. The river splits on the far bank and a section of the Old River Lea flows through the former
Royal Small Arms Factory
The Royal Small Arms Factory (RSAF) was a UK government-owned rifle factory in Enfield (though some parts were in Waltham Abbey), adjoining the Lee Navigation in the Lea Valley. The factory produced British military rifles, muskets and s ...
now a housing development known as
Enfield Island Village
Enfield Island Village is a modern housing estate in Enfield Lock, in the London Borough of Enfield, north London. Before April 1994, Enfield Island Village formed part of the Epping Forest district of Essex, but it was transferred to the borough ...
. The
Victorian Terraced house
In architecture and city planning, a terrace or terraced house ( UK) or townhouse ( US) is a form of medium-density housing that originated in Europe in the 16th century, whereby a row of attached dwellings share side walls. In the United St ...
s on the east bank are former Small Arms factory workers' houses known as Government Row. Above
Enfield Lock
Enfield Lock is an area in the London Borough of Enfield, north London. It is approximately located east of the Hertford Road between Turkey Street and the Holmesdale Tunnel overpass, and extends to the River Lee Navigation, including the En ...
a new bridge leads to the housing estate. Passing the ''Greyhound'' public house and the lock. Adjacent to the ''Rifles'' public house ( closed May 2008 ) is the Old River Lea and section 13 of the
London Loop
The London Outer Orbital Path — more usually the "London LOOP" — is a 150-mile (242 km) signed walk along public footpaths, and through parks, woods and fields around the edge of Outer London, England, described as "the M ...
a
Long-distance path
A long-distance trail (or long-distance footpath, track, way, greenway) is a longer recreational trail mainly through rural areas used for hiking, backpacking, cycling, horse riding or cross-country skiing. They exist on all continents exce ...
can be joined. Crossing the bridge over the Swan and Pike pool a former
barge
Barge nowadays generally refers to a flat-bottomed inland waterway vessel which does not have its own means of mechanical propulsion. The first modern barges were pulled by tugs, but nowadays most are pushed by pusher boats, or other vessels. ...
turning basin
A turning basin, winding basin or swinging basin is a wider body of water, either located at the end of a ship canal or in a port to allow cargo ships to turn and reverse their direction of travel, or to enable long narrow barges in a canal to tu ...
.
The grassed embankment of the
King George V Reservoir
The King George V Reservoir, also known as King George's Reservoir, is located in the London Borough of Enfield and is part of the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain that supplies London with drinking water. The storage reservoir is bordered by Sewardsto ...
is directly in front and is the first in the
Lee Valley Reservoir Chain.
Turkey Brook joins the Lee on the opposite bank. The far bank now comprises mainly industrial units. At
Brimsdown
Brimsdown is a neighbourhood of eastern Enfield in the London Borough of Enfield, north London, on the west side of the mid-to-lower Lea Valley.
Geography
The east of Brimsdown, that is, east of the eastern Lea Valley line is one of the boro ...
Mossops Bridge connects to Mossops Creek and the
Brimsdown Industrial Estate
Brimsdown Industrial Estate is located to the east of the residential part of Brimsdown in the London Borough of Enfield. The estate, which lies in the Lea Valley, is bordered to the west by the West Anglia Main Line portion of the Lea Valley Line ...
area. Before the paired
lock
Lock(s) may refer to:
Common meanings
*Lock and key, a mechanical device used to secure items of importance
*Lock (water navigation), a device for boats to transit between different levels of water, as in a canal
Arts and entertainment
* ''Lock ...
gates at
Ponder's End Lock
Ponders End Lock (No 14) is a paired lock on the River Lee Navigation in England and is located near Ponders End, London. It is the last lock upstream that is large enough to take barges of up to 130 tons.
History
The lock was fully mechan ...
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 William Girling Reservoir is located in the London Borough of Enfield and is part of the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain that supplies London with drinking water. It is named after William Girling OBE, a chairman of the Metropolitan Water Board (M ...
. The west bank opens up with views of the golf course– part of the
Lee Valley Leisure Complex
Lee Valley Leisure Complex is located at Edmonton, London, and is part of the Lee Valley Park. It was formerly known as the Picketts Lock Sports Centre. It now comprises an 18-hole golf course which borders the River Lee Navigation, camping s ...
.
At
Pickett's Lock the
Pymmes Brook Trail
The Pymmes Brook Trail is located in the London Boroughs of Barnet, Enfield and Haringey and is just under long. The brook is named after William Pymme, a local landowner.
The trail goes from Hadley Green to Tottenham Hale, where the trail c ...
can be joined. From the lock the 100 metre chimney of the
Edmonton Incinerator
EcoPark is a waste-to-energy plant which burns waste from several London boroughs to provide electricity for the National Grid. It is located on the River Lee Navigation and bordered by the North Circular Road, in Edmonton in the London ...
dominates the skyline, and on the horizon the towers of
Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf is an area of London, England, located near the Isle of Dogs in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Canary Wharf is defined by the Greater London Authority as being part of London's central business district, alongside Central Lon ...
and the
Swiss Re can be clearly seen. Following the towpath under the
North Circular Road
The North Circular Road (officially the A406 and sometimes known as simply the North Circular) is a ring road around Central London in England. It runs from Chiswick in the west to Woolwich in the east via suburban North London, connecting ...
past the site of the ''Cooks Ferry Inn'' public house (well known music venue-demolished late 20th century for road widening). Both sides of the river are industrialised. The river opens up with views of
Banbury Reservoir
Banbury Reservoir is located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest at Walthamstow. It is one of the storage reservoirs in the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain. The reservoir is owned by Thames Water.
History
The reservoir, which was completed in 1 ...
to the East and
Tottenham Marshes. Under a small footbridge known locally as Chalk Bridge. Walking towards
Stonebridge Lock
Stonebridge Lock (No16) is a paired lock on the River Lee Navigation in the London Borough of Haringey, England and is located near Tottenham, London. Like other locks as far as Ponder's End Lock it is large enough to take barges of up to 130 t ...
with
Lockwood Reservoir to the east.
Crossing the river here it is less than 1 mile to
Tottenham Lock
Tottenham Lock (No17) is a paired lock on the River Lee Navigation in the London Borough of Haringey, England and is located near Tottenham, London. Like other locks as far as Ponders End it is large enough to take barges of up to 130 tons. The ...
.
Pymmes Brook
Pymmes Brook is located in North London and named after William Pymme, a local land owner. It is a minor tributary of the River Lea. The brook mostly flows through urban areas and is particularly prone to flooding in its lower reaches. To al ...
joins the Lee here. To the East are the
High Maynard and
Low Maynard reservoirs. Passing under Ferry Lane
A503 road
List of A roads in zone 5 in Great Britain starting north/east of the A5, west of the A6, south of the Solway Firth/Eden Estuary
The River Eden is a river in Fife in Scotland, and is one of Fife's two principal rivers, along with the L ...
bridge. Close by is the ''Ferry Boat Inn'' public house and
Tottenham Hale station
Tottenham Hale is a National Rail and London Underground interchange station located in Tottenham Hale in north London, England. On the National Rail network it is on the West Anglia Main Line, from London Liverpool Street, and is served by ...
. The path passes under the
London Overground
London Overground (also known simply as the Overground) is a suburban rail network serving London and its environs. Established in 2007 to take over Silverlink Metro routes, (via archive.org). it now serves a large part of Greater London as w ...
Gospel Oak to Barking line and
Lea Valley Lines
The Lea Valley lines are two commuter lines and two branches in north-east London, so named because they run along the Lower Lea Valley of the River Lea. They were part of the Great Eastern Railway, now part of the ''Anglia Route'' of Network ...
railway bridges as the towpath skirts the
West Warwick Reservoir
West Warwick Reservoir is located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest at Walthamstow. The storage reservoir is part of the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain, which supplies drinking water to London. It is owned by Thames Water.
History
The reserv ...
further to the east are the
East Warwick Reservoir
East Warwick Reservoir is located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest at Walthamstow. The storage reservoir is part of the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain and supplies drinking water to London. The reservoir is owned by Thames Water.
History
Th ...
and the
Walthamstow Reservoirs
Walthamstow Wetlands is a nature reserve in Walthamstow, east London, adjacent to the historic Essex-Middlesex border on the River Lea. It is focused on the Walthamstow Reservoirs, built by the East London Waterworks Company between 1853 and ...
. The
Coppermill Stream
The Coppermill Stream is a short waterway near Walthamstow in the Lea Valley. Originally a minor tributary of the River Lea, the approximately long stream is now used as an aqueduct to transport water from the reservoirs in the Lea Valley to ...
joins the Lea close to the Lee Valley Marina.Passing by
Springfield Park the path crosses the river at Horseshoe Bridge. Passing under the
Lea Valley Lines
The Lea Valley lines are two commuter lines and two branches in north-east London, so named because they run along the Lower Lea Valley of the River Lea. They were part of the Great Eastern Railway, now part of the ''Anglia Route'' of Network ...
rail bridge.
Walthamstow Marshes
Walthamstow Marshes, is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Walthamstow in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It was once an area of lammas land – common land used for growing crops and grazing cattle.
In aviation histor ...
and
Leyton Marshes are passed as the path heads towards
Lea Bridge Road.
Stage 4 Lea Bridge Road (Walthamstow Marshes) - Limehouse Basin
Approximately
Amenities in Lea Bridge Road area include the
Lee Valley Ice Centre
The Lee Valley Ice Centre is located in Leyton, in the Lower Lea Valley, London. Figure Skating, ice hockey
and public skating sessions are all available at the centre.
Redevelopment
There are plans to rebuild the centre, plans which would impro ...
, riding stables and two nature reserves; the Middlesex Filter Beds and the Waterworks Nature Reserve. The river splits at the
Middlesex Filter Beds Weir where a section of the River Lea's natural channel flows in an easterly direction can be found. Still following the navigation which is known as the
Hackney Cut
The Hackney Cut is an artificial channel of the Lee Navigation built in England in 1769 by the River Lea Trustees to straighten and improve the Navigation. It begins at the Middlesex Filter Beds Weir, below Lea Bridge, and is situated in the (m ...
at this point, the path passes the site of the redundant
Pond Lane Flood Gates. The walk crosses a small footbridge to the east bank adjacent to
Hackney Marshes
Hackney Marshes is an area of open space in London's Lower Lea Valley, lying on the western bank of the River Lea. It takes its name from its position on the eastern boundary of Hackney, the principal part of the London Borough of Hackney, an ...
. Passing under
A106 road Eastway and then the
East Cross Route
East Cross Route (ECR) is a dual-carriageway road constructed in east London as part of the uncompleted Ringway 1 as part of the London Ringways plan drawn up the 1960s to create a series of high speed roads circling and radiating out from cen ...
. The path passes nearby
Hackney Wick Stadium
Hackney Wick Stadium was a greyhound racing and speedway stadium located at Waterden Road in the London Borough of Hackney.
Origins
The site chosen for the stadium was on land known as Hackney Marshes west of the River Lea and on the west sid ...
. The walk passes under the
North London Line
The North London line (NLL) is a railway line which passes through the inner suburbs of west, north-west, north, and east London, England between Richmond in the south-west and Stratford in the east, avoiding central London. Its route is a ro ...
(now
London Overground
London Overground (also known simply as the Overground) is a suburban rail network serving London and its environs. Established in 2007 to take over Silverlink Metro routes, (via archive.org). it now serves a large part of Greater London as w ...
) railway and Rothbury Road. The
Hertford Union Canal
The Hertford Union Canal or Duckett's Cut, just over long, connects the Regent's Canal to the Lee Navigation in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in East London. It was opened in 1830 but quickly proved to be a commercial failure. It was ...
joins the river on the west bank before crossing
Victoria Park.
Heading towards
Old Ford Lock the path links to the
Capital Ring
The Capital Ring is a strategic walking route promoted by London's 33 local councils, led by the City of London Corporation in partnership with the Greater London Authority and its functional body for regional transport, Transport for London, ...
walk and then passing under
The Greenway and the
Docklands Light Railway
The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) is an automated light metro system serving the redeveloped Docklands area of London, England and provides a direct connection between London's two major financial districts, Canary Wharf and the City of Lo ...
close to
Pudding Mill Lane station. Crossing to the opposite bank at
Bow Road and crossing the river at Three Mills Bridge close to
Three Mills
The Three Mills are former working mills and an island of the same name on the River Lea. It is one of London’s oldest extant industrial centres. The mills lie in the London Borough of Newham, but despite lying on the Newham side of the Lea, ...
. The walk continues under the
District line
The District line is a London Underground line running from in the east and Edgware Road in the west to in west London, where it splits into multiple branches. One branch runs to in south-west London and a short branch, with a limited serv ...
and
Hammersmith and City
The Hammersmith & City line is a London Underground line that runs between Hammersmith in west London and in east London. Printed in pink on the Tube map, it serves 29 stations over . Between and it skirts the City of London, the capital's ...
line close to
Bromley-by-Bow
Bromley, commonly known as
Bromley-by- Bow, is a district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in East London, located on the western banks of the River Lea, in the Lower Lea Valley in East London.
The area is distinct from Bow, which l ...
. The river forks at
Bow Locks with the Lee Navigation joining the tidal section of the river known as the
Bow Back Rivers through
Bow Creek to its confluence with the Thames. The path now follows the
Limehouse Cut
The Limehouse Cut is a largely straight, broad canal in the East End of London which links the lower reaches of the Lee Navigation to the River Thames. Opening on 17 September 1770, and widened for two-way traffic by 1777, it is the oldest can ...
and passing the disused
Bromley
Bromley is a large town in Greater London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley. It is south-east of Charing Cross, and had an estimated population of 87,889 as of 2011.
Originally part of Kent, Bromley became a market town, c ...
and
Britannia Stop Locks to
Limehouse Basin
Limehouse Basin is a body of water 2 miles east of London Bridge that is also a navigable link between the River Thames and two of London's canals. First dug in 1820 as the eastern terminus of the new Regent's Canal, its wet area was less than ...
where the walk ends. Close by is the
Thames Path
The Thames Path is a National Trail following the River Thames from its source near Kemble in Gloucestershire to the Woolwich foot tunnel, south east London. It is about long. A path was first proposed in 1948 but it only opened in 1996.
The ...
.
Other users
The towpath section of the river is popular with cyclists, and much of it forms part of
National Cycle Route 1
The cycle-path is located in the United Kingdom.
Route
Dover to Canterbury
Dover , Deal , Sandwich , Canterbury
Links with National Cycle Route 2, Regional route 16, and Regional route 17 in Dover. Leaves Dover passing Dover Castle. S ...
.
Angling
Angling is a fishing technique that uses a fish hook or "angle" (from Old English ''angol'') attached to a fishing line to tether individual fish in the mouth. The fishing line is usually manipulated via a fishing rod, although rodless techni ...
is available on much of the river.
River Lea Anglers Club
Retrieved 2 December 2014
Maps
Ordnance Survey
Explorer 162.174.182.193
Landranger 166.177
Further reading
''Lea Valley Walk'' by Leigh Hatts Published by Cicerone Press
Cicerone Press is an English publisher, founded in 1969, specialising in guidebooks for walkers, climbers, trekkers and cyclists.
The company's first publication was a climbing guide to the English Lake District, and over the past 50 years they ...
References
External links
*Leigh Hatts
The Lea Valley Walk
*Tim Bertuchi
Lea Valley Walk
*Upper Lea Valley Group
Local Area
including a section on the Lea Valley Walk
*YHA
Lee Valley hostel
{{authority control
Footpaths in London
Cycleways in London
Footpaths in Hertfordshire
Footpaths in Bedfordshire
Footpaths in Essex
Cycleways in England
Long-distance footpaths in England
River Lea
Lee Valley Park
Transport in the London Borough of Enfield
Transport in the London Borough of Hackney
Transport in the London Borough of Haringey
Transport in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Transport in the London Borough of Waltham Forest