Discover one of England’s most accessible long-distance walks on The Lea Valley Walk, a gentle 80km (50-mile) route tracing the River Lea from Leagrave near Luton to East India Dock in London. Almost entirely flat and suitable for all abilities, this long-distance walk transforms the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire countryside into a perfect introduction to multi-day walking, ideal for beginners, families, or anyone seeking a trail that can be completed over a long weekend, a week, or multiple weekends.

Described in five stages, with an optional alternative finish at Limehouse Basin and a 4-mile circular tour of the Olympic Park, this comprehensive Cicerone guidebook is your essential companion for planning and navigating the Lea Valley Walk. It provides you with detailed route descriptions and digital navigation tools so you can enjoy this route, which combines riverside paths, historic towns, and urban parklands just outside London. 

• The trail is split into 5 stages of between 13 and 28km (8 - 17 miles) that can easily be combined to shorten the route into a weekend itinerary, or walked as described, so you can plan a flexible, manageable multi-day walking holiday
• Detailed route descriptions are complemented with 1:50,000 OS mapping so you can confidently navigate your rural escape 
• Railway stations are highlighted at key towns and villages along the route, such as Leagrave, Harpenden, Hertford and Tottenham, so you can easily begin, end, or break up the walk at any stage 
• A bonus 6km walk around the Olympic Park is described so you can explore London 2012's legacy as a standalone walk or as an additional route highlight
• Downloadable GPX files are available as a digital navigation option for use on smartphones and GPS devices 

Perfectly suited for first-time long-distance walkers, weekend adventurers, or anyone seeking a relatively easy flat walking route near London, the Lea Valley Walk delivers big rewards with minimal demands. With OS mapping, GPX files, flexible staging and details on transport links, this guidebook equips you to enjoy an effortless walking holiday from Bedfordshire's countryside to London's historic docks.

Author Highlight

"Since the London Olympic Games in 2012, the Lea Valley will forever be the Olympic valley, with lasting reminders and benefits: the Lea Valley Walk can now be called ‘the Olympic exercise route’, full of heritage, wildlife and opportunity. The south of the area focuses around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which is featured in a stand-alone circular day walk described at the end of this guide."

- Leigh Hatts, author of The Lea Valley Walk 

Map key

Route summary table

INTRODUCTION

Lea Valley Walk

History of the valley

Heritage

Up and down the valley

London’s greenhouse

Wildlife

Backpacking the Walk

Day walking

An almost flat walk

Maps

Using this guide

THE LEA VALLEY WALK

Stage 1 Leagrave to Harpenden

Stage 2 Harpenden to Hertford

Stage 3 Hertford to Broxbourne

Stage 4 Broxbourne to Tottenham

Stage 5 Tottenham to East India Dock

Stage 6 (Alternative end) Bow Locks to Limehouse Basin

THE OLYMPIC PARK

Circular walk Tour of the Olympic Park

Appendix A Itinerary planner

Appendix B Further information

Seasons

Late summer sees harvesting around Wheathampstead and haymaking on Walthamstow Marsh. Best Autumn tree colours are in Luton’s Wardown Park and Brocket Park Estate. Winter and spring allow for clearer views.

Centres

Bedfordshire countryside gives way to Hertfordshire villages before the Walk turns south to Waltham Abbey and Greater London's marshes above Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Difficulty

Most of the route is flat and good walking shoes are sufficient. After Hertford the way is a towpath and occasionally metalled. There are many railway stations near the Walk as well as at the beginning and end. Refreshment is easily available at the start and from Hertford onwards. But a gap in food provision can occur, especially in winter, after Wheathampstead until Hertford due to pub closures – so take a picnic.

Must See

First there is Limbury's moated Tudor pub, Luton's 900 year old church, pretty Lemsford's mill, lakes and Hertford Castle. From here navigation reaches Ware’s gazebos, moated Rye House, the Olympic White Water Centre and Waltham Abbey in its green grounds. Tottenham and Walthamstow Marshes are the prelude to the Olympic legacy parkland.

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