The Lea Valley Walk

Leagrave to the heart of London

By Leigh Hatts

ISBN

9781852847746

Availability

Published

14 Aug 2015

Reprinted

7 Jan 2021

Edition

Third

Pages

144

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x .90cm

Weight

170g

Delivery & Returns

Free 1st Class postage on UK orders. European postage is £3 per item. Worldwide postage is £5 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.
More information...

Guidebook to the Lea Valley Walk, a 53 mile path from Luton to the Thames. The walk traces the River Lea from Leagrave, near Luton to East India Dock opposite Greenwich where it joins the Thames Path. Features an alternative finish at Limehouse and an optional tour of the Olympic Park. Split into 9 stages, the walk is suitable for all abilities.

Seasons

The Lea Valley walk can be done at any time of the year.

Centres

Leagrave, Luton, Harpenden, Wheathampstead, Hatfield, Hertford, Ware, Broxbourne, Waltham Abbey, Hackney Marshes, east London, Greenwich

Difficulty

None, except general fitness for a mostly flat, low-level, multi-day walk.

Must See

Surprisingly wild Bedfordshire, Waltham Abbey, the industrial landscape through east London, the Thames itself

ISBN

9781852847746

Availability

Published

14 Aug 2015

Reprinted

7 Jan 2021

Edition

Third

Pages

144

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x .90cm

Weight

170g

Overview

Guidebook to the Lea Valley Walk, a 53-mile long-distance path from Luton to the Thames. It follows the River Lea from its source near Leagrave to East India Dock opposite Greenwich, with an alternative finish at Limehouse and an optional tour of the Olympic Park. On the way it passes through a blend of quiet countryside, nature reserves and urban landscapes.
The Lea Valley Walk offers level, waymarked walking for all abilities. The complete trek is presented in nine stages, accompanied by clear OS mapping, with suggestions for three, four, five and six day itineraries. For those looking for an easy-to-access traffic-free day or half-day walk, the route is divided into sections with convenient railway stations close to each end.
Tracing the river as it passes through Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire towards the bustle of London, this fine and varied walk takes in historical towns and villages, stately homes and castles, including Waltham Abbey and Hertford Castle, Luton Hoo, Brocket Park and Hatfield. Along with suggestions for refreshment stops and accommodation, the guidebook is packed with fascinating snippets of information about wildlife, landscape, history and industrial heritage, making it an ideal companion to exploring the river and its surroundings.

Table of Contents

Map key

Overview map

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

Section 1 Leagrave to Luton Airport Parkway

Section 2 Luton Airport Parkway to Harpenden

Section 3 Harpenden to Hatfield

Section 4 Hatfield to Hertford

Section 5 Hertford to Broxbourne

Section 6 Broxbourne to Enfield Island

Section 7 Enfield Island to Tottenham Lock

Section 8 Tottenham Lock to Three Mills

Section 9 Three Mills to East India Dock

Section 9A Three Mills to Limehouse Basin

The Olympic Park

Day Walk Tour of the Olympic Park

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Itinerary planner

Appendix C Further information

Updates

December 2020

2020 reprint updates

774 Reprint 2020 (4.026 MB)

November 2017

Updates

Stonehill Business Park, page 94

Leaside Cafe has closed due to riverside redevelopment.

August 2015:

Page 112

The gasworks bridge is often closed. We advise that all walkers take the alternative route 'up Three Mill Lane past Tesco' as described on page 112.

Reviews

The route will appeal to walkers who are willing to sacrifice walking on natural surfaces (an estimated 70% is hard surfaces. either urban paths or tow paths) for town and village fascinating history, magnificent and quirky buildings, the residential canal communities and their wonderful narrow boat homes, a real feel as to how our waterways work, interact and greatly influence the local history and way of life, rich and diverse birdlife and lots of huge and small reservoirs.

There is a sense of a journey complete - from five small springs in some wasteland in north Luton to one of the Thames's most important tributaries at lime Basin Marina in London. Many iconic landmarks, seen from the route on nearing London, increased the excitement and sense of arrival.

Strider, the magazine of the Long-Distance Walkers Association

‘LONDON’S Lake District’ is a name that has been given to the Lea Valley Regional Park, one of the first of these designated areas. It stretches from Ware in Hertfordshire to the point on the River Thames in London at which the River Lea joins it after its journey from the village of Leagrave in Bedfordshire. The pleasurable sights to be enjoyed in this area of south-east England, much less well-known than its northern counterpart, can be more fully appreciated with the information provided by Leigh Hatts in this companion guide The Lea Valley Walk, the latest in the series produced by Cicerone Press, the specialist outdoor activity and exploration publishers.

Towpath Talk, Spring 2016

Downloads

Leigh Hatts

Leigh Hatts has been walking the Thames towpath and exploring the river and Docklands since 1981, when he worked on the feasibility study that resulted in the decision to establish the route as a National Trail. He worked as a reporter with the walkers’ magazine TGO and as arts correspondent of the Catholic Herald. He is co-founder of Bankside Press.

View author profile