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The Lea Valley Walk

One-week walk from Leagrave to the heart of London

Pre-order - Publishing 15 October 2025

This book is available to pre-order. Payment will be taken upfront and your book will be dispatched from our warehouse as soon as it becomes available around the 15 October 2025.

Guidebook to the Lea Valley Walk, a 50-mile route from Bedfordshire to the Thames. Described across five stages, 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 Basin plus an optional 4-mile tour of the Olympic Park.

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.
ISBN
9781786312877
Availability
Not Yet Published
Available
15 Oct 2025
Edition
Fourth
Pages
120
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x .90cm
Weight
170g

Delivery & Returns

Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.
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Overview

A guidebook to the Lea Valley Walk, a 50-mile route following the River Lea from its source near Leagrave to East India Dock. The route is almost entirely level and suitable for all abilities.

  • Presented in 5 stages (13–28km (8-17 miles)) with an alternative finish option (Stage 6)
  • Can be completed over a long weekend, over the course of a week, or across multiple weekends
  • A 6km (4-mile) circular walk (Tour of the Olympic Park) is also described
  • 1:50,000 OS maps feature alongside route description
  • Invaluable railway links provided, offering myriad itinerary flexibility
  • Facilities table to help you plan your itinerary 
  • GPX files available to download

Table of Contents

Maps

Updates

Downloads

Leigh Hatts Cicerone author HATTS

By 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.

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