Lakes of the River Lee

Starting point: River Lee Country Park, Fishers Green car park, Stubbins Hall Lane, Crooked Mile, Waltham Abbey, Essex EN9 2EF

A scenic circular route taking in the sculpture and natural play pieces within the River Lee Country Park. The route heads north from Fishers Green car park adjacent to Seventy Acres Lake and the Relief Channel. It turns east then south just north of Seventy Acres Lake, meeting up with Cheshunt Country Walk cutting east at Cadmore Lane to Hooks Marsh car park finishing back at Fishers Green.

Directions

• From the car park cross over the road and go through the staggered wooden gates, follow the pathway pass the picnic benches and cross the Flood Relief Channel via the green bridge. (Lee Valley Animals Adventure Park is a short detour from the route - proceed past the front of the toilets and take the first right turn and continue along the pathway to the site’s car park)

• Turn left and proceed through the walk-around and head south along the pathway, keeping Seventy Acres Lake on the right and the Old River Lea on the left

• Proceed through the walk-around gate, into Hooks Marsh car park

• Continue towards and around the metal field gate opposite, onto Waltons Walk, heading in a south direction, keeping the river on your left

• Continue past Hooks Marsh Lake, the Dave Stocker Sluices on the left and Hall Marsh Scrape on the right

• At the south end of Hall Marsh Scrape, turn right following the pathway

• Turn left signposted Highbridge, crossing the large wooden bridge and proceed through the kissing gate

• Continue along the pathway across the Showground to the bridge

• Proceed through the kissing gate, crossing the bridge over the River Lee Navigation

• Turn left, down the slope and then take the left hand path, bearing around the steep bridge incline

• Proceed along the surfaced path, across the wooden bridge over the Small River Lea and continue west, bearing to the right at the pathway junction

• Proceed north, keeping Bowyers Water on the left

• At the pathway junction, bear to the left and continue north through Thistly Marsh

• Turn left along the gravel path, bearing right onto the access road continuing north with the railway line on the left

• Proceed around the gate and turn left

• At the railway crossing, proceed over the road into Cheshunt Country Walk car park (alternative starting point Pindar and Cheshunt Country Walk car parks)

• Exit the car park through the walk-around and follow the surfaced path, keeping left, alongside the railway line

• Continue north along the pathway (North Metropolitan viewing area is a short detour from the route – turn right at the signposted crossroads. The viewing area is located on the other side of the bridge) and over the red brick bridge, crossing the Small River Lea

• Turn left at the end of the bridge and proceed north between the river and North Metropolitan Lake, passing Nightingale Wood on the right (alternative starting point Turnford Brook car park)

• Turn left across the small bridge, crossing the Small River Lea, heading towards the railway bridge

• Turn right at the bridge and continue north along the surfaced pathway alongside the railway line

• Remain on the surfaced path, bearing to the right and proceed north alongside Ashley Lake on the right

• At the top of the lake, remain on the surfaced pathway, continuing in a northerly direction

• Continue over Slipe Lane crossroads proceeding north to Wharf Road

• Proceed through the walk-around to the road

• Turn right along the pavement to Wharf Road car park and proceed onto the towpath

• Turn right and follow the River Lee Navigation south, passing Aqueduct Lock

• Proceed under the bridge and continue south to Cheshunt Lock (North Metropolitan Orchid Meadow is a short detour form the route – turn right onto the pathway and proceed down the slope to the fence. Continue through the kissing gate and proceed onto the boardwalk through the orchid meadow)

• Proceed over Cheshunt Lock and follow the pathway to Seventy Acres Lake

• Turn left and continue north around the lake

• Turn right at the Old River Lea and continue south, following the river on the left and passing Seventy Acres Lake on the right

• Continue past the Wildlife Discovery Centre, on reaching the green bridge, turn right crossing the Flood Relief Channel, follow this pathway to the car park through the staggered wooden gates