Lee Valley Walks by Train
The Lee Valley Navigation is a beautiful canal that runs from the River Thames in Greater London up to the historic market town of Hertford. It passes through some wonderful areas of countryside, urban green spaces, nature reserves, parks, lakes and riverside trails.
The Hertfordshire Walks App has a number of Lee Valley Walks that explore the canal and its surrounding countryside. The walks all start at car parks, but they are all also accessible from the New River Line train stations that sit on the train service from London Liverpool Street to Hertford East, calling it at Cheshunt, Broxbourne, Rye House, St Margarets and Ware.
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Cheshunt Walks
As you travel up the New River Line train route towards Hertford East, the first train stop that we feature is Cheshunt. The Hertfordshire Walks App has 5 beautiful walks from this stop that explores areas of the Lee Valley Park, catering to various distances, and offering unique experiences for you and your dog.
The first walk is a short, 1 mile family and wheel-friendly stroll along the River Lee Navigation, featuring a park with doggy activities.
The second walk, spanning 2.75 miles, is an extended version of the first, taking you further along the canal and returning through lakes and woodland, ending with a dog activity trail.
The third walk, covering 4 miles, is a scenic journey through Thistly Marsh, past Bowyers Water lake, and along the River Lee Navigation. It also includes the Lee Valley sculpture trail and a fun dog activity course.
The fourth walk is a 5.5 mile extension of the third route, exploring more of the Lee Valley lakes, woodlands, and rivers, and navigating the entire Lee Valley sculpture trail.
Finally, the fifth walk is a 7.25 mile long circular route that takes you north of Cheshunt and all the way to Broxbourne winding through the picturesque lakes and woodlands of Lee Valley Park before strolling along the River Lee Navigation.
As Broxbourne is our next featured train station, you can either follow the long circular walk as we have curated, or you can walk one way and catch the train back to Cheshunt. Of course, you can also choose to walk to Broxbourne and then link onto the Broxbourne walks below to explore the Lee Valley further by foot.
To get GPS-guided route maps for the five Cheshunt Walks, download the Hertfordshire Walks App.
Broxbourne Walks
The next station up on the New River Line is Broxbourne, and the Hertfordshire Walks App also has 5 wonderful circular walks from here that explore more wonderful areas of the Lee Valley park.
The first walk, a 1.5 mile family-friendly stroll, follows the New River Path for a pleasant canal-side walk that stops by the lovely Cafe, and offers an optional detours to a nearby pub.
The second walk, a 4 mile riverside adventure, heads north from Broxbourne along the New River Path. Eventually, you'll turn towards Dobbs Weir, where a lovely pub awaits. Finish the walk along the River Lee Navigation, with the option to visit another pub or cafe.
The third walk, a 5.25 mile route, begins with a peaceful stroll along the River Lee Navigation canal before looping back through woodlands and lakes to rejoin the canal for the final stretch.
The fourth walk, a 6 mile journey, extends the second route and takes you all the way to Rye House, featuring an impressive gatehouse, riverside pub, car park, and the next train station up on the New River Line. This walk is ideal for a station-to-station linear walk between Broxbourne and Rye House train stations or you can skip onto the Rye House walks half way around to keep exploring the Lee Valley park by foot.
Lastly, the fifth walk is a 7.25 mile station-to-station route that heads south from Broxbourne along the River Lee Navigation towards Cheshunt. The second half of the walk loops back north through woodlands and lakes. Choose either half of the route to walk to Cheshunt and then catch the train back, depending on your preference.
To get GPS-guided route maps for the five Broxbourne walks, download the Hertfordshire Walks App.
Rye House Walks
The next station up on the New River Line is Rye House, and the Hertfordshire Walks App has four circular walks from here.
The first walk, a 2-mile short stroll, takes you around the wetlands and walkways of the fantastic Rye Meads Nature Reserve. After visiting the historic Gatehouse and walking along a stretch of road, you’ll enter the beautiful RSPB Nature Reserve which is a fantastic birdwatching spot and has loads of activities for the kids.
The second walk, a 3.5 mile circular adventure, follows the New River Path to the south. After crossing some fields past Admiral's Walk Lake, join the River Lee Navigation at Dobbs Weir, where a wonderful riverside pub is available for a pit stop before returning to the starting point.
The third walk, another 3.5 mile waterside walk, heads north of Rye House along the New River Path and River Lee Navigation. This route passes the St Margarets train station, allowing for a shorter one-way walk with a quick train return, or a longer combined walk with the second route. As with the other walks, you can also switch onto the St Margarets walk here to keep exploring our Lee Valley Walks by foot.
Lastly, the fourth walk is a 6-mile extension of the second route, offering a peaceful stroll along both the River Lee Navigation and the New River Path. This walk heads south and goes all the way to Broxbourne, where a cafe, pub, and train station await, making it ideal for a station-to-station linear walk between Rye House and Broxbourne train stations.
To get GPS-guided route maps for the four Rye House walks, download the Hertfordshire Walks App.
St Margarets Walks
The next station up on the New River Line is St Margarets which sits near Stanstead Abbots. The Hertfordshire Walks App has five lovely circular walks from here that take you on walking adventures around more areas of the Lee Valley park.
The first walk, a 2.25 mile short stroll, takes you through Stanstead Abbotts and around the edges of Abbotts Lake. With numerous eateries in the village, this is a lovely short stroll option.
The second walk, a 2.75 mile waterside walk, begins in Stanstead St Margarets and follows the River Lee Navigation to the Amwell Nature Reserve's birdwatching platform. The walk continues to the village of Great Amwell, visits its church, and heads back to St Margarets along the New River Path.
The third walk, a 3.5 mile waterside journey, follows the River Lee Navigation and New River Path in the opposite direction, leading to Rye House with its train station and pub. This walk can be shortened by taking the train back to St Margarets or combined with the second walk for an epic riverside experience.
The fourth walk, a 4.25-mile diverse route, starts with a stroll along the River Lee Navigation to the birdwatching platform and continues north through countryside and the picturesque Easneye wood. The walk follows a section of the Hertfordshire Way and returns to Stanstead Abbotts, where numerous pubs and eateries await.
Finally, the fifth walk, a 5-mile extended version of the second walk, takes you on a waterside journey north along the River Lee Navigation and along the New River Path to Ware.
As Ware is the next train station on the New River Line, this walk can also be completed as a station-to-station linear adventure, catching the train back to St Margarets from Ware half way around the route. Alternatively, you could switch to the Ware walks there and continue your epic adventure by foot.
To get GPS-guided route maps for the five St Margarets Walks, download the Hertfordshire Walks App.
Ware Walks
The next station up on the New River Line is Ware which is a pretty market town with riverside pubs. The Hertfordshire Walks App has five lovely circular walks from here that take you on walking adventures around more wonderful sections of the River Lee Navigation and beyond.
Walk 1 is a 1.5 mile short stroll around Ware, beginning by crossing a bridge and following the Lee Navigation canal. You'll cross the Ware Lock, explore the town with its various eateries, cafes, and pubs, before looping back to the starting point.
Walk 2, a 3.25 mile waterside adventure, takes you east of Ware along the River Lee Navigation canal. After crossing a bridge, you'll follow a loop that tracks both the River Lee Navigation and the River Lea. The walk concludes in Ware's market town, where you can find plenty of dining options.
Walk 3, a 3.5 mile circular stroll, heads west from Ware along the River Lee Navigation towpath. You'll loop around and return to the start through the beautiful Kings Mead nature reserve and along the New River Path. Ware's eateries, cafes, and pubs will be waiting for you at the end of the walk.
Walk 4, a 5 mile waterside amble, follows the New River Path to St Margarets and Stanstead Abbotts, where you'll find several pubs and eateries. After exploring the area, you'll walk back to Ware along the River Lee Navigation towpath and visit the town itself. Alternatively, you could shorten this walk and catch the train back instead, or join onto the St Margarets walks from here.
Walk 5, a 6.25 mile epic adventure, visits two picturesque market towns, the peaceful canal towpath, and Kings Mead nature reserve. Starting in Ware, you'll join the New River Path, walk through Kings Mead Nature Reserve, and reach the historic market town of Hertford. After exploring Hertford, you'll rejoin the canal for a sweeping walk back to Ware. You can also opt to walk one way to Hertford and then take a train back or even catch the boat trip back to Ware in the summer months.
To get GPS-guided route maps for the five Ware Walks, download the Hertfordshire Walks App.
Hertford Walks
The last stop on the New River line is Hertford East, and the Hertfordshire Walks App has two beautiful walks from this wonderful market town.
With the first 2.25 mile walk, you will enjoy the historic castle grounds and charming streets of the market town of Hertford itself, along with a riverside pub and canal-side stroll. Kids will also love the grand sandpit play park and shallow water paddling area on this walk.
For our longer 6.5 mile adventure from Hertford, you’ll still enjoy the town and play park, but you’ll also continue along the canal towpath to the lovely town of Ware, with its own historic sites, pubs, and restaurants.
After visiting Ware, you can return to Hertford via the scenic Kings Meads Nature Reserve, perfect for wildlife enthusiasts, or of course catch the train back to Hertford if you so wish.
To get GPS-guided route maps for the two Hertford Walks, download the Hertfordshire Walks App.