Broxbourne Circular via Waltham Abbey Walk

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13. Main Walk (19¼ km)

1. Shorter Walk, finishing at Cheshunt (15 km)
2. Alternative Walk, starting from Cheshunt (16 km)
3. Alternative Circular Walk, from Cheshunt (10 km)

Walk Directions

Click on any section heading to switch between detailed directions and an outline, or the heading above to switch all sections.

If you are doing an Alternative Walk (from Cheshunt), start at §D.

1. Broxbourne Station to Silvermeade (exit) (1½ km)
• From the station go up an embankment and turn left onto the New River Path. Follow this across the B194 and past the parish church. Turn left down Mill Lane and continue on a path under the railway to the River Lea's towpath, where there is a gate into Silvermeade. In dry conditions the suggested route is to follow a path through this water meadow, rejoining the towpath 700m further along.
1. Outside the station? go through a gate on the right and climb a flight of steps up an embankment. At the top turn left onto a path alongside the New River?, passing the station car park down on your left. At the far end go through a kissing gate and turn right onto Station Road, crossing the river.
2. Cross the road carefully and in 50m turn half-left onto a path across a corner of Broxbourne Recreation Ground, with a churchyard beyond the river on your left. At the end turn left onto a lane (Churchfields) to go back across the river and past St Augustine's church?. At a T-junction turn left down Mill Lane, away from the river.
3. The lane curves to the right. Keep right at junctions, entering River Lee Country Park?. The lane goes alongside the River Lea?, passing a Canoe & Cycle Hire shed and the Old Mill Retreat Café, with a signposted path for a “Wetlands and Woodlands” trail between them.

   The café is the suggested tea place at the end of the Main Walk, with the trail an optional extension.

4. Follow the riverside path under a low railway bridge. Opposite a footbridge over the river there is a wooden kissing gate and an information panel about Silvermeade?. In relatively dry conditions the suggested route is to go through this water meadow.
   • If any part of this meadow looks waterlogged it would be advisable to continue along the towpath for 700m and resume the directions at the start of the next section, where the main route rejoins from the second of two more gates into the meadow.
5. Inside the water meadow the grassy path curves gently to the left. You will be leaving this triangular part of the meadow at its far right-hand end, but the path stays close to the towpath before swinging right in front of a belt of trees. Cross a stream in these trees on a wide bridge and go through a wooden kissing gate into the main part of the meadow.
6. Ignore a footbridge across the reed-covered stream on the right and bear slightly left to follow a faint grassy path parallel to the stream for 400m. The path passes several small fenced-off areas and another footbridge on the right as it makes its way back towards the river. At the far end leave the meadow through another kissing gate and turn right onto the towpath.
2. Silvermeade to Turnford Brook (2¾ km)
• From Silvermeade head south on the towpath for 650m. After passing a car park at the end of Wharf Road veer right to join a path heading south and then south-west, crossing a lane and merging with a cycleway. After crossing Slipe Lane veer right onto a grassy path which rejoins the cycleway near the railway line. Follow the cycleway round to the left to go past the large Ashley Lake and continue to a T-junction in front of Turnford Brook.
1. After the exit from Silvermeade head S on the towpath alongside the River Lea, which is navigable on this stretch. In 650m, shortly after passing a car park at the end of Wharf Road, veer right off the towpath onto a path across a grassy picnic area, dotted with trees. This swings left and merges with a path from the car park, then bears right to head away from the river.
2. After crossing a ditch on a footbridge you go past a vehicle barrier onto a lane. Turn left briefly onto the lane, then almost immediately veer right through another barrier onto the continuation of the footpath. In 200m bear left at a path junction to join a cycleway, heading S again.
3. In 50m go straight ahead at a major path crossing, then immediately veer right onto a grassy path. In 50m this merges with another path from the right, climbs a small slope and continues across a semi-open area. The path gradually approaches the railway line off to the right and in 250m rejoins the cycleway (which took a longer route past a fishing lake, Railway Pit).
4. After staying close to the tracks for 175m the cycleway swings sharply left to head away from them, through a more wooded area. It curves gently round to the right and continues alongside Ashley Lake for 500m before turning half-right and heading back towards the railway. After a final stretch of 200m near the tracks you come to a path T-junction in front of a stream, Turnford Brook.
3. Turnford Brook to the Wildlife Discovery Centre (1½ km)
• Turn left in front of Turnford Brook, cross the Small River Lea and fork left, then veer right to head eastwards. Cross over the Lee Navigation and turn right at a path T-junction in front of the Old River Lea. Keep left at a triangular path junction to join the perimeter path around Seventy Acres Lake, eventually coming to the new Wildlife Discovery Centre.
1. Turn left in front of the brook to head E, away from a bridge over the railway. In 100m the path crosses the Small River Lea and you fork left, briefly heading back towards Broxbourne. Keep to the main path as it veers right and goes between the tree-lined edges of two lakes.
2. Go up to and straight across the River Lee Navigation? on a high bridge and continue across Holyfield Marsh towards the large Waltham Cross Substation. At a path T-junction flanked by a pair of Wildlife Bench sculptures turn right to head S alongside the Old River Lea.
3. In 250m keep left at a triangular path junction to continue along a meandering course between the river and Seventy Acres Lake. You eventually reach a new lakeside building with a bird hide which you could visit, the Wildlife Discovery Centre?.

Continue the directions at §E.

4. Cheshunt Station to the Wildlife Discovery Centre (2¼ km)
• Cross the railway line and turn left into River Lee Country Park, taking the right-hand path at the back of the car park to go alongside the Small River Lea. At the far end turn right onto a track between Cheshunt Lake and North Metropolitan Pit. Turn left onto a path on this side of the River Lee Navigation and follow it past an Orchid Area (which you could detour through). Cross the navigation at Cheshunt Lock and turn left onto …
  • For a short cut you could turn right onto the perimeter path instead, but this would bypass the Discovery Centre.
1. Arriving from London, leave the station near the front of the train and turn right to cross the railway tracks, via the footbridge if necessary. On the other side immediately turn left into the signposted River Lee Country Park?, with the first of several information panels for the Waterbird Discovery Trail at the back of the small car park. Take the right-hand path through this semi-open area.
2. The surfaced path goes past a series of small wooden structures (for exercising your dog!) with a stream on the right, the Small River Lea?. Later Cheshunt Lake is visible beyond the stream. At the end turn right to cross the stream and follow the track between two lakes, with the one on the left having the less appealing name of North Metropolitan Pit.
3. Just before the track rises to cross the River Lee Navigation? fork left onto a path running parallel to its towpath. You will be crossing the navigation at the lock 300m ahead, but shortly before reaching it there is a gate on the left into the fenced-off North Met Pit Orchid Area, part of the Country Park's Orchid Discovery Trail.
   • If it is open you could detour through this wet woodland on a continuous section of boardwalk, curving round to the right and leaving through another gate a little further along.
4. Immediately after the exit from the Orchid Area fork right off the main path onto a short grassy path going up to Cheshunt Lock. Cross the navigation and follow the path out to another Waterbird information panel. Turn left onto the perimeter path around Seventy Acres Lake, initially heading N.
   • For a shorter route around this lake (but bypassing the Discovery Centre) you could turn right instead to go around its southern side, crossing Hooksmarsh Lake Bridge and going through Hooks Marsh car park onto Fishers Green Bridge. If you take this short cut (saving 1 km) resume the directions at [?] in §E.
5. For the main route follow the path around the north-western corner of the lake. At a triangular path junction fork right to start coming back along its north-eastern side, with the Old River Lea on your left. …
5. The Discovery Centre to Cornmill Meadows (2¾ km)
• Continue on the perimeter path around the lake, eventually coming to Hooks Marsh car park at the end of Fishers Green Lane. Turn left onto this lane, crossing the Flood Relief Channel. In 250m turn right onto a footpath, initially along a field margin and then veering left up across the field. Follow the footpath around two sides of a large fenced-off area and cross a footbridge over Cornmill Stream into Cornmill Meadows.
1. Continue on the perimeter path around the lake, passing a viewing platform on the shore and a footbridge across the river. The path makes a wide loop alongside Horsemill Stream (a meander of the river) and eventually leads into Hooks Marsh car park. Turn left to cross the wide Flood Relief Channel on Fishers Green Bridge, joining the Greenwich Meridian Trail? (GMT).
2. In 250m turn right off Fishers Green Lane onto a signposted footpath along the bottom of a large farm field, with Hooks Marsh beyond the hedge on your right. In 400m – about two-thirds of the way along the field margin – turn left as indicated by an inconspicuous footpath waymarker post to go up across the field, heading ESE.

   The next 400m might be a quagmire in wet weather. OpenStreetMap shows an alternative path around the field edge (which is not the right of way) but there is no field margin on this stretch so it is unlikely to be any better.

3. If the right of way is not marked out, aim for the left-hand end of the tree boundary on the far side. At that point turn half-right as indicated by another waymarker post to go along the right-hand edge of a smaller part of the field, with a high chainlink fence on your right around part of the extensive gunpowder mills site.
4. In the field corner go through a wooden gate to enter another part of the Country Park and continue alongside the fence, leaving the GMT (which turns left and then heads due south through woodland into Waltham Abbey). At the fence corner turn right to go gently downhill on a broad grassy path between the fence and a closely-packed line of tall conifers.
5. At the bottom of the slope follow this potentially muddy path round to the left. Cross a wooden footbridge on the right over Cornmill Stream into the north-eastern corner of Cornmill Meadows Dragonfly Sanctuary?.
6. Cornmill Meadows to Waltham Abbey Church (1¾ km)
• Turn left and follow the perimeter path all the way along the eastern side of Cornmill Meadows. Veer right and left to go through a subway under Waltham Abbey's ring road (Abbey View) and follow the path across Cornmill Stream into Waltham Abbey Gardens. For the full route head south-east through them via the Rose Garden and Orchard to an exit on the far side. Turn right onto Crooked Mile, then right again into Quaker Lane. Keep ahead along Sun Street, passing several refreshment places including two pubs (the Angel and the Sun Inn). Bear right across Market Square and take the lychgate passage beside the Welsh Harp pub. Turn half-left onto a path leading to the west door of Waltham Abbey church.
  
1. Turn left onto the grassy path alongside Cornmill Stream and follow it all the way along the eastern side of the water meadows. As you approach the corner there is an information panel about the three small Abbey Fish Ponds off to the right. Leave the meadows through a wooden gate in the perimeter fence ahead and turn right onto a broad grassy path, away from a bridge over the stream.
2. In 50m follow the path round to the left and through a subway under Waltham Abbey's ring road (Abbey View). Follow the path up to and across Cornmill Stream on a footbridge to enter Waltham Abbey Gardens?. Keep ahead past the side of the Abbey Church Centre.

   There are a few picnic benches off to the right as well as a tall wooden sculpture, the Ancestor?. Behind a grille in the wall ahead is a remnant of the 12^thC abbey, the Slype?.

3. At the corner of the building turn left, passing an information panel about its historic use as an Infirmary and Chapel. Carry on in this direction up to a high brick wall and go through the Sun & Moon Gateway into the Rose Garden. Take any route through this small walled garden to the exit on its southern side, after which the path forks at a Y-junction.
   • If you do not want to visit any of the refreshment places on Sun Street you could fork right onto a long straight path heading SW towards the back of the Abbey church, where there is a stone slab memorial at the possible burial site of England's last Saxon monarch, King Harold?. If you take this short cut (saving 400m) take the path along the south side of the church to its west door and resume the directions in §G.
4. For the full route fork left and cross a moat on a wooden footbridge into the old Abbey Orchard (and wildflower garden). Turn half-right and follow a grassy path across it to the far corner. Cross another footbridge, leave the gardens and turn right onto a street (Crooked Mile).
5. At the traffic lights turn right into Quaker Lane. Where this swings left keep ahead into the pedestrianised Sun Street, with the Epping Forest District Museum? in an attractive half-timbered building on the left opposite the Angel pub, the first of the refreshment places on this street. Further along you pass Kalik Coffee House and the Sun Inn on the left as well as several cafés.
6. Immediately after the Sun Inn you go over a pavement mosaic marking the Greenwich Meridian?. At the end of the street bear right across Market Place and go through ‘The Gate’, the lychgate passage beside the (possibly closed) Welsh Harp pub. Turn half-left onto a tree-lined path leading to the west door of Waltham Abbey Church?, which is well worth a visit.

   As well as the memorial behind the church marking his possible burial site, there is a statue of King Harold? high up on the south wall of the church.
   

7. Waltham Abbey Church to Powdermill Cut (2¼ • 2¾ km)
• Leave the town by heading west on Highbridge Street, joining the B194 at Highbridge Roundabout and then the A121 at traffic lights. At the town bridge turn right onto the broad path between the Flood Relief Channel and the Lee Navigation. Veer left across the grass and cross the navigation at Waltham Town Lock. Go along the towpath to the White Water Centre, which you could detour into. Go back across the navigation on the canal bridge and veer left onto a path across the Showground. On the far side turn left onto a path between Horsemill Stream and Hall Marsh Scrape.
1. After visiting the church head W along Highbridge Street, passing the unusual Town Hall? on the left and then a side street on the right (Romeland, with the Crown pub). Keep left at the large Highbridge Roundabout (with the 2012 Olympic Shield? in its centre), joining the B194 and passing the Bake You Happy tearoom on the left. Switch to the right-hand side of the B194 at the pedestrian crossing and go up to the traffic lights.
2. Unless you want to make a long out-and-back detour along Beaulieu Drive to the historic Royal Gunpowder Mills? site (500m away), keep ahead at this junction. You are now on the A121 and in 150m you reach the town bridge across both the wide Flood Relief Channel and the Lee Navigation.
   • If you want to curtail the walk by finishing at Waltham Cross station, simply continue along the A121 for a further 1 km, crossing to its left-hand side at some point. On the railway bridge go down a flight of steps to the station forecourt and cross the footbridge to Platform 1 for trains to London.
3. To continue the walk turn right off the A121 onto the broad path between the two river channels. After passing a Viking Ship sculpture veer left across the grass and cross the Lee Navigation at Waltham Town Lock. Turn right and go along the towpath for 400m. There is a bridge over the navigation ahead and a pedestrian entrance into the Lee Valley White Water Centre on your left.

If you want to visit the centre (which has a café) before continuing the walk, follow the directions below.

4. Detour into the White Water Centre (+~½ km)

1. Go through the pedestrian entrance onto an enclosed path and skirt around a lake to reach the main building. There are steps from the Reception area up to the Brew Street Kitchen and Bar.
2. There are paths from the large Terrace behind the café and around the side of the building to the Olympic course. If it is operating you can watch canoeists and rafters tackling it from a footbridge.
3. To resume the walk retrace your steps out of the centre.
5. Go up the slope and cross the Lee Navigation into a large open area, the Showground. Veer left off the main path onto a grassy path heading NNE for 450m, passing under pylons near the far side.
6. Go through a gate, cross Horsemill Stream on a wide bridge and turn left onto a surfaced path, initially heading NE and gradually curving round to the right. Follow this path between the stream and the floodplain grassland of Hall Marsh Scrape. In 500m you reach a T-junction in front of a more substantial water channel, Powdermill Cut.
   • Halfway along this stretch you could make an out-and-back detour to Snipe Hide, overlooking the grassland. Old information panels show another viewing point further on but Teal Hide has disappeared.

If you are doing the Alternative Circular Walk (to Cheshunt), go to §N.

8. Powdermill Cut to the Viking Sign Post (1½ km)
• At a path T-junction turn right to continue around Hall Marsh Scrape, now alongside Powdermill Cut. Shortly before reaching the Flood Relief Channel turn left onto a path running between Hooks Marsh Lake and two fishing lakes. At the end turn left to come to a triangular path junction by the south-western corner of Seventy Acres Lake.
1. Turn right at the T-junction onto another surfaced path, alongside Powdermill Cut. On this stretch the steel Phoenix Hide offers an unusual viewing point across Hall Marsh Scrape. As the path nears the Flood Relief Channel turn sharp left onto an unsurfaced path, away from a small grassy area containing a Banded Demoiselle sculpture.
2. Cross Powdermill Cut on a footbridge and ignore a boardwalk off to the left. You now simply follow this path for just over 1 km as it meanders along a strip of land, with a stream on your left. Hooks Marsh Lake is on your right throughout, opposite Friday Lake and later Police Pit.
3. The path eventually ends at a T-junction where you turn left onto the perimeter path around Seventy Acres Lake. The path swerves right and left and comes to a Viking Sign Post sculpture inside a triangular path junction.

If you are doing the Shorter Walk (finishing at Cheshunt), go to §M.

9. The Viking Sign Post to Turnford Brook (1¼ km)
• Fork left at the Sign Post and follow the track across the Lee Navigation and alongside North Metropolitan Pit. In its south-western corner take a path on the right between the lake and the Small River Lea, eventually coming to a path junction where the stream is joined by Turnford Brook.
1. Fork left and go back across the Lee Navigation. Keep ahead on a broad track for 200m, between two lakes. Just before a bridge over the Small River Lea veer right onto a narrow path between the stream and one of these lakes, North Metropolian Pit.
2. In 250m you might be able to glimpse a Play Boulders sculpture on a small open space across the stream. In a further 200m follow the path up a small slope to merge with a cycleway coming from a brick bridge over the stream. In 350m the cycleway comes to a major path junction, where the Small River Lea is joined by Turnford Brook.

If you are doing the Alternative Walk (having started from Cheshunt), go to §K.

10. Turnford Brook to Broxbourne Waterside via Aqueduct Lock (3½ km)
• Fork right and take lakeside and woodland paths close to the Small River Lea for 750m to return to the Lee Navigation. Turn left and go along its towpath to Aqueduct Lock, then turn left to take narrow paths between a series of small lakes before returning to the navigation just before it merges with the River Lea at King's Weir. The simplest route is to follow the river's towpath for 1¾ km to Broxbourne Waterside, but you could divert through Silvermeade for the final 700m.
1. Fork right at the path junction to repeat the outward route from Broxbourne for 50m, then keep ahead on an unsurfaced path where the cycleway veers right. This woodland path goes alongside the Small River Lea for 500m, with glimpses of more fishing lakes on both sides. Eventually it swings right and meanders through the trees before coming out in front of the Lee Navigation.
2. Turn left and go along the towpath for 250m to Aqueduct Lock. At the far end of the lock you could simply remain on the towpath, but for variety the suggested route is to turn left down steps onto a path into the trees. Turn right at a path junction and follow the woodland path over a low rise on a shallow flight of steps with some new wooden fencing, heading NW.
3. In 200m the narrow path turns half-right, crosses a ditch and goes through a patch of scrubland to a small car park. Ignore a path opposite and turn left to go out along its unsurfaced access road, which immediately bends right to head N. You pass Railway Pit on the left, Boot Pit and then Lee Pit on the right. At the end of the access road turn right onto a lane to go back towards the Lee Navigation.
4. After skirting around a metal fieldgate ignore a sharp left turn onto a lane, but turn left onto the towpath in front of a bridge. You soon pass King's Weir where the navigation merges with the main River Lea, which is navigable on this stretch. In 200m, shortly before passing a car park, you pass the path on the left which you took earlier and now have to retrace your outward route for 650m.
5. When you reach the information panel for Silvermeade? the suggested route is to carry on along the towpath. In 700m, near the exit from Silvermeade, there is a footbridge ahead over the River Lea where it splits from the Lee Navigation.
   • If you want to return through the water meadow, go through the gate and follow a faint grassy path parallel to a stream on the left. At the far end go through a wooden kissing gate, cross a tree-lined stream on a wide bridge and turn right to go around two sides of a smaller part of the meadow before rejoining the towpath.

Complete the directions at §L.

11. Turnford Brook to Broxbourne Waterside via Ashley Lake (3½ km)
• Fork left to go alongside Turnford Brook. Before reaching the railway turn right onto a cycleway heading north alongside the tracks, then curving right to come to Ashley Lake. Follow the cycleway along its western side and then back towards the railway to run alongside the tracks again. Where the cycleway swings right towards Railway Pit, keep ahead on a grassy path which rejoins the cycleway at a major path crossing. Go straight across Slipe Lane, then in 50m fork right onto a path leading to the River Lea near Wharf Road car park. Turn left and go along its towpath for 650m, …
1. Fork left at the path junction, crossing the Small River Lea and briefly going alongside Turnford Brook. Before reaching a bridge over the railway turn right onto a broad cycleway. This runs parallel to the railway line for 200m, then turns half-right to move away from it. In a further 200m it bears left to go alongside the large Ashley Lake.
2. At the far end of the lake the cycleway veers back towards the railway and runs parallel to the tracks for 150m. Where it bends right the suggested route is to keep ahead on a broad grassy path through a semi-open area. In 250m the path goes through a small dip, after which you fork right across the grass to rejoin the cycleway.
3. Bear left onto the cycleway and go straight ahead at a major path crossing. In 50m fork right onto a side path and follow this for 200m, going past a vehicle barrier onto a lane. Turn left briefly onto the lane, then almost immediately veer right through another barrier onto the continuation of the footpath.
4. After crossing a stream on a wooden footbridge the path curves left and goes through a semi-open area dotted with trees. In 150m, shortly before reaching the car park at the end of Wharf Road, veer right onto a side path leading to the wide River Lea (which is navigable on this stretch).
5. Turn left and go along the towpath for 650m. Just before the start of a line of pollarded willows on the left-hand side of the path, …
6. Inside the water meadow turn half-right and follow a faint grassy path all the way across the main part of the meadow, parallel to a stream on the left and passing several small fenced-off areas. On the far side go through a wooden kissing gate and cross a tree-lined stream on a wide bridge.
7. Follow the grassy path as it swings right and then left to go around two sides of a smaller part of the meadow. At the far end exit through a kissing gate to rejoin the River Lea's towpath by the start of another section of the Lee Navigation.
12. Broxbourne Waterside to the Station (¾ • 1½ km)
• Either take the left-hand path past a café and the remains of an old mill (with an optional extension on a boardwalk circuit through some wetlands), or the right-hand path if you want to visit the Crown. The routes rejoin at a footbridge over the mill-stream where a path leads under the B194 into the station car park.
  

There is a choice of routes to the station, with the café route in [?] including an optional circuit around some wetlands on a long boardwalk. If the café has closed or you need something stronger, either take the pub route in [?] or use the map to detour to the town's High Street via Mill Lane or the Recreation Ground.

1. Old Mill Café route (¾ • 1½ km)

1. Ignore the footbridge and follow the path alongside the River Lea, going under a low railway bridge and past the car park for the Old Mill Retreat Café.

In the marshy area behind the car park there is a horseshoe-shaped “Wetlands and Woodlands” trail, although at the time of writing it was fenced off for repairs. Even when open it should not be attempted if the back of the car park is under water, since part of the boardwalk through the wetlands area will be flooded too.

2. Optional Wetlands & Woodlands extension (+¾ km)

1. If conditions permit you could do this extension in either direction. The wetlands section is a long boardwalk which starts from the back of the car park; the woodlands section starts between the café and a Canoe & Cycle Hire shed. Whichever direction you take, ignore steps up to an exit at the far end and return on the other path.
3. To head for the station, go past the Canoe & Cycle Hire shed and turn right to cross the river. Veer left through the ruins of Broxbourne Mill? and follow a tarmac path running alongside the river. Just before this goes under the railway, turn left up steps onto a metal footbridge.

2. The Crown route (¾ km)

1. Cross the River Lea on the footbridge to go alongside the Lee Navigation. At the next bridge go up steps to a narrow lane and cross the navigation to come to the Crown.
2. After visiting the pub, retrace your steps over the road bridge and follow the lane round to the right. Go past a small car park opposite the Lee Valley Boat Centre and across another waterway.
   • A short out-and-back detour up the steps on the right would reveal the site of Broxbourne Lido?.
3. To head for the station, go into the car park opposite the steps up to the lido and veer right to go diagonally across it. In the far corner turn left onto a tarmac path going under the railway and immediately turn right up steps onto a metal footbridge.
   
3. To complete the walk, cross the River Lea and follow the path up a slope and under Station Road. The station? is at the far end of its long car park, with the entrance on the left. All the platforms are accessed via an overhead walkway, with trains to London leaving from Platforms 1 or 2.
13. The Viking Sign Post to Cheshunt Station (1 • 1¾ km)
• • For a detour around an Orchid Area, fork right to stay on the perimeter path. In 300m turn left and cross the Lee Navigation at Cheshunt Lock. Go into the woodland and follow a boardwalk around the North Met Pit Orchid Area. Return along a path between the navigation and North Metropolitan Pit. In the lake's south-eastern corner turn right onto a track alongside its southern edge.
  For the main route, fork left at the Sign Post and cross the Lee Navigation to go directly onto the track alongside the lake. After crossing the Small River Lea veer left and go all the way along a broad grassy strip between the stream and the railway line. Go through a small car park to come to the level crossing in front of Cheshunt station. There are several refreshment places less than 150m beyond it on the continuation of Windmill Lane.

In late spring you might like to take the detour in [?] to visit a fenced-off area noted for orchids.

1. Main route

1. Fork left at the path junction. Go back across the Lee Navigation and keep ahead on a broad track alongside the southern edge of a large fishing lake, North Metropolitan Pit.

2. Detour via Orchid Area (+¾ km)

1. Fork right at the path junction. In 300m turn left off the perimeter path by a Waterbird Discovery Trail information panel. Follow the short path up to Cheshunt Lock and cross the Lee Navigation at its southern end.
2. Go across the towpath onto a grassy path through the trees. This soon comes to a path T-junction in front of …
3. Unless it is locked (in which case turn left onto the path) go through a gate in the fence and follow a continuous section of boardwalk through this wet woodland, curving round to the left and leaving through another gate a little further along.
4. Head S on the path, parallel to the navigation's towpath and with a large fishing lake coming into view on the right, North Metropolitan Pit. In 150m go up a slope and round to the right to join a broad track alongside its southern edge.
3. At the south-western corner of the lake the track continues across the Small River Lea on a bridge. You could turn left onto the surfaced path beside the stream, but the suggested route is to carry on briefly along the track and then veer left to go past a large Stag Beetles sculpture on the grass.
4. Take any route heading S along the full length of the broad grassy strip between the Small River Lea and the railway line (or one of the paths along its edges). In 500m all routes converge on a small car park. Go through this to come to the level crossing in front of Cheshunt station.
5. If you want to go straight back a tarmac path leads directly onto Platform 1, for Greater Anglia trains to London; London Overground trains leave from Platform 3, on the far side of the crossing.
   • There are several refreshment places less than 150m away on Windmill Lane: the Red Cow pub and Hackberries Cafe & Bistro on the left; Rose Cafe and the Maltsters pub on the right. Return along the lane to the station entrance and cross the station footbridge to Platform 1 if you want a Greater Anglia train.
14. Powdermill Cut to Cheshunt Station (1 km)
• Turn left and follow the path across Powdermill Cut and then the Lee Navigation at Waltham Common Lock. Go straight across the towpath and fork right at a Y-junction to go through a small parking area onto a lane. The suggested route is to veer right after 300m in order to go past some wooden sculptures to Pindar car park, but you could simply follow the lane to a crossroads. Either way, turn left and go along Windmill Lane …
1. Turn left at the T-junction and follow the path round to the right to cross the stream. The path goes along a small spit of land between the Lee Navigation and Friday Lake, then swings left to cross the navigation at Waltham Common Lock. Go straight across the towpath and fork right at a Y-junction to go through a small parking area onto a lane. A path soon joins from the left and the lane carries on through a partly-wooded area.
2. In 300m, shortly after another path joins from the left, there is a group of wooden sculptures in an open area on your right. You could carry on along the lane for a further 200m to its crossroads with Windmill Lane, but the suggested route is to veer right and make your way around the sculptures.
3. If you then continue across the grass in much the same direction as the lane you will reach Pindar car park at the end of Windmill Lane, with Herts Young Mariners Base (an outdoor activity centre) beyond it. Turn left and go along Windmill Lane to the level crossing in front of Cheshunt station.
4. …

Walk Notes

1. Broxbourne Station was relocated from its original Station Road site in 1959, hence the distinctively modern building (which is Grade Ⅱ listed) on a railway line which opened in 1840.
2. The misleadingly-named New River is an aqueduct, constructed in the early 17^thC to increase the supply of clean water to London.
3. St Augustine, Broxbourne dates from the 15^thC and contains several interesting memorials, including a tomb with effigies of Sir Henry Cock and his wife surrounded by their kneeling children.
4. River Lee Country Park is a large open space between Broxbourne and Waltham Abbey. It is part of the linear Lee Valley Regional Park, which follows the course of the River Lea for 42 km from Ware to the Thames. [By convention the spelling Lee is used for constructed features such as the Navigation and the Country Park, whereas the natural river and place names derived from it are spelt Lea.]
5. The River Lea runs for 68 km from its source in the Chilterns near Luton to the Thames in east London. It splits into several waterways (Old River Lea, Small River Lea, etc) as well as the constructed channels.
6. Silvermeade is an area of wet grassland dissected by a network of ditches. The fences along their sides are to protect the banks and provide a habitat for water voles.
7. The River Lee Navigation was constructed alongside long stretches of the River Lea in the 18^thC to improve navigation, which had become more difficult with the increased extraction of water into the New River.
8. The Wildlife Discovery Centre opened in December 2020, replacing the Bittern Information Point. It contains a large bird hide overlooking Seventy Acres Lake and a 5m-high viewing tower with 360° views.
9. The Greenwich Meridian Trail runs for 439 km between Peacehaven in East Sussex and Sand le Mere in East Yorkshire. It was inaugurated in 2009 to mark the 125^th anniversary of the Meridian.
10. Cornmill Meadows Dragonfly Sanctuary is an area of partly-flooded rough grassland surrounded by slow-flowing rivers which together support many species of dragonflies and damselflies. It has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
11. Waltham Abbey Gardens were laid out by the Denny family, who built Abbey House on the site of the former abbey at the end of the 16^thC. The house was demolished in 1770.
12. The Ancestor sculpture (1992) was carved by artist Helena Stykianides from a single oak tree cut from Epping Forest. It represents an Augustinian canon and has a series of enigmatic images on the back.
13. The Slype is a medieval stone passageway with a vaulted ceiling leading into the cloisters.
14. King Harold (Godwinson) is said to have been cured of paralysis while praying before the Holy Cross when Earl of Essex. After his death at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 legend has it that his body was brought to Waltham, but some historians have speculated that he is buried in Bosham church, in West Sussex.
15. The Epping Forest District Museum of local history is contained in two historic houses which have been skilfully combined into a single building.
16. The Greenwich Meridian was established as the universal baseline of 0° longitude at an international conference in 1884. It runs through Waltham Abbey where it is marked by pavement mosaics in Sun Street and the Abbey Gardens, as well as the ‘Sun & Moon’ gateway (1995) in the Rose Garden.
17. The Church of the Holy Cross and St Lawrence, Waltham Abbey was rebuilt in Norman style between 1090 and 1150, the fourth church on the site. When construction of the abbey started in 1177 it was greatly lengthened eastwards but the extended nave, transepts and chancel were all demolished in 1540. The west tower was added in 1556 after the old (east) tower collapsed.
18. Waltham Abbey Town Hall was built in 1904 in a Continental Art Nouveau style.
19. The 2012 Olympic Shield commemorates the building of the Lee Valley White Water Centre for the canoe slalom events. It depicts King Harold surrounded by King Henry Ⅷ and various civic and Olympic plaques.
20. The Royal Gunpowder Mills were acquired by the Crown in 1787, taking over a private business which had been operating for over a century. Production continued until 1945 when the site became a research centre for rocket propellants, but this closed in 1991. A heritage centre has been open to the public since 2001.
21. Broxbourne Mill is mentioned in the Domesday Book and produced flour until the late 19^thC. In the 20^thC the mill wheel powered a small engineering works, but the three-storey building burned down in 1949. It has been partially restored by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.
22. Broxbourne Lido was built by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority in 1978, but demolished only 30 years later because it did not meet contemporary health & safety standards.

» Last updated: January 28, 2026

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