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Lee Valley Park

Recommended by

Our view

"An adventurous and challenging walk following the gunpowder trail at Waltham Abbey"

Walk directions

From the rear of the car park at Cornmill Meadows, take the gravel path to the information board and go straight ahead through woodland. At Cornmill Stream turn right, with the stream down on your left-hand side, and enjoy views across Cornmill Meadow. At the footbridge turn right, following the perimeter fence of the Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills.

Go through a kissing gate at a Fishers Green Lane fingerpost. Keep the fence on your left, and at a Hooks Marsh fingerpost the path curves left across the field towards alder woodland. Turn right along the field-edge path, with the brook on your left, to a stile. Turn left onto Fishers Green Lane, which leads to a car park and information board.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Grassy riverside, steep field paths, green lanes prone to mud after rain, short stretch of road

Landscape - Country park, woodland, waterways and marshes

Dog friendliness - A lot of time on lead; Waltham Road unpleasant

Parking - Free car park at Cornmill Meadows, closes at 6pm

Toilets en route - Near the Bittern Watchpoint at Fishers Green

Walks in Essex

About the walk

You could spend an entire day doing nothing more strenuous than enjoying the recreational facilities of the Lee Valley Country Park. The 1,000 acres (405ha) on either side of the River Lee between Waltham Abbey in Essex and Broxbourne in Hertfordshire consist of lakes, waterways, open space and...

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About the area

Essex is full of pleasant surprises. It has the largest coastline of any county in England, with its fair share of castles, royal connections and scenic valleys.

Route details

Difficulty:

Hard

Gradient:

Challenging

Distance:

6.75 miles (10.9kms)

Ascent:

269ft (82m)

If you like this walk, you can try more routes in the area.

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Lee Valley Park

Recommended by

Our view

"An adventurous and challenging walk following the gunpowder trail at Waltham Abbey"

Walk details

Difficulty:

Hard

Gradient:

Challenging

Distance:

6.75 miles (10.9kms)

Ascent:

269ft (82m)

Walk directions

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Cross two footbridges over the streams, and go through the kissing gate on the right signposted 'Fishers Green'. Follow the gravel path bounded by Seventy Acres Lake on the left.

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After 600yds (549m) at the signposts indicating 'Lee Valley Park Farm', cross the metal footbridge and turn left through a picnic area. Follow the riverside path until you emerge at the tarmac road to a car park. Bear right to walk through this, and turn left along a tarmac road to Fishers Green Sailing Club.

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Just before the entrance to the sailing club, turn right and then bear left along the field-edge path, keeping the sailing club on your left. Stay on the path as it bears right uphill to a stile.

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At the top of the hill look back for wonderful views of north London and Hertfordshire. Follow the footpath sign for Clayton Hill, cross the wooden bridge and turn right to Coleman's Shaw. Turn right onto the B194 and follow the road as it goes downhill.

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At the T-junction, turn left at The Coach and Horses pub into Waltham Road. Cross carefully and walk uphill past Denver Lodge Farm on the right. Cross the stile on the right and follow the field-edge path to Galleyhill Wood. Cross the next two stiles and continue, keeping the woods on your right, to the break in the trees. Walk through, and at the cross-path turn right onto the green lane past Galley Hill Green to Aimes Green. Here, turn right and after 100yds (91m), turn left in front of houses to join Claygate Lane. Eventually emerge onto a driveway to Monkhams. Cross Crooked Mile Road to the meadow and turn left through the kissing gate. Take the left fork to return to the car park.

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Location

Starting point

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Grassy riverside, steep field paths, green lanes prone to mud after rain, short stretch of road

Landscape - Country park, woodland, waterways and marshes

Dog friendliness - A lot of time on lead; Waltham Road unpleasant

Parking - Free car park at Cornmill Meadows, closes at 6pm

Toilets en route - Near the Bittern Watchpoint at Fishers Green

Walks in Essex

About the walk

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Essex

Essex is full of pleasant surprises. It has the largest coastline of any county in England, with its fair share of castles, royal connections and scenic valleys.

Lee Valley Park

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

Get an AA guide

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Walking in Safety

Get an AA guide

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Lee Valley Park

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

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