Length: 12 km (7.5 miles); see below for a longer walk. Toughness: 1/10 T=swc.311.a
This walk combines the wetlands of River Lee Country Park with a short excursion into Waltham Abbey, a circuit of the Abbey Gardens, a look in the historic Norman church, and - let's not forget - lunch.
Much of the walk is along surfaced paths, but be prepared for the occasional splishy bit. When passing the Discovery Centre, keep an eye out for bitterns. A previous January group saw one, lurking in the reeds. Of course, it may be a case of once bittern, twice shy. (Boom boom!)
Trains: The 10:23 Greater Anglia Bishops Stortford train, from Liverpool Street Platform 3 (Tottenham Hale 10:37), gets to Cheshunt for 10:44. Oyster PAYG and contactless accepted. TfL Zone 8.
Freedom Pass holders can travel free on the 10:12 Overground from Liverpool Street, Platform 1, reaching Cheshunt at 10:51. (Pass only valid on Overground service).
Returning from Cheshunt: There are four Greater Anglia trains an hour from Platform 1 (the furthest, coming back from the tea places) and two Overground trains from Platform 3 (nearest to tea places) at xx:29 and 59.
Lunch: The Crown (01992-732590) in Romeland is nearest, however, there's a suggestion to try the Angel (01992-718671), one of two unexplored pubs on Sun Street, the other being the Sun Inn (01992-914249).
There's also Bake You Happy (01992-916560), a café near Highbridge Roundabout. as well as cafés round Market Square and Sun Street.
An earlier refreshment stop is possible at the Brew Street Kitchen and Bar in the Lee Valley White Water Centre.
Tea: There are two pubs just past Cheshunt station on Windmill Lane: the Maltsters (01992-631369) and the Red Cow (01992-623509), and two cafes, Hackberries (01992-910057; and the Rose Cafe.
Directions: here
Click on option (a) Short walk.
For a longer walk of 17½ km (10.9 miles) you could do the full Main Walk, continuing past Cheshunt to return from Broxbourne, the next station on the line. (Outside Tfl zones, buy ticket accordingly).There are four trains an hour from there, but no Overground. A cafe and pub are suggested in the notes.
3 comments:
On Waltham Abbey market square is a very old building that was once a pub and is now 'The Golden Touch' Turkish barbers. If you've ever wanted to see an ancient carving of a hermaphrodite figure holding a jug, now's your chance.
N=11 at the station with a n=12 th catching up from a train behind.
Plenty ducks, several herons, but no bitterns today. The weather, w=cold-and-sunny No snow but the ducks were standing ON rather than sitting IN the water.
The group fragmented, with some speeding on, some not speeding quite so much, and others hanging behind waiting for toilet-breakers.
After a quick look in the abbey church, where the vicar explained some stuff, it was lunchtime. Some were already ensconced in the Crown. 4 went to try out the Angel, which was OK. A limited selection of beer and no cider. 3, however were impressed with their roasts, which were cheaper than what they would have been down south. The 4th had a pint of mild, provided by a kindly benefactor.
We never saw the others again.
Not sure about the afternoon’s big field. It did satisfy the obligatory mud quota but I think I’d rather have wandered past more ponds, tripping over bitterns.
Our fragment didnt visit a tea place. Cant speak for the others.
This was a really nice walk. It's basically a loop around the nature reserve and it feels very rural. Certainly lots of birds around. We saw a couple of cormorants, a black swan and other things. We ate at the Crown right by Waltham Abbey. A very hospitable welcome and the food cheap but basic. Waltham Abbey is wonderful. An amazing Norman structure. Why isn't it better known?
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