Sunday Walk: St Margarets Circular

12.6 km (7.8 mi), 1/10 

or... 19.5 km (12.2 mi) 3/10

Ancient tracks and green lanes lead us through  the quiet, rolling East Herts countryside and back along the Lea Navigation.  The full walk is quite long but we won’t be doing that. Taking a shortcut, mate. Shortcut 1 is suggested. This reduces the length to 12.6 km (7.8mi), This is rated 1/10.

If you're up for something longer, Shortcut II cuts out the outer loop of the main walk, leaving a walk of 19.5 km (12.2 mi), this is rated 3/10.

Trains: Get the 10:12 Hertford East train from Liverpool Street (10:26 Tottenham Hale), arriving St Margarets at 10:52. (Tottenham Hale is on the Victoria Line).

Return trains xx:17 and xx:47 

Lunch: Chequers Inn, Ware Road, Wareside (01920 467 010). 

They do meals and have an interesting array of drinks, including scrumpy. (Best not to over-indulge, there's a dodgy-if-intoxicated stile shortly afterwards).

Tea: There are several pubs in Stanstead Abbots on your approach to St Margarets.

Of these, the Jolly Fisherman, nearest the station, has a pleasant riverside area.

There's also The Oak 36 High Street, and The Red Lion, 1 High Street, one of the oldest buildings in the area.  

Directions: here.  

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