Sunday Walk: Cheshunt to Chingford - new walk

Cheshunt to Chingford
Length: 12.8km (8 miles) Toughness: 2/10

10:40 Greater Anglia train to Cheshunt from Liverpool Street (platform 4) arriving at Cheshunt at 11:07.

Those living in north London could take the 10:15 London Overground train from Liverpool Street (platform 3), which calls at numerous north London stations (check Accessible UK Train Timetables for details of the stations served), arriving at Cheshunt at 10:54. Then wait for the contingent coming on the fast train to arrive.

Chingford is in London Travel Zone 5. Cheshunt is in Zone 8. Since the stations are on different lines, a 6-zone Day Travel Card with an extra ticket from the boundary of Zone 6 to Cheshunt may be the cheapest fare. Check with ticket office staff. A Freedom Pass covers the journey to Cheshunt but only on London Overground, not on Greater Anglia, where an extension from Enfield Lock to Cheshunt is needed. Return trains from Chingford to Liverpool Street are every 15 minutes at xx:10, xx:25, etc. (journey time 26 mins).

There are several engineering works on lines north of London today, so this new walk takes advantage of two stations that do have services running to them. The walk comprises three distinct sections: 1) a route mainly on surfaced paths through the River Lee Country Park from Cheshunt to Waltham Abbey; 2) the River Lee Navigation towpath from Waltham Abbey to Enfield Lock; 3) the London Loop from Enfield Lock to Chingford. All of these are well signed, but further details will be available on the day.

The recommended lunch stops are the Bakers Arms (01992 656000), a Chef & Brewer pub, or the Plough (01992 711097), a McMullens pub, both about halfway through the walk at Sewardstone. Both are large pubs but require a diversion of about 500 metres up the A112 where it is crossed by the London Loop, or a quieter diversion through Enfield Island Village (directions will be provided). Another option requiring no diversion is a very basic pub, The Greyhound (01992 764612) beside the towpath at the bridge leading to Enfield Island Village (ring ahead to order food). Alternatively, if stopping to explore Waltham Abbey, you could lunch there before continuing the walk.

It is possible to lengthen the first section of the walk through the River Lee Country Park by following sections 1, 2 and 7 of the Cheshunt to Broxbourne walk. If you then spend time looking round Waltham Abbey, you’d probably be ready for lunch before moving on.