About
White Water to Wildlife - FREE guided walk in the Lee Valley
Starting point - Lee Valley White Water Centre, near Waltham Abbey
Date: Sunday 4 September
Time: 11:00 – please note, the walk will begin at this time, if you’re running late, please give the walk leader a call to let them know.
Price: Free but we ask you to please book a ticket to secure your spot. Book here: Buy Guided Walks online - Lee Valley Regional Park (digitickets.co.uk)
Meeting point: outside Lee Valley White Water Centre reception - EN9 1AB, what3words: ///earth.shadow.late
Please arrive 10 minutes before the walk is scheduled to begin. This will allow time for you pay for any parking and that your leader has time to check everyone in.
Estimated time of walk: 2 – 2.5 hours
Parking restrictions: parking charges apply at this carpark. You’ll receive 4 hours free parking if you spend £5 in the Terrace Bar & Café, register your car at the time of purchase. Find out more here
General Information
On this volunteer led walk, you’ll be taken back 10 years to the iconic London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games where Lee Valley White Water Centre was venue to the canoe slalom events. During those games, history was made when Etienne Stott and Tim Baillie claimed Britain’s first ever gold medal in the two-man canoe slalom, with David Florence and Richard Hounslow taking silver in the same event. The venue today is still a thriving hub of water activities where people can book on to try paddleboarding, kayaking and white water rafting.
This centre sits on the edge of Lee Valley Park and you’ll be led through the park, discovering all that Lee Valley has to offer from Viking ship sculptures, peaceful surroundings and a huge variety of wildlife that call the park home. You’ll make your way to the Wildlife Discovery Centre which is open to all to learn about the habitats and species around you as well as birds that visit the park.
After your visit to the Wildlife Discovery Centre, you’ll cross the River Lee and head towards Cheshunt station which was where ticket holders for the Olympic slalom events were directed too. You’ll walk along the “last mile” and finish your walk back where you started at Lee Valley White Water Centre.
Looking for refreshments after your walk? The Terrace Bar & Café is open to all. Head upstairs at Lee Valley White Water Centre and enjoy a drink as you watch the crystal clear rapids.
Walk information
This walk can take 2 – 2.5 hours
Our walks are predominately on flat gravel paths but there may be some uneven ground at times
All of this walk is on good footpaths and is suitable for wheelchairs or buggies
Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a lead
Please note, some of this walk is next to water
Please bring water and snacks to keep you energised
Getting to the White Water Centre
By train or tube– Waltham Cross – 10 minute walk. Cheshunt station – 25 minute walk
By car - use postcode EN9 1AB for sat nav directions, use junction 25 or 26 on the M25
Book Tickets Online
Map & Directions
Road Directions
Exit M25 Junction 26.
Leave the M25 at junction 26. Take the A121, Dowding way, west. Go straight across at the first roundabout and again at the second roundabout (with Sainsbury's distribution centre on your right). Follow the road until you come to traffic lights with Mc Donalds on your left. Turn left at these lights. The entrance to the White Water Centre is a short way down this road just after a set of traffic lights.
From junction 25 of the M25:
Join the A10 towards Hertford. At the first roundabout turn right onto the B198 for Waltham Cross. Turn right at the next roundabout and left at a further roundabout to join Eleanor Cross Road / Station Road for one mile. The entrance to the centre is on the left, opposite Jewson’s.
Free parking on site.
Public Transport Directions
The nearest station is Waltham Cross or Cheshunt. Just 40 minutes from London by train. Buses run from nearby Waltham Abbey or Waltham Cross. The 211, 212, 213, 240, 250, 251 buses all stop on Station Road. The White water Centre can be accessed by walkers and cyclists from the paths along the Lee Valley Park. There is cycle parking at the Centre.
From Waltham Cross train station:
It's a 25 minute train journey on the Abellio Greater Anglia Line from London Liverpool Street and just 12 minutes from Tottenham Hale. It’s then a 10 minute walk to the centreLeave Waltham Cross station and follow the pathway to the main road. Turn right along Highbridge Street (away from the roundabout. )Proceed down Station Road for approximately half a mile, the centre is on the left hand side.
From Cheshunt train station
It's a 25 minute train journey on the Abellio Greater Anglia Line from London Liverpool Street and just 12 minutes from Tottenham Hale. It’s then a 25 minute walk through the picturesque River Lee Country Park. Leave Cheshunt station and turn right towards the YHA London Lee Valley and Herts Young Mariners Base. Proceed through Lee Valley Regional Park car park at the bottom of the road. Take the turning into the country park on the right hand side
