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Lee Valley Walking and Cycling Trails
We are very lucky that much of the River Lee Country Park is within our district with numerous access points around Waltham Abbey and Roydon. This 1,000 acre park has a huge variety of activities to enjoy and is criss-crossed with paths ideal for walking and cycling. Perfect for kids and families and wildlife watchers. With both the river and canal passing through, the park is the perfect wetland environment with waterways and lakes, wooded areas and open grassland.
Here we have selected from the various trails that have been put together by Lee Valley Regional Park, all are suitable for walking or cycling and range in length and the wildlife, history and heritage that surrounds the valley.
All these trails are circular and have downloadable maps to guide you. Remember you can always use the extensive path network within the park to adapt routes and make them shorter or longer.
Ideal for walking or cycling. Level with tarmac and gravel paths. Five miles in length.
This trail starts by taking in the explosive past of the intriguing Gunpowder Park, at Sewardstone, before heading to up to the ultra-modern and completely man-made Lee Valley White Water Centre. The return leg follows the River Lee Navigation using the tow path, then cutting through Enfield Island Village linking up with the picturesque nature reserves that border Gunpowder Park. This route boasts a true mixture of urban, open space and waterways all in one trail.
A longer trail for the cyclist. Level with tarmac and gravel paths. Sixteen miles in length.
Starting again at the Gunpowder Park, this trail takes in more of the Lee Valley Park including an area of great beauty, Seventy Acres Lake at Fishers Green. Gravel pits, a wartime pill box and sculptures along the way, this route has it all including, of course, diverse wildlife.
Ideal for walking or cycling. Level with tarmac and gravel paths. Five and a half miles in length.
Starting at Fishers Green car park, this route will let you explore the variety of sculptures that are in River Lee Country Park. It could be just a piece to be gazed at, or something that just begs to be climbed or played on. All are different and just waiting to be discovered! An ideal route for people who are inquisitive and love surprises. Minibeasts, a viking ships and giant's chair are just three of the amazing sculptures to be found in the park.
The Artway Route 2 and The Artway Route 3 creates two shorter routes out of Route 1 starting at either Fishers Green or Hooks Marsh car parks.
Ideal for walking or cycling. Level with tarmac and gravel paths. Both three miles in length.
Another trail for those looking to venture further. Level with tarmac and gravel paths. Twelve miles in length.
One of the longer routes in our collection of trails but with plenty of stopping points if you need to take a break.
This route takes you around the outer edges of the 1,000 acre River Lee Country Park and shows the diverse areas that make Lee Valley Regional Park simply unique in the area. From how we manage our farmlands, to the wildlife that makes the area its home and the historical significance of the area during WWII - this ride will touch on it all.
Generally flat and designed more for cycling than walking. Six miles in length.
This trail starts at Dobbs Weir and takes you out of Essex into Hertfordshire, past Rye House Gatehouse, before returning into Essex at Roydon (the only area where Epping Forest District extends to both banks of the river) and back past Roydon Marina and lakes and waterways before returning to Dobbs Weir. Parts of this trail cross roads and take you down short sections of narrow roads where they may be lorries traveling. Therefore it may be more suitable for cycling than walking.
Another trail designed more with the cyclist in mind. Nine miles in length.
A ride suited to the more confident cyclist as it involves cycling along and crossing sections of roads, one with no pavement. Unfortunately there are no alternatives routes for these sections.
The route is the tale of two rivers following both the River Stort and the River Lee Navigations as it takes in RSPB and Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust nature reserves, the picturesque riverside villages of Roydon and Stanstead Abbotts and the historically significant building of Rye House Gatehouse.
Also try:
Created by Epping Forest Countrycare. This is a guided walk with additional information on the wildfowl you are likley to see on this trail.
New - Wildlife Discovery Centre
Visit the Wildlife Discovery Centre in River Lee Country Park at Fishers Green – the perfect place to view the wildlife that lives on Seventy Acres Lake. With a stunning tower offering 360 degree views of the area as well as the tiered Bittern Hide and Discovery Room where visitors can learn more about wildlife and the park.
