Route Overview

Lea Valley Walk

The Lea Valley Walk touches the Meridian Line in several places along the way and passes through a post-industrial landscape fast being reclaimed by man and nature. It generally follows the towpath of the Lee Navigation, which was canalised in 1767. The canal towpath can also be used by cyclists. Sections of the old river meander alongside, where it has been by-passed or diverted, and tributaries of the River Lea add to the complexity of this valley landscape. The towpath is managed by British Waterways and the open land either side is part of the Lee Valley Regional Park, established by an Act of Parliament in 1967. Much of it is either reclaimed land: once marsh then used for gravel extraction and landfill and now being returned to nature. Remnants of the original marsh remains in places, notably half way at Hackney Marsh where there is a convenient pub to gaze out from. Several old sewage works have become a haven for wildlife and are managed as nature reserves. The northern section is dominated by the high embankments of a series of reservoirs holding much of London’s drinking water.

There are links with several other towpaths, such as the Hertford Union Canal and Limehouse Cut, and three of the other Strategic Walks: The London Loop, Capital Ring and Thames Path.

Walk London promotes the 13 miles (22km) of the Lea Valley within London, from Waltham Abbey to its confluence with the Thames at Trinity Buoy Wharf meeting up with Thames Path for the last stretch round the Isle of Dogs to Island Gardens. Greenwich can be reached by crossing under the foot tunnel here. The walk can be enjoyed in one long day or in a series of sections: the Walk is conveniently linked by the railway which runs in parallel.

The whole Lea Valley can be walked from its source close to Leagrave, near Luton, to its confluence with the Thames; a total distance of 50 miles. The full distance may require up to a week to cover, but the Greater London section can provide one or two good full day walks, by starting just outside the boundary at Waltham Cross or Waltham Abbey and walking south to the Thames or vice versa (20km/12.5ml), with many potential break points at stations parallel with the valley.

The towpath unfortunately does not continue under the Bow Interchange (A11/A102) and a very busy dual carriageway has to be negotiated before the towpath can be regained. To continue to the confluence, the towpath has to be exchanged for some road walking past the old gasworks and across the busy flyover near Canning Town station. This area will rapidly improve with regeneration spurred by the Olympics.

There may be some temporary closures and diversions around Bow Lock and the Bow backwaters due to construction of the Olympic Park so check the website.

It is worth continuing as the path does regain the river edge and the double loop of the river at Bow Creek would create an oxbow lake if left to nature. Instead the island it creates is rapidly being developed for high rise housing. Lea Valley Park have created an ecology park here and kept the 1806 East India Dock as an urban salt marsh nature reserve so there is much of interest. Historic Trinity Buoy Wharf is home to artists and a remarkable pair of gates by sculptor Antony Caro can be found on Orchard Place.

Boroughs which the route passes through:

Enfield
Hackney
Haringey
Newham
Tower Hamlets
Waltham Forest

Interesting places on or near the route:

Enfield Lock/King George's Reservoir
Lee Valley Regional Park

Signage:

The route is well marked by signs depicting the Swan symbol.

Further information:

Tel: 01992 702200
Email : info@leevalleypark.org.uk

For information on path closures to the construction of the Olympic Park visit the website

Completed a route ? Why not celebrate your achievement by ordering a completion certificate from info@walklondon.org.uk