ELIZABETH LINE WALK SERIES: Stratford to Cheshunt, 14.6 miles, strenuous

Today’s walk takes us from Stratford to Cheshunt along the River Lea as well as the Lea Navigation, both of which offer a scenic route through a mix of urban and natural landscapes. During this walk, we’ll be passing through some of East London’s rich industrial history and transitioning into serene countryside. Starting at Stratford station, we'll start off by walking through the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to offering a stunning mix of vibrant green spaces and urban art installations. This’ll take us to the Lea Navigation path, which was constructed in the mid-18th century and is lined with a mix of historical warehouses and modern residential developments.

As we head into North London, the landscape slowly opens as the sounds of Central London slowly fade starting with Hackney Marshes, where we’ll find broad and green fields. From here, we'll then pass through Walthamstow Marshes, which is a nature reserve that’s known for its wildflower meadows and an abundance of bird life, including herons and swans. Here, we’ll pass the old Middlesex Filter Beds, which is a former Victorian water treatment facility that has since been turned into a nature reserve, and it offers a charming place for a quick rest.

Further along as we approach Tottenham, the scenery becomes more industrial again, which is quickly replaced by the waterside greenery of the Lea Valley. Crossing under various rail bridges and navigating small locks, we'll encounter tranquil stretches where the only sounds are the ripples of water and chirping birds. As we approach Cheshunt, the landscape transitions to rural marshlands, with wider waters and fewer urban sights, where it opens to the Lea Valley Park with its extensive lakes to takes us through to our finishing point at Cheshunt station.

Due to the length of this walk, there’ll be the option to drop off at one of several Greater Anglia/Overground stations between Stratford and Cheshunt. The walk leader plans to stop at Wild Marsh East for lunch, of which the closest station is Northumberland Park if you want to drop out here. For those who want a pint at the end of the walk, we’ll be stopping off at The Red Cow, which is only a short distance from the station.

Ascent: 30m.

This walk will be led by Michael v..

Please see our website for more information about the group.

TRAINS:

The recommended train to get from Reading is 09:12 GWR service that arrives at Paddington at 09:36. This give enough time to get the 09:52 Elizabeth line service that arrives in Stratford at 10:10. Please note, that we'll be starting this walk from the Westfield Stratford City entrance, so please follow signs to the shopping centre to reach the start point.

DRIVING:

Due to the cost of parking in London and ULEZ, it's recommended that you don't drive to Stratford. Alternatively, you can park at Reading station and take the train from there, where parking fees apply.

DOGS:

Dogs are welcome on this walk as long as they're well behaved.

Please contact the leader directly if you are delayed on the day or can't find the group (find contact details on our website). We are unlikely to respond to Meetup comments or messages sent on the day in enough time to be helpful.