Walk 36: Lea Valley Long Loop

Walking along the River Lea

4.4 miles (7 km)

The bridleway between points 3 and 4
Image copyright of Hertfordshire Walker
Released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

A pleasant circular that includes parts of several other walks on this site. It starts and ends at The Candlestick, West End, and includes a stretch of a bridleway along the Lea Valley before returning via the outskirts of Essendon.

Directions

Map for Walk 36: Lea Valley Long Loop
Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker
Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributorsClick on the interactive map below to download KML or GPX files

1: Turn right out of The Candlestick car park and take the lane on your left heading WSW for 370m. Continue along this lane until you reach the end.

2: After the last cottage on the right you turn right on Essendon footpath 11 and head NW for 990m until you reach a gate with a step stile. You continue N down to road,  which is still Essendon footpath 11, later becoming Hatfield footpath 96, for another 990m until you reach the point where the road bends to the left.

The River Lea between points 3 and 4
Image copyright of Hertfordshire Walker
Released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

3: At the point where the road bends to your left you turn right and head E along Hatfield bridleway 75 for 100m which then becomes Essendon bridleway 6. This bridleway runs along the S side of the River Lea for 2.2km until you come out at a bend on the B158.

4: Turn right, cross the road and walk up the pavement heading S alongside the B158, Essendon Hill, for 660m until you reach the 30 mph speed limit sign on the outskirts of Essendon.

5: Here you take the footpath on your right, Essendon footpath 5, which heads diagonally SW for 350m across the field. Head for a point to the right of the last house and you will emerge on West End Lane.

6: Turn left on West End Lane and walk SE for 30m looking out for a footpath on your right. Turn right on this footpath, Essendon footpath 17,  and follow for 370m it as it goes SW past the church, through a gate, then SE and SW below Essendon Cricket Club to the woodland.

7: When you reach the woodland turn right and follow Essendon footpath 13 SW for 400m through the woodland and down the hill to a wooden bridge.

8: Cross the bridge and climb the hill for 240m until you reach the BOAT (byway open to all traffic)

9: Turn left on Essendon BOAT 14 and head S for 20m before turning right on Essendon footpath 13 and following it SSW then NW for 430m back to The Candlestick.

Interactive Map

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