Walk 110: Willows Lakes

4.5 miles (7 km) 50m of ascent

 

This is a perfect walk for people who are interested in birdwatching and enjoy native wildflowers. It follows the River Colne and meanders around the surrounding lakes - some created in abandoned quarries. There are still some quarries being excavated, and you will cross a conveyor belt as work continues, but others are now beautiful lakes edged with rushes and banks laden with wildflowers. If you are a birdwatcher take binoculars because you are in for a treat. And there are loads of butterflies in the summer months.

Directions

Map for Walk 110: Willows Lakes Loop
Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker
Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors
There is an interactive map below the directions

Those with GPS devices can download GPX or KML files for this walk. We've added What3Words location references for those who use that navigation system. If you print these walks you might want to use the green PrintFriendly icon at the bottom of these directions to delete elements you don't need.

Please keep to the public rights of way on this walk. We have included a map at the foot of this page showing the public rights of way around Willows Lakes in green and the paths reserved for those fishing the lakes in red.

1: Find a parking place along Church Lane (location - https://w3w.co/before.terms.author), please check in case any parking restrictions have been introduced since this walk was published. Head SSE along Church Lane, then follow the lane as it turns to the right and heads SW before becoming Ridge bridleway 2 (location - https://w3w.co/editor.train.ritual). Follow Ridge bridleway 2 for 670m which at this point is also the Watling Chase Timberland Trail. You will cross a gravel track used by quarry vehicles (location - https://w3w.co/supporter.status.hurray) and then a wooden bridge spanning a conveyor belt (location - https://w3w.co/gear.socket.grant) before reaching a junction (location - https://w3w.co/gasp.marble.ruins).

2: Turn right on Ridge bridleway 6 then head NW for 20m, cross a bridge over the River Colne (location - https://w3w.co/wants.lame.gross) and continue heading NW for 30m until you reach Ridge footpath 1 on your left which runs just to the right of the green portable cabins (location - https://w3w.co/start.supporter.pool). Head WSW for 310m on Ridge footpath 1 then take the path on the left which runs through the woods (location - https://w3w.co/inform.prefer.wins). Continue heading SSW, still Ridge footpath 1, for 180m until you reach a footpath on the right going through a small parking area (location - https://w3w.co/chest.ramp.escape).

3: This is Ridge footpath 33. Follow it for 1.1km, first W, S then W again past Blount Spring (woodland) on your right, then SSW, S, SE, and SW past Coppice Wood on your right and continue until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/type.period.level).

4: At the junction turn left and head SE on London Colney footpath 38 for 400m until you reach another junction (location - https://w3w.co/glass.detect.bugs).

5: Take the first turn on your left, Ridge footpath 1, through another parking area and up a gravel path heading NNE for 420m until you reach a footpath on the right (location - https://w3w.co/verbs.choice.trial).

The view from Ridge footpath 50 mentioned in point 6

6: Turn right on Ridge footpath 50 and head SE across a land-bridge between the lakes for 180m to a junction in the track (location - https://w3w.co/chew.traded.meals).

The view from Ridge footpath 2 just before you reach point 8

7: When you reach the junction turn left on Ridge footpath 53 and follow it as it heads NNE with the lake on your left for 1.4km until you reach the bridge over the River Colne which you crossed in point 2 (location - https://w3w.co/grew.legal.expose). 

8: Turn right here on Ridge bridleway 6, cross the bridge, turn right then head SSW for 450m until you reach a track on the left (location - https://w3w.co/silent.hill.allow).

9: Turn left here, still on Ridge bridleway 6, and head first ESE, then SSW, then SE for 390m until you reach a track on the left (location - https://w3w.co/august.played.falls).

The view from Ridge footpath 4 mentioned in point 10

10: Turn left and head NE for 250m on Ridge footpath 4 crossing between two lakes on another land-bridge (location - https://w3w.co/perky.wiped.light). This is a great spot for birdwatching. Once across the lakes turn left on Ridge footpath 47 (location - https://w3w.co/notes.brass.rang) and follow it NW, NE, NW then NE again as it goes behind stables to reach a track on the left (location - https://w3w.co/filled.model.class).

11: Take this path, Ridge footpath 48, and head NW, N, then NE for 420m until you reach Colney Heath bridleway 32 where you turn right and head NE for 230m before turning right and heading SSE for 220m to a track on the left (location - https://w3w.co/soon.twist.shops).

12: Take this path and turn left in the woods heading NW for 440m picking up Colney Heath footpath 35 back to the starting point.

Rights of way and private paths

Public rights of way in green, private fishing paths in red
The green markers show two land-bridge across the lakes
Click here or on image for larger version
Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker
Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors

Interactive map

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