Description
A river walk from Bedfordshire to the Thames.
The Lea Valley Walk follows the river from the area around Leagrave and Luton through Hertfordshire’s villages and on into London. Open countryside gradually gives way to wetlands and the city’s waterways. The guide provides a coherent framework for a walk where the transition between countryside and city is a key part of the experience.
80 kilometres across five stages.
Leigh Hatts describes the route towards East India Dock, where it meets the Thames and the Thames Path. The book also includes an alternative finish at Limehouse Basin and an optional loop through Olympic Park. Maps and stage descriptions make it possible to plan the whole walk or choose a shorter section to suit your stay.
Flexible walking days with plenty of connections.
Several railway stations lie close to the route, both at the start and along the way. This makes the walk suitable as a series of day trips as well as a continuous long-distance walk. The riverside paths, towns, and canal sections offer different experiences from stage to stage, while the practical information helps you organise transport and breaks.
Who is this guidebook suitable for?
The guide is suitable for regular walkers looking for a mostly flat route with good flexibility. After Hertford, much of the walk follows canal paths and established connections. Different seasons offer different views and experiences along the river. Choose day lengths that allow time to take in both the landscape and the places the walk passes through.
A long tradition of guidebooks.
Cicerone has published guidebooks since 1969. The publisher grew out of a community of climbers and mountain people who wanted to share detailed knowledge of their routes – a tradition that still shapes these compact books for walking, trekking, and other outdoor experiences.
About this edition.
Author: Leigh Hatts. English language. 120 pages. Fourth edition, published in 2025. ISBN 9781786312877.
