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Today is Saturday, 4 February, 2012. |
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Ware to Hertford Lock and Back by Abigail Hamilton-Thompson  Distance: 4 ½ miles or 7 ¼ kilometres.
Start: Broadmeads car park off Amwell End. Public Transport: Buses stop outside Ware College and in Amwell End. National Express East Anglia Hertford to Liverpool Street train service stops at Ware. Refreshments: Various cafes and public houses available in Ware town. Things You'll SeeThe New River: The New River is a man-made waterway which was opened in 1613. This supplies London with fresh water which is taken from both the River Lee and springs along the way. Sir Hugh Myddleton designed and constructed most of the New River. There is a footpath along the majority of the river.Kings Meads: Kings Meads is managed by the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust. Here 18 out of 19 species of Dragonflies that breed in Hertfordshire can be found here. A wide variety of birds can be seen including 7 species of Warbler and Stonechats. Ware Park Mill: Ware Park Mill was built in 1721 for grinding corn by James Fordham. The Mill House is now a Grade II listed building which was built in 1800. It is currently in a state of disrepair. The Route1. Exit the car park into Amwell End and turn right over the level crossing. Go immediately right through a kissing gate and follow the path alongside the New River with it on your left. Cross over the drive leading to Broadmead Pumping Station and continue along the river path. After a short distance you will see Chadwell Spring over to your left. After passing through a kissing gate you will need to swap sides of the river at the White House Sluice.2. Continue with the New River on your right. You will now need to cross the railway line. Take care with oncoming trains. Keep following the river as it bends round to the left. This soon passes under the A10 flyover. Cross over the second bridge that spans the New River and enter a field. Keep left along the boundary to reach the New Gauge House and the River Lee. 3. Turn left along the metalled path alongside the Lee with it on your right. This river soon bends left opposite the Old Ware Park Mill to reach Hertford Lock. Turn right the bridge and take the path ahead between the football pitches. Cross a footbridge over the River Beane and follow the right boundary fence to reach a stile. Bear right to reach another footbridge over the River Rib. You will now reach a track which is just joining the Bengeo road.  4. Turn right along the track which soon passes houses and Ware Park Mill on the left. The track turns into a path after the very last house. Continue along this path through some trees and then alongside meadows adjacent to the Lee.
5. Just before the path starts ascending you need to bear right on a path through a meadow to which leads under the A10. Follow the path round and through a gate. The path now skirts around the edge of Glaxo Smith Kleine’s sports field. You will soon meet a metalled path. Turn right along this over the wooden footbridge. Descend to your left and follow the towpath in front of you with the River Lee on your left. Continue passing a weir and then after a short distance Ware Gazebos on the left. Upon reaching a road and the town, turn right into Amwell End and you will shortly reach the car park on the right. The MapView Ware to Hertford Lock and Back in a larger map Photographs and article by Abigail Hamilton-Thompson |
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