Discover the Lea Valley Walk

One of England's most accessible long-distance walks, the Lea Valley Walk is an 80km (50-mile) route tracing the River Lea from Leagrave near Luton to East India Dock in London. Almost entirely flat and suitable for all abilities, this walk transforms the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire countryside into a perfect introduction to multi-day walking, ideal for beginners, families, or anyone seeking a trail that can be completed over a long weekend, a week, or multiple weekends.

Route Description

Described in five stages, with an optional alternative finish at Limehouse Basin and a 4-mile circular tour of the Olympic Park, this comprehensive Cicerone guidebook is your essential companion for planning and navigating the Lea Valley Walk. It provides detailed route descriptions and digital navigation tools so you can enjoy this route, which combines riverside paths, historic towns, and urban parklands just outside London.

Trail Details

The trail is split into 5 stages of between 13 and 28km (8 - 17 miles) that can easily be combined to shorten the route into a weekend itinerary, or walked as described, allowing for a flexible, manageable multi-day walking holiday.

Detailed route descriptions are complemented with 1:50,000 OS mapping for confident navigation of your rural escape.

Railway stations are highlighted at key towns and villages along the route, such as Leagrave, Harpenden, Hertford, and Tottenham, making it easy to begin, end, or break up the walk at any stage.

A bonus 6km walk around the Olympic Park is described, allowing you to explore London 2012's legacy as a standalone walk or as an additional route highlight.

Downloadable GPX files are available as a digital navigation option for use on smartphones and GPS devices.

Who Is It For?

Perfectly suited for first-time long-distance walkers, weekend adventurers, or anyone seeking a relatively easy flat walking route near London, the Lea Valley Walk offers big rewards with minimal demands. With OS mapping, GPX files, flexible staging, and transport links, this guidebook equips you to enjoy an effortless walking holiday from Bedfordshire's countryside to London's historic docks.