WALKING THE RIVER STORT NAVIGATION - END TO END - 18 MILES
RIVER STORT NAVIGATION
- END TO END - 18 MILES
- Allow - 7 to 8 hours.
Basic route - Bishop’s Stortford - End of Navigation (Riverside) -
Locks 1 to 15 via Sawbridgeworth, Harlow - Roydon - River Lee
Navigation (Fieldes Weir Lock) - River Lee Navigation - Dobbs Weir
- New River - Hoddesdon.
Maps - O. S. 1:25,000 Explorer Series Nos.,
- No. 194 - Hertford & Bishop’s Stortford.
- No. 174 - Epping Forest & Lee Valley.
Start - Bishop’s Stortford. - Train or Bus.
End - Hoddesdon.- Bus.
Aternatives - Rye House & Broxbourne Rail Stations.
Inns - Off the route in Sawbridgeworth, and Harlow. Both Bishop’s
Stortford and Hoddesdon have all facilities.
Fish & Eels, Dobb’s Weir.
Cafe ’s -Bishop’s Stortford and Harlow, off the route.
ABOUT THE WALK - This is one of my favourite long walks following the navigation which also acts as the county boundary of both Essex and Hertfordshire. 1 walk it at least once a year in either direction, to Bishop’s Stortford or to the River Lee and onto Hoddesdon is psychologically easier, as it is all downhill! I walked it again shortly before Christmas in freezing temperatures and mist. I basically saw no one except for one boatman at Roydon lock and helped him to open the lock gates so he could continue. With the short daylight hours, as I left Bishop’s Stortford at 10am., meant I reached the River Lee Navigation in the dark, but as I knew the route and paths, I pressed on to Hoddesdon and bumped into a bull! All good fun.
He shook his head and and continued munching some grass!
THE RIVER STORT NAVIGATION LOCKS
- Bishop’ Stortford to the River Lee Navigation in descending order -
Lock No. and name -
1 - Southmill Lock
2 - Twyford Lock
3 - Spellbrook Lock
4- Tednambury Lock
5 - Sawbridgeworth Lock
6 - Sheering Mill Lock
7 - Feakes Lock
8 - Harlow Mill Lock
9 - Latton Lock
70 - Burnt Mill Lock
11 - Parndon Mill Lock
12 - Hunsdon Lock
13 - Roydon Lock
14 - Brick Lock
15 - Lower Lock
River Lee Navigation to Bishop’s Stortford Lock list, in ascending order.
The walking instructions are simple, just keep the navigation, mostly on your
right and tick off the locks - 15 of them - as you walk along the level path.
There are few facilities so carry what you need for the day.
SOME WALKING NOTES -
TO THE START - From Bishop’s Stortford Station turn right and keep ahead to the A1250 road. Here on the left is the end of the Navigation. Turn left and join the towpath and head southwards. Your first lock - South Mill is amile away!
REACHING THE LEE - After 14 locks reach the last one, No. 15 - Lower Lock. Less than 1/2 mile later you cross Fieldes Weir before turning left and right to cross the River Lee Navigation. To your right is Fieldes Weir Lock and beyond that the river Stort Navigation joins the Lee. 1/2 mile to the right via the River Lee you reach Rye House with an inn on the right and to your left is Rye House Railway Station.
Special embroidered canal badge and signe certificate available to succrssful walkers, from John Merrill.
All names and dates added to my Walkers Roll of Honour oage.
A5 book, wire bound and signed by author.