Lee Valley Regional Park

If you enjoy wildlife, sport, countryside, heritage, fantastic open spaces with great places to stay, then the Lee Valley Regional Park is the place for you. The Park is a regional destination for sport and leisure and stretches for 42kms (26 miles) between Ware in Hertfordshire, through Essex to the River Thames at East India Dock Basin and provides leisure activities which suit all ages, tastes and abilities.

The Park is 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres) and runs both sides of the River Lee, its natural features have been shaped by a mosaic of countryside areas, urban green spaces, heritage sites, country parks, nature reserves and lake and riverside trails, plus some excellent sports and recreation centres.

For more information all about the park and what you can do call 01992 702 200 or visit www.leevalleypark.org.uk

River Lee Country Park

The Park covers 1,000 acres on either side of the River Lee between Waltham Abbey (Essex) and Broxbourne (Hertfordshire). It’s a unique patchwork of lakes, waterways, green open spaces and countryside areas all linked together by paths, walkways and cycle tracks. The Country Park is home to an abundance of wildlife throughout the year and is the perfect venue for a variety informal, outdoor recreational activities to suit all ages, tastes and abilities.

Lee Valley Park Information Service

The Information Service is situated at Lee Valley Park Farms, Stubbins Hall Lane, Waltham Abbey and provides information about the whole of the Park, including the sports and leisure facilities. It has a shop that sells countryside gifts, books, maps and guides, and refreshments. Seasonal fishing and annual birdwatching hide permits are also available from the Information Service. The Information Service runs a programme of events and activities throughout the year.

Opening Times:

Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm

Lee Valley Information Centre
Stubbins Hall Lane
Crooked Mile (B194)
Waltham Abbey

Tel: 01992 702 200
Fax: 01992 702 230

E-mail: info@leevalleypark.org.uk
Website: www.leevalleypark.org.uk

Recreational Activities:

Walking - the Park has a variety of walking opportunities for all abilities from flat surfaced way-marked paths, to grass country tracks and hills. The Information Service has details of all the routes available throughout the Park, including the specially designed walks to help you discover different birds, flowers and insects through the seasons on the way. The Park has plenty of bridges, seats, signposts, information boards and picnic tables. It really is a great place for discovering the joys of walking, particularly as many of the paths are suitable for wheelchairs and buggies.

Picnic sites - a picnic is an essential part of a traditional day in the country and so, the Park has lots of places where you can picnic in comfort; many close to car parking, toilets and refreshment facilities. The closest picnic sites for Epping Forest District residents are situated at Fishers Green, Holyfield Weir and Abbey Gardens in Waltham Abbey but there are also numerous other sites within the Park.

NB: The Park does not permit Barbecues.

Toilets - are situated within the Information Service, including a specially designed toilet for people with disabilities. Baby changing facilities are also available.

Cycling - the Park provides many off road cycling opportunities, most of which are well surfaced. Cyclists can enjoy routes which follow the banks of the lakes and rivers and wind their way through some of the most attractive meadows and tree lined pathways in the Lee Valley. There is, however, no general public right of way for cyclists on the towpaths except with a permit which are available from British Waterways Customer Services on 01923 226 422. The Lee Valley Information Service can provide more detailed information about recreational cycling in general.

Click here for Lee Valley Cycle Hire information

You can also hire a budgie bike from the YHA at Cheshunt. It's open every day of the year and is perfect for accessing the River Lee Country Park, click here for more information.

Angling - there are 11 Lee Valley Park managed Fisheries, ranging from fast flowing weir pools to reclaimed gravel pits and catering for pleasure, specimen and match anglers, including facilities for anglers with disabilities. Anglers require an Environment Agency rod licence which can be purchased from the Post Office and also a Lee Valley Park Permit is needed for the fishery they intend to visit. Anglers also need to complete an application form available from the Information Centre and should carry their licences with them at all times when fishing in the Park. Day ticket fishing is available for some sites and are on sale on the bank from the Fishery Bailiffs. A comprehensive angling guide is available from the Information Centre.

Birdwatching - there are 11 bird hides, 9 of which can accommodate wheelchairs, located in the Country Park, including the National Bittern Watchpoint at Fishers Green, Waltham Abbey. The Park provides an internationally important refuge for birds to breed, rest, feed and shelter, with 200 different bird species having been seen over recent years. In the winter the Park is visited by migrating ducks and other water birds, including important numbers of Bittern. Other migrating birds such as Waders, Terns and Warblers are best seen during the spring and autumn. But, the Park is perhaps most popular with birdwatchers in the summer, when it is one of the best places in the country to see Kingfishers.
Permits are required for some of the Thames Water birdwatching sites, for further details contact Thames Water at The Gatehouse, Ferry Lane, Tottenham, London N17 9NH or telephone 0181 808 1527.

Nature Reserves - there are five Nature Reserves and eight "Sites of Special Scientific Interest" (SSSI is a designation given to sites important for wildlife by English Nature, the Government agency for nature conservation) within the Park. The vast range of habitats within the Park makes it an important refuge for many species wildlife, from birds and bats to fish and flowers.
For further details on these areas and for contact details of the various conservation organisations in the Park, visit the Information Service.

Dragonfly Sanctuary - located at the Cornmill Meadows at Waltham Abbey, is the best single site to see Dragonflies and Damselflies in the region. The slow-flowing rivers and luxuriant water plants, found at this Site of Special Scientific Interest, provide an ideal home for these fascinating insects. In fact, 21 different types have been seen there - that's over half of Britain's native dragonflies - including scarce species such as the Hairy Dragonfly and White - legged Damselfly. Visitors are most likely to see the dragonflies between late May and early September plus on a warm, sunny day as they are solar powered and need sunshine to warm their wing muscles for flight. Access around the Dragonfly Sanctuary may be difficult for some disabled people.

Lee Valley Park Farms - are located at Hayes Hill and Holyfield Hall. Hayes Hill is an old style farm where visitors can see and interactive with a variety of farm and domestic animals plus a restored Tudor Barn, Adventure Play Area, Picnic Areas, Tearoom and Gift shop. Holyfield Hall is a modern dairy and arable farm, with milking displays every afternoon and a collection of vintage machinery, plus calf nursery where you can feed the calves.
For further information contact Lee Valley Park Farms , Stubbins Hall Lane, Crooked Mile, Waltham Abbey, Essex EN9 2EG or telephone 01992 702 200.