Walk 282: Stanstead Abbotts North-East Loop

4.8 miles (7.7 km) with 57m of total ascent

Hollycross Lake at point 17

This is a wonderful walk from the village of Stanstead Abbotts. You will follow the rivers Ash and Lea, walk along a canal towpath, pass nature reserves popular with birdwatchers so take your binoculars, gaze over peaceful lakes, walk along quiet stretches where you can enjoy uninterrupted birdsong, and follow the route of a dismantled railway branch line.

Getting there

High Street car park charges

There is a car park in the centre of Stanstead Abbotts (see charges as of August 2024 above). There are bus stops along High Street served by bus numbers 25, 35, 35B, and 35C. You can check bus times at Intalink. If you prefer to travel by train St Margaret's train station (location - https://w3w.co/sleeps.inform.song) is close to point 21 at the end of the walk.

Fly through preview of walk

If you want to check what sort of landscape you will be crossing before you set off on this walk you can view a short 3D video of the route below. It's created using the free version of Relive.

Directions

Map for Walk 282: Stanstead Abbotts North-East Loop
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Those with GPS devices can download GPX or KML files for this walk. We've added What3Words location references for those who use that system. If you print these walks you might want to use the green PrintFriendly icon at the bottom of these directions to delete elements such as photographs.

1: Exit High Street car park in Stanstead Abbotts then turn left on High Street (location - https://w3w.co/walks.jukebox.panel).

Head ENE for 150m until you reach The Red Lion on the left and a road junction (location - https://w3w.co/soccer.that.figure), see image below.

Turn left on Cappell Lane

2: Turn left on Cappell Lane then head NE then N for 250m until you pass St Andrew's Church, a Grade II* listed building, on the right (location - https://w3w.co/these.retire.trout), see image below.

St Andrew's Church, Stanstead Abbotts

Continue along Cappell Lane, now heading NNW, for 250m until you reach a bridleway on the right (location - https://w3w.co/tiger.waddled.family), see image below.

Turn right on Stanstead Abbotts bridleway 17

3: Turn right on Stanstead Abbotts bridleway 17, which is also The Hertfordshire Way along this stretch.

Stanstead Abbotts bridleway 17 climbing NE

Follow Stanstead Abbotts bridleway 17 uphill and in a north-easterly direction. This is a lovely stretch with wide open views. As you climb you will lose the sounds of civilisation and, apart from the odd plane, all you will hear is the sound of skylarks overhead.

There are great views from Stanstead Abbotts bridleway 17

Continue on Stanstead Abbotts bridleway 17 for 830m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/plan.giant.loops), see image below.

Cross the junction then continue heading in a northerly direction

4: Cross the junction then head in a northerly direction, still on Stanstead Abbotts bridleway 17. Continue for 950m until you cross a parish boundary (location - https://w3w.co/milky.darker.junior), see image below.

Head N, now on Wareside bridleway 37

5: Head N, now on Wareside bridleway 37. Continue for 165m until you reach a bridleway junction just before Young Wood (location - https://w3w.co/heats.dairy.sushi), see image below.

Keep left at the junction, still on Wareside bridleway 37

6: Keep left at the junction, still on Wareside bridleway 37, then head NNW then NW, with the woodland on the right and field on the left. Continue for 370m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/mute.crunch.silks), see image below.

Keep heading straight, ignoring the bridleway on the right

7: Keep heading straight, ignoring the bridleway on the right.

This is an interesting stretch because, for the next 305m, you will be walking along Wareside footpath 36 which is also part of three long-distance paths, The Hertfordshire Way, The Greenwich Meridian Trail, and The Hercamlow Way, see signpost below.

The signpost marking three long-distance paths

Continue heading WNW on Wareside footpath 36 until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/snake.dame.lobby), see image below.

Turn left on what was the Buntingford branch line

8: Turn left on what was the Buntingford branch line but is now a gravelled track used by walkers, runners, horse riders and cyclists.

The line, which opened in 1863, was recommended for closure in the Beeching Report. The passenger service was withdrawn in 1964 and, a year later, the goods services closed.

Train on the Buntingford branch line about to leave St Margaret's
Image by Ben Brooksbank, released via Creative Commons BY-SA 2.0

If you had been walking this way on 4 April 1959 you might have seen the engine above steaming along the track heading for Buntingford via Mardock, Widford, Hadham, Standon, Braughing, and West Mill. It would have been such a handy service for accessing many of our walks in this area. The photograph was taken at the start of the branch line at St Margaret's Station in Stanstead Abbotts. It was shared on Wikimedia by Ben Brooksbank via Creative Commons BY-SA 2.0.

Head SW along the route of the dismantled railway

Head SW along the route of the dismantled railway. Continue for 255m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/grain.fluid.bumpy), see image below.

Turn left at the junction on Wareside footpath 35

9: Turn left at the junction then head SSE on Wareside footpath 35. Continue for 35m until you reach a ford and a footbridge crossing the River Ash (location - https://w3w.co/covers.nurses.wounds), see image below.

Cross the footbridge then continue on Wareside footpath 35

Cross the footbridge then continue heading SSE on Wareside footpath 35 for 130m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/noise.ideas.agenda), see image below.

Turn right at the junction on Wareside footpath 75

10: Turn right at the junction on Wareside footpath 75 then head WSW for 140m until you pass a house on the left (location - https://w3w.co/homes.spends.photo). At this point the footpath you are on crosses a parish boundary and you continue on Stanstead Abbotts footpath 1.

Continue on Stanstead Abbotts footpath 1, now heading SW, for 185m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/logic.stage.punt), see image below.

Go through a gate then continue on Stanstead Abbotts footpath 1

11: Turn right, go through a gate then head SW, still on Stanstead Abbotts footpath 1. This is a lovely, peaceful stretch of countryside.

Continue along Stanstead Abbotts footpath 1

12: Continue along Stanstead Abbotts footpath 1 for 405m until the footpath bends to the right (location - https://w3w.co/transit.quest.deal) then heads W for 220m to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/weedy.sports.ballots), see image below.

Keep left on Stanstead Abbotts footpath 2

13: Keep left at the junction then follow Stanstead Abbotts footpath 2 SW. Continue for 225m until you reach a footbridge (location - https://w3w.co/stray.flank.fats), see image below.

Cross the footbridge still on Stanstead Abbotts footpath 2

Cross the footbridge still on Stanstead Abbotts footpath 2.

Veer right to reach The Amwell Walkway

14: When you reach the other side of the footbridge leave Stanstead Abbotts footpath 2 then veer to your right to climb to The Amwell Walkway (location - https://w3w.co/steer.planet.sentences), see image above. The Amwell Walkway is another section of the Buntingford branch line which you walked along between points 8 & 9.

Turn left on The Amwell Walkway then follow it SW for 180m until you go under a road bridge (location - https://w3w.co/loads.shunts.found), see image below.

Continue on the Amwell Walkway beyond the bridge

15: After passing under the bridge continue heading SW for 70m until you reach a gate on the left leading to a section of the Amwell nature reserve (location - https://w3w.co/credit.stuff.hulk), see image below.

The gate leading to the Amwell Nature Reserve

16: The gate offers access to Hollycross Lake and The Dragonfly Trail in the Amwell Nature Reserve. Our route doesn't explore the reserve at this point but instead heads SW still on The Amwell Walkway.

Continue for 140m until you reach a bench on the right and a noticeboard on the left. The bench offers a lovely view of Hollycross Lake, which is featured at the top of these walk directions and again below.

The bench alongside The Amwell Walkway

Look out for Otters information board

Hollycross Lake viewed from The Amwell Walkway

17: Continue heading SW still on The Amwell Walkway crossing a wooden walkway (location - https://w3w.co/zebra.gravy.tables).

Cross the wooden walkway heading SW

Continue heading SW until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/desk.blows.gave), see image below.

Turn left at the junction then head SE for 20m

18: Turn left at the junction then head SE for 20m until you reach a footpath on the right (location - https://w3w.co/heap.pump.crust), see image below.

Turn right then follow the footpath over The River Lea Navigation

Turn right then follow the footpath over The River Lea Navigation (location - https://w3w.co/haven.custom.stay).

The view from the bridge looking north-west

The view from the bridge looking south-east

Once over the bridge turn right

19: Once you have crossed the bridge turn right (location - https://w3w.co/text.lions.report) then follow the path down to the towpath alongside The River Lea Navigation (location - https://w3w.co/overnight.bids.asleep).

Turn right on the towpath then head SE

Turn right on the towpath, which is also Great Amwell footpath 10, then head SE with The River Lea Navigation on the left. Be careful along this section because, although it is a footpath, cyclists still use it with some travelling at speed.

Continue heading SE for 335m until you reach a bridge crossing the River Lea Navigation (location - https://w3w.co/worked.gaps.test).

Cross the bridge to visit the Amwell Nature Reserve

At this point there is the opportunity to take a short detour over the bridge to visit a bird spotting viewpoint in the Amwell Nature Reserve (location - https://w3w.co/models.inches.shade), see images below.

Great Hardmead Lake - Amwell Nature Reserve

Information board at Great Hardmead Lake

20: After visiting the viewpoint retrace your steps to continue heading SE along the towpath, still on Great Amwell footpath 10, for 1.2km until you reach a ramp (location - https://w3w.co/mostly.hobby.thing) leading up to High Street (location - https://w3w.co/mock.with.shot), see image below.

The ramp leading to High Street

20: Turn left on High Street then head E for 240m back to the start of the walk.

There are a number of options for refreshments in Stanstead Abbotts including The Jolly Fisherman (location - https://w3w.co/passes.person.fills), The Oak (location - https://w3w.co/amount.taken.tell), the Village Cafe (location - https://w3w.co/wells.recall.crown), and The Red Lion (location - https://w3w.co/float.handed.doors). There are also a couple of restaurants and a village store.

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Local history

Stanstead Abbotts has a rich history dating back to the Domesday Book of 1086. The name "Stanstead" likely refers to the location of the village on a "stand" or hill, while "Abbotts" indicates its connection to the Abbot of Waltham Holy Cross. The village was once part of the manor of Waltham Abbey and was primarily agricultural. During the medieval period, Stanstead Abbotts experienced growth and development. A water mill was established on the River Lea, and the village became a centre for local trade and commerce. The parish church, dedicated to St. James, dates back to the 12th century. The Tudor era brought changes to Stanstead Abbotts. The manor house, known as Stanstead Bury, was built during this time and later became a private residence. The village also witnessed the rise of a thriving wool industry, contributing to its economic prosperity. (source - Gemini AI)

Interactive map

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