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rivers & lakes 1 Waterford Marsh, R Beane Pretty meadow and young willow-lined river for paddling and a dip. Waterford is 2 miles N of Hertford on A119. ,, Take first R (Vicarage Ln) to find footpath on R after 200m onto common (SG14 2QA). 10 mins, 51.8141, -0.0937 q1 2 Bengeo, R Beane River meadow and footbridge with good swimming spots up or downstream, including a weir and waterfall. Find St Leonard’s Church (SG14 3JW, all the ,, way down New Rd from Bengeo main street past Holy Trinity church). Pass through gate onto Hartham Common 100m to bridge. Close to Hertford East station (head N via Mill Rd, across the canal, 500m) or Hertford North station. 5 mins, 51.8059, -0.0683 qb1 3 Glen Faba, Dobb’s Weir One of the most secluded and cleanest lakes in the Lea Valley area. From Fish and Eels, Dobbs Weir Rd (EN11 ,, 0AY, 01992 466073) take footpath upstream
NE and cross the footbridge to R to reach lake shore after 500m, under pylons. Or from end of Glen Faba Rd (CM19 5JW). 10 mins, 51.7592, 0.0194 aUh 4 Nazeing Mead lakes, Broxbourne Three pleasant lakes used for fishing and sailing, on Cycle route 1 S of Dobb’s weir. Good footpath access to shores. Between Broxbourne and Lower Nazeing, ,, B194, turn off N on National Cycle Route 1 from B194/Nazeing Rd (up Nursery Rd, EN9 2HU). First lake is after 200m on L. Or access from Dobbs Weir (see above). Watch for bluegreen algae in late summer. 10 mins, 51.7411, 0.0079 cUb 5 Sawbridgeworth, R Stort A pretty rural stretch of river for a mile down to Feakes Lock. Follow the Stort Walkway S from Sheering ,, Mill Lane (CM21 9LR) in Sawbridgeworth, or via Pishiobury Park car park, A1184 (CM21 0AL). 15 mins, 51.8035, 0.1538 b1 6 Poplars Green, R Mimram Pretty stretch of stream for kids and paddling. Further down are several lakes.
B1000 E of Welwyn Gdn City (dir Hertford). ,, Pass turn-off for Tewin Mill, then Archers Green, to find footpath on L after 400m (before SG14 2NQ). Or continue on and turn R after 300m for path (from gatehouse at 51.8024, -0.1438) to several lakes in Mimram valley dowstream (51.7994, -0.1326). 3 mins, 51.8047, -0.1475 q
ancient & sacred 7 Minsden Chapel ruin Apparently haunted by a monk, this roofless ruin with overgrown, flint walls is rumoured to have secret tunnels and buried treasure. Ghostly bells are said to toll at night. Park at the Rusty Gun pub on the B656 ,, (London Rd, SG4 7PG, 01462 432653) and follow the Hertfordshire Way S for 600m to the ruin, which sits in trees on the near tip of small woodland. Return to the pub for a post ghost-hunting pint. 51.9070, -0.2594 87h 8 Thundridge Church ruin All that remains of Thundridge village, this 15th-century ruin and abandoned graveyard once stood near a moated manor house. Known locally as Cold Christmas Church.
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