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Directions
Starting from Broadmeads Car Park, looking across road, turn left along Broadmeads passing school on the right - Where road ends, join surfaced cycle path running alongside railway line - Surfaced cycle path crosses open meadow and scrub to join River Lee towpath - Turn right onto towpath back towards Ware - On reaching road, turn right (Amwell End Road). This will take you to Broadmeads car park.
Ware
The great Roman road Ermine Street runs through Ware where it bridged the River Lee. The town in those times was thriving and remained an important site during the Saxon-Dane conflicts. In later years Ware was a prosperous centre for the malting industry being situated between London and the barley-growing counties of Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Running through Ware is the River Lee Navigation, an important transport canal built in 1765 to link Ware with the River Thames at Blackwell. The town's importance as a coaching stop is evident by the number of old inns in the town centre.
Gazebos
These 'summerhouses' line the banks of the River Lee at Ware. Built in the 13th Century
in the gardens of former High Street coaching inns, they survive as a rare reminder of
times past. 
The Cut
A small wooden bridge leads over the Cut, a canalised stretch of water used for loading and unloading barges next to Paul's Malt House, the last maltings to close in Ware (1994).
King's Meads
A floodplain of the River Lee, the Meads have always been an important wetland area for grazing. Although flooding is now restricted due to low water levels and floodbanks, the grasslands have never been 'Improved' by fertilisers or herbicides creating an ecologically rare habitat.
Lea island
This can be seen on the left from the tow path when walking back to Ware. The nearest stretch of river is the canalised Lee. Behind the island is the original course of the River Lea. This can be seen from the Ware end of the island.
Cycle Path
The cycle path across Hartham Common was opened in 1995 and follows the River Lee towpath for much of it's length from Hertford to Ware. It has a smooth level surface suitable for walkers and cyclists of all abilities.
Other Local Walks
There are several Hartham Common and King's Meads walks
Black Route | Blue Route | Green Route | Yellow Route | Red Route
For further information please contact the Countryside Management Service. Alternatively, plan your own route in your local area by using Public Rights of Way. Ordnance Survey Explorer map 194 will show you this area.
 Rights
of Way symbols you might see on your walk
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 Yellow arrows indicate footpaths for pedestrian use only |
 Blue arrows indicate bridleways for horse riders, cyclists and pedestrian use only |
 Red arrows indicate Byways Open to All Traffic (BOAT) for horse riders, cyclists and pedestrians and may be legally used by other wheeled vehicles |
 Black arrows indicate Roads Used as Public Paths (RUPP) for horse riders, cyclists and pedestrians and may be legally used by other wheeled vehicles |