Hartham Common and King's Meads
Blue Route
| Distance: | Distance 3.8km / 2.3 miles |
|---|---|
| Time: | 1 hour 10 mins. |
| Rating: | Moderate (flat, some unsurfaced paths) |
| Starting point: | Car Park for Hartham Common Grid Ref TL 325 129 |
Route description
Starting at the Car Park for Hartham Common, follow tarmac path towards Hartham Swimming Pool - At junction before Swimming Pool take tarmac path to the left towards Hartham Common Tennis Courts - Do not cross River Beane but turn right to follow river bank - join cycle path and cross bridge - Where cycle path turns to the right away from river, leave cycle path to follow river bank, eventually reaching footbridge at Jacob's island - Do not cross bridge but turn right across Hartham Common towards Hertford Lock, once more joining cycle path - Over lock turn left along river bank - Keep to river side of Pumping House - Go through kissing gate on right - After crossing bridge bear left on track across the Meads through field to kissing gate - Go through this kissing gate and turn right through a second kissing gate - Follow field boundary with hedge to left to reach Hertford Lock - Turn left to follow towpath away from the Meads along canalised River Lee - Go under a small bridge - Climb steps at next bridge and turn right, then left and immediately right to cross weir and join cycle path behind Hartharn Swimming Pool - Retrace your steps back to car park.
Points of interest
Hertford
Hertford is the second largest town in East Hertfordshire and was the site of the first ever General Synod of the English Church in 673 AD. It has been a strategically important site since Saxon times as it is the meeting place of four rivers; the Mimram, the Rib, the Lea (Lee) and the Beane.
Jacob's island
This natural island has recently been managed as an otter habitat. Otters were released back into the County in 1991 and have been seen in this vicinity. Otters need dense undisturbed river bank vegetation to breed. The release programme has been successful.
Milling
Hertford, in the late 18th Century, was an important centre for malting, brewing and corn milling. Surrounded by agricultural estates and with a canal linking the towns of Hertford and Ware. The old river course still meanders over the floodplain.
Rivers and Ditches
The area is crisscrossed by rivers and ditches which are home to many waterside plants and animals. A section of the Lee was straightened in 1765 and it's banks protected to create a canal linking the towns of Hertford and ~e. meanders over the floodplain.
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
Toilets
There are toilets at Hartham Common, Hertford.
Rights of Way symbols you might see
|
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 |
Maps
This map is based on Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Hertfordshire County Council 100019606 2004.
The Ordnance Survey mapping included within this web-site is provided by Hertfordshire County Council under licence from the Ordnance Survey in order to fulfill its public function to provide information relating to its activities, services and plans. Persons viewing this mapping should contact Ordnance Survey copyright for advice where they wish to license Ordnance survey mapping for their own use.
See the Ordnance Survey site for more information.
