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Red Route 6.3 Km / 3.8 miles Rating Moderate (flat, unsurfaced paths) Route Circular Time 2 hrs Toilets Broadmeads Car Park, Ware Starting Point Broadmeads Car Park, Ware (Grid Ref.. TL. 358141) Finishing Point As above

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 - Do not join towpath but turn left to cross open meadow towards railway line - At gate cross railway line. TAKE CARE at this point - Path winds through wet grassland to the right, leading to small building and footbridge - At small building keep to left and go over stile to reach embankment - Follow path along embankment with low lying land on either side - turn right at base of chalk slope and go under A10 flyover. Path may be muddy in wet weather - Keep straight on with houses on left passing allotments, to gate onto Mead Lane - Follow road to right onto path leading to railway crossing. TAKE CARE - Turn right after crossing and walk to end of road to gate on left leading to track onto King's Meads - Go through kissing gate on left and follow field boundary with hedge on left to reach Hertford Lock - Do not cross over lock but turn right and continue on towpath along river bank back to Ware - On reaching road turn right, (Amwell End Road) to reach Broadmeads car park.

Hartham Common and The King's meads

This wet meadow of the Lee Valley floodplain is Hertford's oldest documented historical monument and acts as a "green wedge" separating the towns of Ware and Hertford. Commoners and Burgesses of Hertford have had grazing rights on the Common for nearly 1000 years. Livestock was allowed to graze the area between Lammas Day (Aug 12) until Candlemas Day (Feb 1st). For the rest of the year the area was left ungrazed to produce a hay crop. (This is known as a Lammas Meadow). In the Middle Ages the Common was the site for jousting tournaments, archery competitions, fetes and general merrymaking. With grazing dating back to prehistoric times this site has never been ploughed or sown and is home to an interesting variety of plants and animals.

Land Management

The wetland meadows are now under a Stewardship Scheme with a local farmer. His cattle will graze the fields sympathetically and maintain the valuable wet grassland meadows. Without grazing the area will eventually become invaded by scrub and important rare plants will be lost.

Chadwell Springs

Chadwell Springs, at the base of Bushy Dell Nature Reserve, mark the source of the New River. This is a man-made waterway constructed by Sir Hugh Myddleton in 1613 to supply London with fresh drinking water.

Bushy Dell Nature Reserve

This chalk grassland slope, with it's well drained soils, is home to lime-loving plants such as Cowslips, Bird's Foot Trefoil, Salad Burnet and the rare grass Broom Rape.

Wetland Birds

The King's Meads flood in winter and are important feeding grounds for rnigrating and over-wintering birds. Wintering species include Gadwall, Shoveler, Wigeon and Teal.

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.