Take A Walk On The Wareside Walk 80 (from East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Join the River Ash as it meanders along one of the most beautiful spots on the edge of Hertfordshire.

Six or seven of this series of walks have attracted more compliments than others. Among these is the valley of the River Ash which featured in walk number 32.

Today's walk extends the experience by travelling further up the valley of this wonderfully clear tributary of the Lea. Of course one of the reasons for the appeal of this countryside is that it is mainly pasture with field layouts that have changed little over the years. There are other attractions: some imposing houses; quiet sheltered lanes; and a long disused railway track. The river remains the star for most of the route and you will cross it four times as it twists and turns on the course through its valley.

1. Start
Leave the car park and turn right at the road past the pub. Turn right at the first junction along the road to Babbs Green. Almost immediately go left up a path alongside Bourne Cottage which takes you to a road where you turn left and walk up to Reeves Green.

2. 0.2 miles/ 0.4km
Turn right and right in front of the school to go along a lane passing the attractive Old Vicarage. The main lane goes left at a junction but you keep forward to pass Morley Hall with its extravagant garden house over the moat on the left.

The path swings left with some interesting weather-boarded houses on the right and develops into a delightful, if sometimes muddy, sunken path between trees. (Some way along you will pass some badger sets on the right).

When, after a time, the path descends and forks you go left down further into a dip which you may have to cross by a bridge to go up the other side passing Newhole Farm on the left. A little further and you come to a junction of paths with Swades Farm on the right.

3. 1.1 miles/1.8km
Go left along the surfaced track to reach the road (B1004). Cross slightly right to go past Waterplace Farmhouse and immediately turn left to walk alongside its boundary hedge to climb a stile. Continue down the right hand edge of the field to cross the River Ash by a substantial wooden bridge alongside a Scots pine.

Once over, keep forward across pasture towards a house and go through a double metal gate.

4. 1.7 miles/2.8km
Cross a disused railway track, to walk up hill passing the house on your left. When you reach a wood, turn left to go downhill with the woodland to your right. Pass a cottage on the right and go forward along a narrow path to a bridge to cross the Ash for a second time. Join a wide track and turn right on it (the old railway track is on your left and you can see it through the hedge). At a bridge across the disused railway on the left, turn right downhill to make your third crossing of the river and immediately turn left through metal gates (you may have to lift one of these slightly to shoot the bolt).

5. 2.4 miles/3.9km
Now you enter a stretch of meadow. Go forward with Mardocks Mill on the left and two large trees (horse chestnut and beech) on the right. Go through a second gate and continue along the left edge of the next field near to the river which is performing some complex meanders. When you cross into the third field keep to the left-hand edge to reach a stile.

6. 3.1 miles/5km
Cross the disused railway track with its bridge to the left and go forward with the river on your left to reach a footbridge on the left by which you cross the Ash for the final time. Emerge via scrub to go left on the edge of a field. Follow the path as it follows the course of a sometime tributary uphill to the main road. Turn left to return to the parking place.

Walkers Notebook Starting Point/Parking: Wareside is about 2 miles to the east of Ware on the B1004. There is a small car park by the village hall behind the Chequers pub you could use this or the car park at the White Horse you should intend returning to one of these two pubs.

Otherwise you could park by the green at Reeves Green if you do this you should start the walk at point 2.

Distance: 3.4 miles/5.5km
Time: 2 hours
Terrain: very gentle climbs over good paths
Stiles: 6 (some of which would be difficult if you had a big dog)

Near: Ware
Refreshments: two good pubs close together
Public Toilets: none
Map and Grid Reference: Explorer 194 grid ref: 395155
More Information: West Essex Ramblers: memberships and free programme of walks with leaders: 020 8524 2737 (Redbridge Group: 01708 456 771 and Lea Valley Friends who specialise in walks of 3 to 4 miles: 020 8529 7328).

Len Banister has written Drive and Stroll in Essex which contains 20 circular walks. He can be contacted by email if you have comments or suggestions for future walks at talkingwalking@aol.com

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