New River Path

New River Path
New River Path
	The path at Enfield
Length	28 mi (45 km)
Location	Hertfordshire, England; North London
Trailheads	New Gauge, Hertford; 51°48′25″N 0°03′28″W / 51.806879°N 0.057881°W; M25 crossing; 51°40′58″N 0°03′17″W / 51.682865°N 0.054702°W; The Castle, Finsbury Park; 51°33′56″N 0°05′36″W / 51.565628°N 0.093365°W; New River Head, Islington, London; 51°31′42″N 0°06′26″W / 51.528396°N 0.107278°W
Use	Hiking
Hiking details
Season	All year

The New River Path is a long-distance footpath which follows the course of the 17th-century aqueduct, the New River, for 28 miles (45 km) from its source in Hertfordshire to its original end in Islington, London. The path is waymarked and all signs display the words "New River Path" on a green background.^[1]

History[]

The New River itself was completed in 1613. The aqueduct supplies water from Hertfordshire to North London.

The New River Path was developed over a 12-year period at a cost of over £2 million; of this sum £1.3 million has been invested by Thames Water in the project. Throughout this time Thames Water has worked to overcome operational, safety and security issues in partnership with, and with the support of, many organisations; including Groundwork, London's Waterway Partnership, the Countryside Agency, the New River Action Group, Friends of the New River Walk, local schools, and all the local authorities along the route.^[1]

Route[]

New River Path

Legend

					Hertford East
					Hertfordshire section
					New Gauge, Hertford
					Ware
					St Margarets
					Rye House
					to Cambridge
					Broxbourne
					Cheshunt
					to Stratford

					M25 motorway
					London section
					Turkey Street
					to Liverpool Street
					to Stevenage
					Enfield Chase

					Winchmore Hill
					Palmers Green
					Bowes Park
					former Palace Gates
					Alexandra Palace
					Wood Green
					Turnpike Lane
					Hornsey
					Harringay
					Harringay Green Lanes
					Stamford Hill
					Manor House
					Heritage section
					The Castle, Finsbury Park
					Canonbury
					Islington New River Walk
					Essex Road
					to Moorgate
					Angel
					New River Head

The grassed riverside path is restricted to use by walkers, with a few sections with hard surfaces being accessible to wheelchair users. At all path access points, safety notices are displayed which specify precautions. Users of the route are requested (by Thames Water) to keep to the path, not to interfere with wildlife, keep dogs on leads and avoid fouling, take litter home and take care crossing roads. At times, operational work needs to be carried out which may cause sections of the path to be closed temporarily.^[1]

The walk can be split into the following three sections.

Hertfordshire; 14 miles (23 km)[]

The path begins at New Gauge, Hertford, and passes through the Lee Valley towns and villages of Ware, Great Amwell, St Margarets, Rye House, Hoddesdon, Broxbourne, Turnford, Cheshunt and Waltham Cross.

London; 11 miles (18 km)[]

After crossing over the M25, the path passes through four London boroughs; Enfield, Haringey, Hackney and Islington. The route of the path takes it close to the Hertford Loop Line stations of Enfield Chase, Winchmore Hill, Palmers Green, Bowes Park, Alexandra Palace, Hornsey, Harringay and Essex Road. The route is also adjacent to Harringay Green Lanes railway station, Manor House tube station, Canonbury railway station and Angel tube station.

Heritage section; 3 miles (4.8 km)[]

The path follows the now truncated route of the watercourse to its culmination at New River Head.

References[]

^ ^a ^b ^c "The New River Path – a walk linking Hertford with Islington" (PDF). Retrieved 3 July 2019.

External links[]

[shelford-1] "The New River Path – a walk linking Hertford with Islington" (PDF). Retrieved 3 July 2019.

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