Route Developer: Terry Silke
Route Checker: Sameera Rashid
The route of this walk includes part of the footpath along the River Lee. The river is known as both the River Lea and River Lee, depending on the local usage. For consistency, it is referred to here as River Lee.
[1] Leaving Clapton Railway Station, turn left along Clapton Road (not sign posted), cross Gunton Road and take the next left into Cleveleys Road. Walk all the way down Cleveleys Road and, at the end, turn right into Casimir Road (not sign posted). Cross the road and follow the footpath between the park railings and the barrier around the corner of the Casimir Road.
[2] Just after the corner, enter into Millfields Park (North) through the gates on your left. After entering the park, turn left and follow the path that passes the children’s play area. At the end of the park just after you pass the children’s play area, turn right along the side of the park marked by a galvanised metal fence. Walk along the path with this fence on your left.
Notice, by the ornate gate which give entrance to the flats, the bees, dragon flies and leaves in wrought iron along several fence panels.
[3] Walk to the end of the path where it meets the River Lee Navigation and turn right along the black tarmac riverside path. Be careful it could be slippery when wet.
(A) The footpath follows the River Lee Navigation Hackney Cut, which was built in 1771 so boats could bypass the winding River Lee and provides a link into London’s canal system. Just before bridge carrying Lea Bridge Road over the River Lee, notice the sign post showing places to walk and distances.
[4] Follow the riverside path under the Lee Bridge and past the Princess of Wales pub. Then walk across a small bridge and follow the path which crosses the River Lee via a bridge. Continue along the towpath and then take the first left up a slope to enter the Middlesex Filter Beds.
(B) Middlesex Filter Beds: In 1844 over 14,000 people in the East End of London died from water borne cholera. The people demanded clean water and this lead to the building of a number of water treatment facilities, including these filter beds in 1852. There are notices at several places around the beds which explain how they worked. Please take care as you walk around the filter beds as there are steep slopes off the path and in places the surface is uneven and slippery when wet.
[5] After entering the filter beds, take a left turn through the second gateway and follow the pathway around the filter beds. Do not cross the filter beds at this stage. Notice the concrete wall on your left. As you walk around, beyond this wall is the original River Lee.
[6] Upon reaching a fence and gateway cross the path and pass through. Take the next right turn. Walk along the pathway to exit on left. Notice the fish sculptures by Kate Malone in the filter bed on your left hand side. You then come to a large circular structure over which you have to walk. This structure was the collecting tank for the clean filtered water which was then pumped for use in North East London.
[7] Proceed to exit and pass through the exit, turning right to walk along the riverside path back over the bridge. Then cross the second small bridge past the Princess of Wales pub and under the bridge carrying Lea Bridge Road over the River Lee.
[8] Immediately after exiting the bridge take a left turn, pass the signpost and walk up the pathway within the edge of Millfields Park (North). At the path junction take the right hand path towards the children’s play area. At the park exit turn left into Casimir Road.
[9] Cross the road and turn right into Gunton Road. Walk up Gunton Road on the right hand-side. At the top of the road, turn right into Clapton Road and then turn right back into Clapton Railway Station.