Tottenham Hale to Eton Manor Gate (for Olympic Park)

Tottenham Hale is on the Victoria Line underground. Mainline from Liverpool street, Stratford and Stansted Airport.

Bus numbers 192, 41, 123, 230, W4 all stop at the station.

[1] To start the walk. With your back to the railway line, follow the path around to the left and in front of the entrance to the tube; and just before the first bus stop (for bus numbers  41, 123, 230 & W4) turn left and go up the steps ahead of you.

To avoid the steps, continue ahead on the path to the traffic lights and turn left.

At the top of the steps, turn left along Ferry Lane. Continue up and over the railway, cross the side street, Mill Mead Road, using the traffic lights. 

[2] Soon after the lights you will see a concrete triangular pillar on your left -  ‘Lee Valley Walk, Lee Valley Park’;  and a small metal pillar showing National Cycle Network. Turn left down the slope to the riverside and at the bottom, turn right and immediately go under the bridge. (Bridge no 24)

You are walking along the River Lee Navigation (A); continue along the riverside path.  You pass under bridge 22A railway bridge and shortly after pass Markfield Park (with café) on your right.

[3] On the far left bank you can see the sloped sides of the Warwick Reservoirs (B). Continue ahead, past the rowing club and riverside café; go under the footbridge.  (Lee Valley Marina Springfield on the far bank).

[4] At the next footbridge clearly signed Lee Valley Walk & Capital Ring (C) continue ahead and up the slope and over the bridge. At the far side turn right down the slope onto the wide open gravel pathway and continue ahead.

You now have Walthamstow Marshes to your left, you’ll see The Anchor & Hope Pub on the far river bank, you go under the railway bridge – stop to read the plaque regarding the historic event 

You can see the Lee Valley Ice Centre ahead (white dome) and on your left is the new and temporary basketball training area for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

[5] By the information board, take the second right path onto the bridge, over the river and left down the slope on the far side and keep ahead with the river to your left.

You pass Millfields Park and under Lea Bridge still following signs for Capital Ring Walk.  Pass the pub - The Princess of Wales. 

[6] A little further along,  the towpath goes up and over the river to the far bank and turns right to continue in the same direction. You will see the sign ‘Lee Valley Park Middlesex Filter Beds Nature Reserve’ (D) on the wall ahead of you.  Follow the towpath.

[7] Go up the ramp on the lefthand side of the towpath and turn left  into the nature reserve. After a few metres turn right and follow the path up onto the large concrete circle, and continue straight ahead across the circle and along the path to a T junction. Turn right here and follow the path to eventually exit the nature reserve through iron gates.

[8] Once through the gates, turn left and follow the path, keeping Hackney Marshes (E) to your right.  Continue along this path as it curves round to the right with the River Lea now on your left. Follow this path as it continues alongside the River Lea and winds through a wooded area, until after approx. 1.5miles it emerges onto Homerton Road. 

[9] Turn left onto Homerton Road and at the junction turn left into Ruckholt Road. Continue along the nearside pavement, crossing the River Lea, until you reach the steps leading up onto the bridge which enters the Olympic Park by the Eton Manor Gate. From here you will be guided into the Olympic Park by 2012 Games volunteers.

(A) The River Lee Navigation (28 miles) is a canalised river incorporating the River Lea (also called the River Lee). Its course runs from Hertford Castle Weir all the way to the River Thames at Bow Creek. It has had various roles - transport, waste disposal, flood control, mill power and pleasure boating needs. It became important for transporting grain, but navigation of its southern-most tidal reaches of Bow Creek were difficult due to its tortuous meanders. In 1571, due to its importance the City of London obtained an act to authorise improvements. This included making new cuts, and creating towpaths on both sides of the river. Shoals were removed, and a cut, probably the section which is now called Bow River from Old Ford Locks to Bow Locks, was excavated, which was not subject to any tolls.  In the late 1700’s the river was increasingly heavily used as a water supply, but the works encouraged industry - such as small arms manufacture, gunpowder mills and furniture-making. In recent times, the area has become a focus for technological progress, such as computing and TV broadcasting - the first few series of Big Brother were filmed next to the navigation!

 (B) Warwick Reservoirs are storage reservoirs and part of the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain, which supplies drinking water to London. They were constructed by the East London Waterworks Company in the mid-19th century on former marshland. They are now owned by Thames Water. The reservoir is popular with birdwatchers, anglers and naturalists, but access is by permit only.

(C)The Capital Ring is a 78 mile/126km easy to follow circular walk around London using waterways, parks and other open spaces. Maps and book available. The walk is broken into 15 sections using public transport. Also see www.walklondon.org.uk

(D)Lee Valley Park Middlesex Filter Beds Nature Reserve: In 1852 London suffered its worst ever outbreak of cholera, a lethal disease which thrives in contaminated water. The Middlesex Filter Beds were built soon after as part of the effort to make sure such epidemics were never repeated. When the beds closed in 1969, nature began to take over, but now the site is a thriving mix of open water, reedbeds and wet woodland habitats. Toads, frogs and newts, dragonfly and damsel fly, plus over 60 different species of bird can be seen in this area

(E) Hackney Marshes - already internationally known as the spiritual home of Sunday league football, with over 70 matches played every week involving dozens of teams in multiple leagues. There are 82 pitches serving not only football, but rugby and cricket. A multi-million pound improvement plan for Hackney Marshes has recently been completed to provide improved pitches and changing facilities, a refurbished bridge, footpaths, cycle ways, and community facilities.