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Weeping willow hanging over the river in River Lee Country Park

River Lee Country Park

See our different entrances on our plan a visit tab below

Never sleeps, open 24/7

River Lee Country Park stretches between Waltham Abbey in Essex and Broxbourne in Hertfordshire this 1,000 acre park has a huge variety of activities to enjoy

Contact us

info@leevalleypark.org.uk

03000 030 610

Facilities

What 3 Words

///enjoyable.wacky.clips

How to get here

You can easily plan your journey to the site using Google maps – click on the site in the map to discover more.

Car parking

Our car parks are open all the time, car parking tariffs apply at all times. No overnight parking is permitted at any time.

Car parking charges apply at this site. Find out more about parking in our open spaces here

Find us

Different locations in River Lee Country Park:

Broxbourne Old Mill and Meadows, Mill Lane, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire EN10 7AX
Broxbourne Riverside, Mill Lane, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire EN10 7AX
Clayton Hill, Nazeing Road,Nazeing,Essex EN9 2HX
Cornmill Meadows, Crooked Mile,Waltham Abbey,Essex EN9 2ES
Fishers Green, Stubbins Hall Lane, Waltham Abbey, Essex EN9 2EF
Hooks Marsh, Fishers Green Lane,Waltham Abbey, Essex EN9 2ED
Pindar and Cheshunt Country Walk, Windmill Lane, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire EN8 9AJ
Turnford Brook, Off Cheshunt Wash, Cheshunt,Hertfordshire EN8 0LU
Waltham Abbey Gardens, Abbey View, Waltham Abbey, Essex EN9 1XD

Picnic spots

Walking running cycling routes

Bird hides

Things to do near by

Gunpowder Park is just on the board of Essex and London so great for visiting a variety of places. Waltham Abbey is a short drive away with Waltham Abbey Gardens, the church and Royal Gunpowder Mills. Lee Valley White Water Centre is also close by. Heading south you'll find your way to Enfield Lock and Island and if you follow the river down you'll end up in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Toilets

Things to do

Angling

We have a host of fisheries run by licensees, angling clubs, societies and consortia.

Disc Golf

This free family activity is a great addition to any day out in River Lee Country Park

Lee Valley Animal Adventure Park

From meeting farm animals to epic event days - plan a day out for all the family

Nazeing Meads

Watersports, fisheries and wildlife are a 10 minute walk from Dobbs Weir

Rye House Gatehouse

One of the first brick built houses in England, packed full of history and mystery

Watersports

With clubs and centres in the park that offer a range of different watersports you can try

Broxbourne Old Mill and Meadow

Nature reserve near Broxbourne station where you can hire a boat, bike or even pitch up at our almost wild campsite.

ESSA Water Activities Centre

Get your paddles at the ready, this watersports centre has a range of activities

Lee Valley Boat Centre

Set on the banks of the River Lee, you can explore the waterways by boat with all the family

Orienteering

Grab a map and test your navigation skills with this orienteering course

Sailing

We have lots of clubs that offer sailing up and down the park so you can get your sailing fix

Wildlife Discovery Centre

Nestled in Fishers Green you'll find this state of the art hide with a Discovery Room and tower giving you a view over Seventy Acres Lake

Cycling

Cycling in the park or battling the track at Lee Valley VeloPark, test your skills

Herts Young Mariners Base

Set in River Lee Country Park, this centre is known for its open water swimming sessions

Lee Valley White Water Centre

Watch the rapids roll as you soak up the atmosphere at this iconic venue

Royal Gunpowder Mills

Explore the Mills explosive history and see how nature has reclaimed this site. It even has its own herd of deer

Walking and running

There's lots of different routes you can take when exploring the park - pick yours today

Wildlife watching

Lee Valley Regional Park is a haven for wildlife with different species around every corner

River Lee Country Park is situated in the north of Lee Valley Regional Park and is 1,000 acres of open space, activities and discovery. From the miles of traffic free trails, to Lee Valley White Water Centre and the other watersport centres, from learning about wildlife on the doorstep at the Wildlife Discovery Centre to places to stay, there’s a new adventure around every turn.

View of country park in Cheshunt with artworks

Walking route by the river with flagged iris

The 1,000 acre River Lee Country Park is an excellent place to spend time watching a range of wildlife. The network of surfaced paths wend their way round the mosaic of flooded gravel pits, wader scrapes, wet woodland, rivers, grassland and scrub. There’s a wealth of wildlife throughout the year with every visit offering different sightings. Here are some of the wildlife hotspots for your to discover.

Spring

The woodland around Turnford and Cheshunt Pits is the perfect place to spot (or just hear) a Nightingale and amongst the reed you might see a Water Vole enjoying the ditches in the area. In terms of plant life, May and June are ideal for Orchids with Orchid displays in North Metropolitan Pit and Bowyers Water.

Holyfield Hall Farm is a great viewing point for migrant birds in the spring months as well as smaller species such as Wheatear found along the edges of tracks and fields.

The shingled islands along Hall Marsh Scrape are used by Little Ringed Plover as they return from Africa to breed. Waders like Green and Common Sandpiper use this as a rest during their passage through the valley.

Cornmill Meadows muddy scrapes are a great source of food for waders and some interesting species such as Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit along with regulars like Redshank and Common and Green Sandpiper. Lapwing breed around the edges of the pools in the spring and can be seen defending their young.

Water Vole eating a leaf

Little Ringed Plover

Summer

Over Seventy Acres Lake the calls of the Common Tern and Black-Headed Gull can be heard all around and the Wildlife Discovery Centre is great place to spot them from the tower and CCTV cameras. Thistly and Cheshunt Marsh come alive with the sounds of crickets so keep and eye out for the Roesel’s Bush-cricket. Dragon and damselflies begin to take flight along the water ways like the Brown Hawker. Butterflies also make an appearance with the Speckled Wood preferring the woodland and skippers fluttering amongst the meadows. Bowyer Water is also a great place to see the water lilies in bloom.

The flower rich meadows in Holyfield Hall Farm attracted a large amount of butterflies with Elms growing along the hedgerows providing a home for the White-letter Hairstreak.

Hall Marsh Scrape become a show of birdlife with the Common Terns from Seventy Acres Lake being spotted over head and the Hobby hunting for dragonflies.

If it's dragonflies you want to see, Cornmill Meadows is the place to be with the Hairy Dragonfly being the first to emerge, the Emperor Dragonfly patrolling the water ways and the Red-eye Damselfly resting on floating vegetation. Barn Owl and Kestrel can be often seen hunting for small mammal in the grass.

Common Tern siting on rock

Hairy Dragonfly

Autumn

The Tree Park at Cornmill Meadows is a great place to visit during the autumn months with the changing colours of the leaves. English Oak turns a wonderful brown colour, English Elm a buttery yellow and Hawthorn turning from green to red to orange along with their signature red berries.

Winter visitors begin to return to Holyfield Hall Farm so keep an eye out.

Hall Marsh Scrape and Cornmill Meadows is a regular stop for migrate birds making their return journey so you can get some spectacular sights.

Autumn leaves along the river

Winter

The Bittern is the star of the winter show in River Lee Country Park, returning to Turnford and Cheshunt Pits yearly. The Wildlife Discovery Centre is a great spot to see them. There are some other great winter visitors like Gadwall and Shoveler. It’s worth looking out for more uncommon visitors such as Pintail. Alder thrives in the damp habitats around the pits and provides excellent feeding opportunities for flocks of tits, which are joined by large flocks of Siskin and Redpoll in the winter months.

Holyfield Hall Farm is planted up with crops like Quinoa and Millet which provides a great food source for Yellowhammer and Linnet. You can also spot winter thrushes like Fieldfare and Redwing.

A variety of ducks come to Hall Marsh Scrape like Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal and Wigeon as well as large flocks of Lapwing. Some rarities have been spotted to like Spoonbill and Spotted Crake.

Cornmill Meadows flooded meadows are great for spotting large flocks of Wigeon and Teal. You might also see Snipe feeding amongst the rushes.

Bittern amongst the reeds

Male Shoveler

Take a read of our blog

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Spring/summer 2024 newsletter for Walthamstow and Leyton Marshes

It’s competition time! Win a Velodrome Flying Lap cycling experience for two worth £106

Jun 10

It’s competition time! Win a Velodrome Flying Lap cycling experience for two worth £106

It’s competition time! Win a Velodrome Flying Lap cycling experience for two worth £106

Start summer right this May half team

May 20

Start summer right this May half team

We have seen glimpses of summer on the way and this May half term it’s time to fully embrace the season and begin your exploration!

Upcoming events

View from a path at Gunpowder Park

Lifewalk - Sewardstone Marsh - 17 September

Date: 17 September

Time: 10:00

Sewardstone Marsh

Volunteers working at The Paddocks

Practical Conservation Activity - 18 September

Date: 18 September

Time: 10:00

The Paddocks, Ferry Lane

People walking along the river

Wellbeing social walk

Date: 18 September

Time: 10:30

YHA Lee Valley, River Lee Country Park

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