Stort Valley Way
A 28-mile long-distance path in Essex and Hertfordshire forming a circular walk around the town of Harlow. Highlights include the River Stort Navigation, Harlow Marsh Nature Reserve, Lower Sheering, Loyter’s Green, Great Wilmores, Latton Park, Epping Green, Bumble’s Green, and Roydon Hamlet. With map, statistics, and GPX route file.
Statistics and Files
Grid Ref: TL 406 105
Distance: 28 miles (45 km)
Time: 11–14 hours
Duration: 2 days
Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps (1:25,000):
174 Epping Forest and Lee Valley
183 Chelmsford and The Rodings
194 Hertford and Bishop’s Stortford
Summary
The Stort Valley Way is a walking circuit around Harlow in Essex. The way follows the River Stort Navigation from the starting point at Roydon Railway Station to Hunsdon Mead and continues east, sharing the Harcamlow Way and Three Forests Way past Parndon Mead, Harlow Marsh Nature Reserve, Hollinson Mead, Pishiobury Park, Sawbridgeworth, and Lower Sheering, from where the route turns from eastwards to southwards.
Still accompanying the Three Forests Way path while the Harcamlow Way cuts north, the Stort Valley Way and Three Forests Way pass Sheering, Down Hall, The Gorse Wood, Matching, and Matching Tye to reach Carter’s Green, from where the Three Forests Way leaves our route. Henceforth, the Stort Valley Way continues south to Loyter’s Green, Great Wilmores, and Magdalen Laver, after which it turns from southwards to westwards and continues its way to Hastingwood, Latton Park, and Rye Hill Road, where it is rejoined by the Three Forests Way.
Epping Green is visited, and then the Three Forests Way is parted with for the last time as it heads off south. The Stort Valley Way continues east to Bumble’s Green, where it turns northwards to Nazeing and Roydon Hamlet before rejoining the River Stort Navigation and finishing back at Roydon Railway Station.