Walks you can reach from Roydon by train

Recommended

Waterway: four fifths along the River Stort Navigation.

Thorley Wash Nature Reserve

Time: 4h–7h30

2 lunch spots: the Three Tuns, or Full of Beans Cafe (2h–4h in)

1 end-of-walk reward: the Moorhen

Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).

Reverse direction: the Saturday Walkers Club and Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

Flat, easy farmland, open fields, riverside and quiet villages.

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Flat river floodplain, towpaths, water meadows, lakeside paths, woodland strips, farmland fields and open parkland.

Time: 4h

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Flat river floodplain, gravel-pit lakes, water meadows, country park sculptures, farmland and a market town.

Time: 3h30

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Historic churches and fields of Essex, along the River Stort past Waytemore Castle and Hassobury Mansion.

Waytemore Castle: The earthwork remains of an 11th-century motte-and-bailey castle beside the River Stort.

Hassobury Mansion: An imposing Victorian country mansion glimpsed from the route near Manuden.

Time: 4h30–9h30

Walk details: Walking Post (tips, photos and local insights).

A pleasant and interesting walk on undemanding local footways, with nothing too challenging underfoot, though gates can be limiting for some and wet periods may cause flooding and especially along the Ash Valley section.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 5h30–11h

Warnings: Gates may limit access for some. Wet periods can result in flooding, especially along the Ash Valley section.

Walk details: Walking Post (tips, photos and local insights).

Similar walk: Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

Urban north London, disused railway trackbed nature reserve, ancient woodland, reservoir wetlands, residential streets, riverside path and open parkland.

Time: 3h30

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

An easy-to-navigate towpath walk following the Rivers Lea and Stort for the whole route, full of wildlife. The path can be narrow and uneven with steps and gets muddy after heavy rain. Follows the River Lea and River Stort navigations; abundant wildlife. Steps and narrow uneven parts.

Waterway: almost all along the River Stort Navigation.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 3h30–7h30

Warnings: Some care is needed at the junction of the two rivers as signage is slightly confusing.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

The views were magnificent; good views, you can see the Shard. A varied route through fields, woods, hedged farmland tracks and picturesque villages, with steep hills around Cuffley (good views, including the Shard) and stretches of suburban and roadside walking. Frequently very muddy and marshy and especially in Morven open space and the wet field paths south of Cuffley. Passes the Leefe Robinson Memorial and Sopers Viaduct, and joins the Hertfordshire Way. Northaw is a picturesque village with a tap inside the church gate. Cuffley has shops and cafes for a refreshment stop.

Time: 4h30–9h

Lunch: Lots of refuelling opportunities in Cuffley around the half-way point.

Warnings: Many muddy and marshy sections, including waterlogged kissing gates and very muddy bridges over brooks (care needed); some narrow rooty paths; a temporary signposted detour around new road works near the New River at the Cheshunt end.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A good, varied route along a short canal section then through open farmland with big skies, plus a nature reserve and patches of field crossings that can be muddy. Footpaths and bridleway are well signed, with no steep gradients and but stiles and steps make it inaccessible. Passes the Amwell Way / Amwell nature reserve, with grebes, grey wagtails and dozens of benches along the way. An alternative follows the River Lee and Stort towpaths or the Hertfordshire Way.

Woodland: a third under tree cover.

Time: 4h30–8h30

Lunch: Two pubs with food and drink at Hunsdon, about 40% of the way along.

Warnings: Some field crossings can be muddy, and one was unclear where a farmer had harvested turnips. The road between Mablets and Great Penny's Farm has been known to flood, with the verge submerged. Stiles and steps.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Flat river floodplain, towpaths, water meadows, lakeside paths, woodland strips and open parkland.

Time: 3h

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Source: A shorter variant of Broxbourne Circular via Waltham Abbey – the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Canal towpath, parkland, Spital Brook valley, ancient diverse woodland, streams, boardwalks and green lanes.

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Source: An alternative variant of Broxbourne Circular – the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).