River Lea (Hertford Loop)
From Wikipaddle
| Hertford Loop | |
| Grade | 1 |
| Distance | 2 km (1.2 miles) |
| Time | 1 hour (2 including upper) |
| Location | |
| Country | England |
| Region | Hertfordshire |
| Lat | 51.80307872749274 |
| Lon | -0.07059574127197266 |
| Directions, Google earth | |
The Hertford Loop (part of the River Lea) is a short, easy and mainly flat paddle, partly along the canal and partly along the river interspersed by a number of small weirs along the way. All the weirs are easily portaged if necessary during very high water levels, but for the most part can be run without problems.
Contents |
Access
The River Lea from Castle Weir to the River Thames is a navigation and paddleable without consent. The River Lea (Upper)'s access is ambiguous from Castle Weir to Horns Mill Weir.
Parking
2 car parks are located on Hartham Common in Hertford. Both are accessible from Port Hill, near to the town centre.
Boats and people can be dropped off near Hertford Basin during Sundays and Bank Holidays, but parking is discouraged without prior permission. Weekdays are normally too busy to allow this.
A second car park further downstream (accessible past the industrial estate) is also a good option and is a lot less busy.
Route and Weirs
High levels
Hertford Weir
The first weir of note is the largest, named simply Hertford Weir located opposite Herts Canoe Club's clubhouse, by Hertford narrowboat marina on Hartham Common. The weir is runnable via a slide on each side of the structure. Generally the downstream slide is used more frequently, and is more likely to the clear of debris. A get out next to the weir is available for people who are unable to run the slide, and a small bridge runs over to the downstream natural river.
Continue paddling on the lower (natural) section for about 200 metres, and you reach 2-step weir.
High levels
2-step weir
This weir consists of a shallow, stepped weir about 7 metres wide. At low flows complete beginners can run the weir with almost no risk whatsoever. At low winter flows someone may need to stand in the weir to give assistance (be careful, the surface is slippery but the current is not strong enough to push you over). At high flows, the river turns into a wide, sticky stopper. Punching through the stopper is easy, but surfing isn't recommended unless you are an experienced whitewater paddler, the weir has a tedancy to turn into a 1-step weir in these circumstances.
Very low summer levels
Confluences with Rib and Beane, then Hertford Lock
Pass under the bridge, the River Beane ajoins immediately after. Keep paddling for another 300 metres, and the river snakes past a few dead ends and mini-loops. Eventually you will reach a large expanse where the River Rib confluences with the Lea. Carry on, and the river will continue to get wider, until you reach the canalised section of the Lea. Straight on will take you to Ware, turn right to bring yourself up to Hertford Lock and back to Hertford Weir.
Old Barge pub and River Lea (Upper)
If you fancy more exploration of the Upper Lea, continue past Hertford Weir past until you reach the Old Barge pub, which is an ideal place to take out and enjoy a pint or cooked lunch.
A short distance upstream from the pub is Folly Island bridge, and the other side has a large turning area for narrow boats. A decked area allows seal launching, or stepped access to the river. Carry on upstream until you reach Cow Bridge, pass under the right hand arch or if levels are low and you're feeling adventurous, head into the tunnel.
Very high levels
Castle Weir
The other side of Cow Bridge is Castle Weir. During low flows you can walk up the stepped section of the weir, or alternatively use the pontoon and steps. You will need to climb over the locked gate. Put in again at the other side of the bridge and continue upstream.
Castle Weir can be played on easily, and the main drop provides fun for people learning whitewater skills at low levels. Make sure you check if the sluice gates are open at high flows, if only one gate is open, the flow can knock over paddlers into a corner, pinning you in the second stopper.
The second stopper is river wide, shallow, and quite sticky at most levels. Exercise caution if playing, but escape is possible by side-surfing to river left.
Medium levels
Upper Lea, Mimram confluence to Horns Mill Weir
Continuing past Castle Weir leads you through the beautiful castle grounds, past a low limbo bridge (careful at high levels) and the A414 roadbridge. Pass the cow fields and private back gardens until you reach the River Mimram on river left. You can continue up the Mimram, however it gets narrow, tree-infested and a number of mandatory portages are needed.
Instead go upstream to the left (river right), and follow the river up to Horns Mill Weir. The weir is a verticle drop which lands on a shallow pool. Only in very high flows can safe runs be achieved, and then you have to content with the large stopper which forms. A scramble up the banks is possible to put in above.
It is possible to paddle up to Welwyn and Luton but can be a hard slog going against the normally slow current.
