4 miles (6.4km)

Ponders End, still with a working mill, was the cradle for several great 19th-century inventions. More recently Jah Wobble’s album Mu was inspired by Ponders End and this stretch of the river to the south. It’s as close as London gets to New Jersey says the musician. But its one of my favourite places for walking, it gets beautiful in that urban way, but then you go through soap factories up near Ponders End. Its got a wonderful, dislocated, alienated feeling. This section, known as the Edmonton Cut, runs past Pickett’s Lock and through Tottenham Marshes which is rich in wild flowers.

Refreshments
Ponders End: Navigation Inn (Beefeater), off Wharf Road. 

Stonebridge Lock: The Watersedge. Tea room open Wed-Fri 12 noon-6pm; weekends 11am-7pm.

Transport
Ponders End: National Rail.Tottenham: National Rail or Underground (Victoria Line) to Tottenham Hale.

Tourist Information
Waltham Abbey: 4 Highbridge Street EN9 1DE (01992 652295).

For accommodation email [email protected]

Map
OS Explorer 174 (Epping Forest & Lee Valley)