Rye House Walks & Route Maps

This first walk is a lovely short stroll around the wetlands and walkways of the Rye Meads Nature Reserve. You can follow this route directly from the separate Rye Meads route on the app, but this version takes you there from a free car park a little bit further down the road.

The walk starts at the car park next to the historic Rye House Gatehouse which is part of one of the first brick houses to be built in the country. Then, you'll walk along a stretch of road to get to the entrance and then embark on a nice stroll around the RSPB Nature Reserve which is a fantastic place for birdwatching.

Important: You have to follow the route clockwise around the reserve as there is a one-way turnstile half way around the route. You also have to walk through the visitor centre at the start of the walk, which is open 9am-5pm and sells tea, coffee and lovely ice cream pots!

Please be aware that as this is a nature reserve full of beautiful birds, dogs are not allowed on the walk.

Refreshments:

The Rye House, Rye House

Rye Meads Visitor Centre

Train Station:

Rye House

This second route option is a lovely river and canal side circular adventure from Rye House.

After exploring the old Gatehouse, you'll then head off on a stroll to the south along the pretty New River Path. Then, after a while, you'll cut across some fields that take you past the Admiral's Walk Lake, and then you'll meet up with the River Lee Navigation at Dobbs Weir.

There's a nice riverside pub at Dobbs Weir for a quick pit stop if you so desire before walking along the pretty canal back to the start where there is then another pub option waiting for you.

Refreshments:

The Rye House, Rye House

The Fish and Eels, Roydon

Train Station:

Rye House

The third route option is another long waterside walk of a similar length to the second route. Like the second route, it enjoys stretches of walking along the New River Path and then back along the River Lee Navigation.

However, this walk instead heads to the north of Rye House and the benefit of this route is it calls into Stanstead St Margarets where there is a train station. So, you can half the length of the walk by walking one way and then catching the train back to Rye House if you wish.

Of course, if you want a longer riverside walk, you could also complete walks 2 and 3 together to create one big walk, as they head in completely different directions.

Refreshments:

The Rye House, Rye House

The Jolly Fisherman, Stanstead St Margarets

Train Station:

Rye House

St Margarets

This fourth route basically an extension of the second route for those of you that have more time and energy for your adventure.

Like the second route, you'll enjoy a long peaceful stroll along both of the River Lee Navigation and the New River Path.

However, this route takes you much further along these waterways all the way down to Broxbourne where there is a cafe, pub and a train station.

This makes this walk a great option if you want to do a shorter station to station linear walk between the Rye House and Broxbourne train stations and then catch the train back.

Refreshments:

The Rye House, Rye House

The Fish and Eels, Roydon

The Crown, Broxbourne

The Old Mill Retreat Cafe, Broxbourne

Train Station:

Rye House

Broxbourne