Potche one

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Review of Potche One Slow Ways Route
In late January I walked the Slow Ways route Potche One, starting from the Memorial Garden, Potters Bar railway station, turning left onto Darkes Lane, then right along Billy Bowes Lane, past Parkfield open space to the junction with the Hatfield Road [my preference would have been to walk through Parkfield, but I am not aware of an entrance into it off either The Walk or Darkes Lane]. Then left through a waterlogged kissing gate opposite Quakers Lane into the National Trust’s Morven open space: very marshy after two recent storms. Keeping to the left going north, the path eventually led on through a kissing gate to a very muddy footpath (N12) that joined a very good footpath to the rear of Northaw Place (N4), exiting onto Well Road and then straight across Judges Hill (B158) onto the pavement and into Northaw. With the Church to the right, the route then went down Vineyards Road (pavement and grass verge) and through a kissing gate on the right, with a footpath (N1) signposting Cuffley. The views were magnificent, the surface less so (tree roots and mud, so eternal vigilance required). At the bottom the path went over a footbridge and then right (more mud) to reach an excellent footpath left up The Dell and right onto Cuffley Ridgeway. Then via East Ridgeway, passing the Leefe Robinson Memorial (to the First World War hero who first shot down a German airship) and the Plough pub, down Plough Hill and left onto Station Road. Lots of refueling opportunities here.
Suitably refreshed, the second half of the walk continued down Station Road to Cuffley Hill through a kissing gate off right opposite the entrance to Brook Farm. Then diagonally across the field to reach a footbridge over a ditch and then very wet and muddy field paths going south and through an open farm gate. The route then went uphill and left by the railway line to meet a farm road/footpath. Then off left to go sharply downhill and over a very muddy bridge (care needed here) over a brook; bearing left the farm road crossed a metal bridge spanning Cuffley Brook. It continued east and over Burnt Farm Ride up a steep hill (past the entrance to Wood Green Farm) and onto Old Park Ride, a bridleway going south east, then east. At its junction with Bury Green Lane, the route diverted right onto Bulls Cross Ride to visit The Birch Community. However the entrance gate was heavily padlocked, with a large concrete block to its rear. So back up to Bury Green Lane to continue towards Cheshunt, going right onto a path to join Theobalds Lane, then over Lieutenant Ellis Way just below a busy roundabout, to continue on Theobalds Lane. The recommended route appears to take a different route over the A10 to mine. With the Google Data centre development to the left, I used the Paul Cully Bridge, then onto Theobalds Lane again, quickly picking up Albury Walk, an excellent cycleway/footway that skirts Cheshunt Football and Sports Clubs to meet Littlebrook Gardens. The route took a right here and then a left onto Rushleigh Avenue, by the side of the Fire Station, to exit right onto College Road and finish by the Old Pond.

I walked this from Potters Bar to Cheshunt on a chilly December morning. There had been some rain in the previous week.

The route starts at Potters Bar station, and after a short section through the local shopping street, and a little longer section along residential roads, you soon end up going up a (slightly muddy) hill in Morven Park. There are some fields and some narrow paths at on the outskirts of a wood. It was well passable, as long as you are wearing hiking shoes. On the other side of the woods, there is a section of walking on a clear pavement along a busyish road, for about half a mile towards Northaw and its church. From there there is another section walking along a pavement and a little along a verge, to get back to proper footpaths lined with trees again, with lovely views. After a steep hill you end up on The Ridgeway which you then follow into Cuffley. After having gone through Cuffley, you walk around a sports field (which isn't strictly necessary) and back onto paths on the side of fields. At one point you see the lovely Sopers Viaduct, where you then walk away from the railway up a hill. When I walked it there were lots of grouse running away, likely due to the gun shots in the background. You are now following Old Park Ride, which leads all the way to Cheshunt's Theobald's Lane. When you get to the New River, there is a temporary detour (signposted) to get around the building of a new road. You then follow a cycle path around Cheshunt FC to go north and along residential streets to end up at Cheshunt's shopping area.

I enjoyed this walk, although there was a little road walking it was never unsafe.

I walked in a roundabout way from Cheshunt and Waltham Cross to Potters bar. Potche and Potwal are pretty much the same route but with variation.

POTCHE starts at the roundabout (shops cafes) heads East then south along suburban streets to a cycle path which takes you to gates outside Cedars Park.

POTWAL starts at the station, head toward the busy roundabout to the pedestrian shopping precinct. Turn right at the Eleanor Cross (the cross in Waltham Cross). On this day, Friday, there was a lively market. Then around a busy roundabout to Theobalds Grove Station, turn left along suburban streets until you come to the gates outside Cedars Park.

Together the above makes a wheelchair friendly route from Cheshunt to Waltham Cross. The official Cheswal SlowWay is not wheel friendly.

POTCHE + POTWAL. The 2 routes coincide now, but almost an immediate problem with both routes due to works. There is a new road being built. Take the cycle path over the A10 and continue along it to The New River then left under the B198 (see photo). Marked paths have gone or overgrown.
Theobalds lane is a hotel drive leading to a long track called Oldpark Ride leading to the Chain Walk. These hedged tracks leads through farmland past woods and fields. Soon Soper’s Viaduct comes into view, turn right alongside it to a tunnel under the railway line.

POTCHE going past the tunnel it winds through fields to a road leading to Cuffley with shops and cafes for refreshment. Then a steep hill up (19%, good views, you can see the Shard) then steeply downhill through nice woodland. This will burn the calories you might have gained in town. At the bottom is the Hertfordshire Way and the beginning of Hemps Hill.

POTWAL goes under the tunnel along a track to the road which takes you to another track further on past a festival field and small holdings along Chain Walk past open fields until you meet the Hertfordshire Way and the beginning of Hemps Hill.

POTCHE + POTWAL. Hemps Hill takes you through wooded tracks up to Northaw, a picturesque village (there’s a tap just inside the church gate but also a pub). There is a bit of roadside walking before ducking into a wood with a narrow winding rooty path to fields on the outskirts of Potters Bar. Past Parkfield park along suburban roads to the Station in the Highstreet.

Both these walks are lovely, although not very varied. The choice of getting R&R in Cuffley then braving the hill or not is yours.

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