Potwal one

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Potwal here.

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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