For me the market street approach to Walthamstow was a little too crowded, but it’s so on point for sheer unadulterated Londonness it carried me through....

Jane Taylor

In terms of completing it on a bike I just used my normal road bike and I did have to get off and push a few times but it was fun. I wouldn't do it in winter though as parts of it would be so muddy and my bike definitely wouldn't handle it....

Dan B - Slow Ways

Really enjoyed walking this, especially around where the Hackney Marshes are. Largely peaceful and all paths are very well maintained! Great to have these paths in London....

Ingrina

This is a great way to walk between Enfield Town and Walthamstow!...

Ingrina

Slight plotting error approaching the bridge to cross the A12 but not one to impede progress. I also wonder if there could be a more direct route between these nodes...

David Sanderson

Beyond Lea Bridge Road we cross the river and follow the east bank through the trees around a long wide bend. We cross the river again and head south east towards a large footbridge bridge that leads to the velodrome (the GPX file is a little inaccurate here - it is best to take the slanting diagonal path straight up as the alternative needs steps which are further south than the GPX line....

Hugh Hudson

From an old vibrant Saturday market to a modern shopping centre....

Strider

My only criticism of this Slow Way, is that near the end in Walthamstow it follows a road with traffic, rather than joining the excellent pedestrianised High Street....

David Sanderson

The toilets in the Temple were open and I used the Tea Hut by the Heronry Pond and did see a Heron. A short section of busy road brings you to the Ilford Hill entrance to Ilford Station (toilets on platform 3)....

JohnMyerson

Extend it even more by walking around Hollow Ponds and over Leyton Flats rather than along Whipps Cross road. Wanstead Park is one of my favourite parks in London and has toilets and a great tea hut, there is sometimes cows grazing there too. In spring there is a wonderful display of bluebells in the woods there too....

Dan B - Slow Ways

All of the paths are well maintained and mainly concrete, so unless you want to venture off pieste there is no need to wear boots....

Harry

The Walthamstow start was busy with a market, and the Stratford side busy with people hurrying home....

Derick Rethans

Good use of green space, wide paths in some areas, quite narrow and overgrown in others....

Strider

As Daisy mentions, despite being very suburban, she has managed to include some really great patches of green. I particularly enjoyed Claybury Park and the few moments I got along side the river Roding and I spotted some lovely wildlife by the water....

Dan B - Slow Ways

Once entering the path following alongside the reservoir there is no lighting so if walking during the evening would recommend bringing a torch. Upon entering Ponders end the path underfoot returns to tarmac, there is a bridge to cross the A1055 which does have both steps and a ramp to cross. In totality the walk too around 3.5 hrs to complete with the path just stretch that is in the best shape after Lea Valley Viaduct....

Jack

I walked this route from Stratford to Walthamstow, It is busy at the beginning and end, but wonderfully quiet in the middle section. All of this is on paved footpaths or shared cycle lanes, although there is an alternative (potentially muddier) footpath in the hackney marshes. just the last stretch is actually alongside roads....

andrea weyand

The biggest issue for me were the two sub-par road crossings but my own experience wasn't bad I just wouldn't recommend them without putting a warning, the route description is better since any review will eventually drop below a list of more recent ones. Being enjoyable is a subjective criteria, and the varied (semi-)natural habitats (Claybury Park and the riverbank on top of Epping Forest) and the variation in neighbourhood character achieve that for me, and avoiding walking beside busy roads is also important. The missing part starts from the meadow in Epping Forest by Chelmsford Road and ends where this route leaves the bank of the Roding in Woodford....

Daisy C

There is no need to add detail to other reviews but I loved the variety of neighbourhoods and the bits of nature which persist in the midst of urban development....

Philip Le Marquand

It's a great route connecting two busy urban centres with some lovely green space in East London...

Dan B - Slow Ways

I didn't actually walk the next bit along Pymmes Brook between Ferry Lane and Stonebridge Lock as I was exploring the reservoirs and the parallel towpath on the River Lea Navigation, but I think it'd make a better route overall. The northern part of Tottenham Marshes was unexpectedly wild, unlike Hackney Marshes further south on the River, so adding more breaks up the towpath sections. Because further south I'd also walked the river towpath, instead of the marshes like this route, the river got pretty samey by the end. And the northern part goes through a conservation area, probably quieter and prettier than the road walking on the northern part of this route....

Daisy C

This is a great route and quite accessible; although there are some steep ramps over foot bridges, and a low bridge (1.5m high) to duck under....

Slow Ways Darren

A really great route that mostly goes through green spaces and backroads! Defo recommend...

Saira

This is a great route going through plenty of green space, along the river and past the marshes and through Hackney Downs too. There is a low bridge that many people will have to stoop to walk under at the marshes end of Coppermill Lane....

Dan B - Slow Ways

In the depths of Winter this was quite a muddy route, although it wasn't ever very deep....

Slow Ways Darren

You can't cross the Greenman Roundabout following a straight line, you can't go through Henry Reynolds Gardens, the gates are locked on the North side, you Can't walk through Bush Wood in a straight line, the path past The Heronry Pond does not go through the woods, the way across and out of Wanstead Park is inaccurate. But if you can find your way, the walk goes through some nice roads and lots of green space....

Strider

After a busy road the path goes through quiet streets to trendy Walthamstow Village with few cars. This is followed by a long cycle path past Whipps Cross Hospital between parkland and a busy road....

Strider

It is best to go with adequate supplies, although there are several places you can usually obtain refreshments on route in good weather including the Humphrey's Cafe at The Highams Park, clearly signposted and visible just off the route. Most of the route is popular with local cyclists in good weather, but presents a challenge in wetter conditions....

Liz R

A really enjoyable walk that takes in the marshes, River Lee, and Millfields Park and Hackney Down green spaces. The route is mainly paved or gravel track, however parts of Hackney Marsh are grassland....

Tom

On parks, Belmont Recreation Ground has a dedicated picnic area, Downhills Park has an ornamental garden, and there's also the wetland with associated wildlife off Forest Road....

Tom

I wandered off the route on one or two occasions but easily found my way back - in places, there are intersecting paths. A very enjoyable and varied route on a summer's day....

John Scott

great route from Stratford to Walthamstow almost entirely off road with distinct sections that add interest - Hackney Marshes, the canalside, Walthamstow Marshes and heaps of blackberry picking opportunities in the summer and places to stop for picnic...

Kate Shurety

More suburban streets to a large open field alongside a noisy A10, Over the A10 using a foot bridge with steps then along increasingly busy streets to Edmonton Green Station. Then more suburban busy streets and a circuitous route through to Walthamstow stations....

Strider

From the shopping centre and through 'quaint Walthamstow' to Wood Street station past suburban roads to the beginning of a green thread which takes you to Epping Forest. You pick up the London Loop for a while before walking along residential roads close to Loughton....

Strider

After some busy streets there are suburban roads before Hackney Downs. More suburban roads then the canal....

Strider

I walked from Walthamstow to Wood Green. It is hard to see how the green spaces could be incorporated without doubling the length of the route....

Strider

It's a good idea as a route, but it was very imprecise, especially not thinking about streams and rivers. I'm uploading a different version of this, even though that was also still very very muddy....

Derick Rethans

Overall a good route that I walked from Loughton to Walthamstow....

Derick Rethans

Bit eerie at the beginning sandwiched between the cemetery and the abandoned allotments, but worth it for the chance to explore Wanstead park and Hollow pond, and a nice finish through the Walthamstow village area....

mamesjayne

Best done in reverse so that you don't finish in the hubbub of Stratford/Westfield and so that you can refresh yourself at the Coppermill pub! It's nice to follow the natural Lea/Lee through Hackney marshes rather than the navigation....

mamesjayne

I walked this route from Walthamstow to Stratford, and I really enjoyed it!...

mtormey

It's entirely on smooth pavements and almost entirely along roads but the scenery is quite varied and diverse and I really enjoyed the route overall!...

mtormey

The first, short section through Epping Forest is difficult to navigate with no obvious path taking the route shown, and for much of the year is very very muddy - wellies or similar boots are essential....

Rose

Be aware that Walthamstow marshes get very wet and in winter can be completely flooded. Also dogs are not allowed across and there is a kissing gate at the far end....

Stuart

This is a good route between Stratford and Walthamstow, although at both ends it's very busy with shops and stations....

[email protected]

This is a well-considered route which has a mix of pleasant off road paths, residential roads and some hard core major A roads. There are some big obstacles which have to be crossed - railway lines, the A10, the North Circular, and the River Lee valley - and the route has been well thought through to keep directness, enhance connectivity by passing railway stations, and give refreshment opportunities. The only improvement to the route that I found is the next section, along the B137 Montagu Road, which can be avoided by continuing straight on along the off-road path along Angel Walk, instead of turning right along Montagu Road. Probably wouldn't walk this route after dark, its mostly lit on the footpaths, but the marshes area is dark....

Jane Taylor

Quiet route, picking up lovely stretches of green in the area. You can also go off the route to explore Hollow Ponds and Wanstead park - both favourite spots of ours in the local area....

Pippa Winstanley

This is a great route given how densely populated/ urban the surrounding area is. A large part is off-road through Wanstead Park and other parts of Epping Forest, which are lovely. The start and finish sections are unavoidably on roads, although most of the way in Walthamstow is on quiet, pleasant streets with plenty of cafe stop opportunities....

Rose