Ware is said to be a site of continuous settlements dating back to the Middle Stone Age. The town sits upon an old roadway known as Ermine Street which ran from London to York. Lady Jane Grey was proclaimed Queen here in 1553; she only reigned for nine days before being executed. The town became an important coaching stop with many inns. The Great Bed of Ware, dated from around 1595 (now housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum) was used as an advertising feature and was mentioned in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. The walk passes some 18th Century gazebos which are situated in the former coaching inns' gardens.

Hertford Lock was enlarged during plans for widening part of the navigation, but these were abandoned in 1948 due to nationalisation.

The Wildlife Trust manages King's Meads for several landowners including GlaxoSmithKline. This is home to 18 of the 19 types of dragonflies that breed in Hertfordshire.

The walk passes the start of the New River, where most of the water which feeds London is taken from the River Lee through New Gauge. This was built in 1856 by William Mylne. Some water is still taken from the original source of Chadwell Spring.

England - Hertfordshire - River Walk

View a road map to the starting point of this walk.