Winged Wonders

Starting point: River Lee Country Park, Hooks Marsh car park, Fishers Green Lane, Crooked Mile, Waltham Abbey EN9 2ED

A circular walk taking in a variety of wildlife habitats. Discover a wealth of wildlife including dragonflies, waders and wildfowl. The route travels along the west side of Hooks Marsh Lake and Hall Marsh Scrape, returning along Walton’s Walk.

Directions

• Exit Hooks Marsh car park, from the western end through the bollards towards the green high bridge

• Proceed over this bridge and continue passing between Seventy Acres Lake on the right and Hooks Marsh Lake on the left

• Turn left, on the north-west edge of Hooks Marsh Lake, signposted ‘Hall Marsh’

• Continue south on this unmade path along the western edge of Hooks Marsh Lake with Hall Marsh Ditch on the right

• At the southern end, cross over a small wooden bridge and turn right at the pathway junction

• Continue along the pathway, passing the Plover Viewing Screen overlooking Hall Marsh Scrape, along the southern end of Friday Lake

• Bear to the left, heading south with Hall Marsh Scrape on the left

• Continue south, passing the entrance path on the left (Snipe Hide is a short diversion along this pathway)

• Proceed on the main path, turning left, opposite the Flood Relief Channel

• Proceed north along the pathway back to Hooks Marsh car park