River Lea Cruise

Cruising the River Lea

Lunch, history and a gentle journey through the Lee Valley 

Members enjoyed not one but two summer outings to Ware this year, on 9 July and 28 August, for a relaxing day combining good food, local history and a leisurely cruise along the River Lea. The day began in the historic Hertfordshire town of Ware, where there was time to settle in over coffee and cake before exploring a little of the town and enjoying the waterside atmosphere. From there, it was onto the Waterside Inn, appropriately situated right beside the river. 

A hearty two-course lunch provided plenty of opportunity to chat and catch up before the next part of the day. And there was no need to travel far afterwards. One of the pleasures of the outing was being able to board our cruise boat directly from the restaurant’s private garden terrace. All aboard Once everyone was comfortably settled, we set off along the River Lea towards Stanstead Abbotts, before turning for the return journey to Ware Town Quay. Ware’s historic riverside gazebos, best appreciated from the water. 

Lunch by the river 

A chance to relax and enjoy good company at The Waterside Inn. It was the perfect way to spend a summer afternoon. From the water, the landscape takes on an entirely different character and there was always something new to look at as we moved from Ware’s busy town centre into the quieter countryside of the Lea Valley. One of the most distinctive sights came almost as soon as we began our journey: Ware’s famous riverside gazebos. These unusual little buildings form a wonderfully characterful row along the riverbank, with many appearing to balance almost precariously above the water. 

From Town to Tranquillity 

As the cruise continued, the buildings gradually gave way to open countryside and the scenery changed again as we travelled through the Lee Valley and the Amwell Nature Reserve. The reserve provides an important wetland habitat and is a haven for birdlife. Ducks, gulls and wading birds share the reedbeds and grasslands, which support an impressive variety of breeding species. No fewer than seven species of warbler are known to breed in the reserve, together with healthy populations of reed bunting, meadow pipit and skylark. 

A Very Civilised Day Out 

Whether or not you could identify everything that flew past, there was plenty to enjoy in simply watching the riverbanks drift by and appreciating how remarkably peaceful this stretch of countryside feels. There is something rather special about travelling by river. With no timetable to worry about once aboard and nowhere in particular to hurry to. Everyone could simply sit back, enjoy the views and get into the scenery. The contrast between Ware's historic townscape, the quirky riverside gazebos, and the wide-open spaces of the Lea Valley made this much more than simply a boat trip. Add coffee and cake, a generous lunch and good company, and it proved to be a civilised way to spend a summer's day. The popularity of the outing meant that we had to repeat the trip so more members could go!