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Lee Valley Almost Wild Campsite

Hertfordshire En10 6 Td, Hertfordshire, England
1 acre hosted by James H.
Enchanting riverside wild camping hidden within a few miles of London

Wild camping this close to London seems wholly improbable. Impossible even. Yet, less than five miles from the M25, this magical riverside collection of woodland glades and hidden tent pitches is very much the real deal. Campfire smoke wafts its way through a leafy canopy and canoes rest, rolled onto their sides, against tall, native trees. Many campers arrive by bike, pedalling the 16 miles from the towering stadium in Stratford’s Olympic Park, others hop on the train and ride the 30-minutes from London Liverpool Street. However short the journey, though, once here the campsite certainly still feels a million miles away.

Created by Lee Valley Regional Park, this ‘almost wild’ campsite has been specifically left untamed and untouched to allow everyone, from escaping urbanites to out-of-towners, the chance to get back to nature. There are only 17 pitches and facilities are little more than a composting toilet, a clean water supply and logs for your campfire. Other than that it’s up to you to use your imagination. Hammocks swing between trees where some hardy campers have decided not to bother bringing a tent and a chatty coupe nudge a canoe into the water, setting off for the short paddle to the local pub. It’s a serene scene. And while some choose to bring the bare ‘expedition’ essentials, the campsite is still an thoroughly approachable place, with families and friendly groups, too, occupying the larger clearings.

The real joy of this campsite is the escapism that hiding away in the woods allows. It’s easy to come here for the weekend and never real leave the fireside, save for a brief evening lying silently on the riverbank hoping to catch a glimpse of an otter. If you do venture out, though, the Lee Valley Park has plenty to offer. Covering a vast swathe of countryside either side of the very river that even Adele sings and reminisces about in one of her famous pop songs, the park encompasses a collection of reservoirs and pools set aside for wildlife. On the largest reservoirs there’s still place for people to play, too. Sailing and kayaking are popular and there are several nearby activity centres, while the Lee Valley White Water Centre is renowned as one of the best white water locations in the country. That’s right, despite the flat, edge-of-London location they’ve even managed to craft some of the UK’s best white water. Improbable? Impossible? That seems to be what wild camping in the Lee Valley is all about.

Activities
Biking
Fishing
Hiking
Natural features
Forest
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Location
Hertfordshire En10 6 Td, Hertfordshire, England, United KingdomTraditional, ancestral territory of various First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by James H.Joined in March 2017
From the host
Lee Valley Almost Wild Campsite on the borders of Hertfordshire and Essex is your chance for a wilderness adventure with a wild camping, back to nature experience. Embrace Mother Nature in this rugged, natural setting nestled among mature woodland and a grassy glade which is surrounded by water on three sides. With none of the trappings of more commercial campsites you’ll be able camp out under the stars, hang a hammock from the trees and light an open fire in one of the fire pits provided.What we mean by almost wild camping... - Solar powered, motion sensor lights around the toilets limit light pollution - Composting toilets - Cold water tap These facilities complete this unadorned campsite of just 17 pitches and ensure that you get that truly wild camping experience. Please note the minimum age to stay at the campsite is 12 years old. 
Nearby attractions
There's plenty to do in the Lee Valley, particularly after the 2012 Olympics injected extra funding to the area as they developed the Lee Valley White Water Centre (0300 003 0616) for the London games. You can get your adrenaline fix today by taking on the Olympic white water course in rafts, kayaks and more. For water sports at a slower pace, though, there is also sailing on the local reservoirs and canoeing on the river, plus canal boat tours nearby. There's a boat launch area at the campsite, too, if you have your own canoe. The entire canal has an adjacent tow path, which leads all the way to the Thames and runs directly past the famous 2012 stadium and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (0800 072 2110), as well as linking up with Regent's Canal and Victoria Park. Closer to home, though, the whole network of pathways weaves throughout the Lee Valley Park (0300 003 0610) with ample wildlife to discover. In short, be sure to bring a bike or boat if you have one!
Food and drink
There are three pubs within easy walking distance – The Crown (01992 462244) on the riverside, the characterful, wood-panelled Bull (01992 462639) in town and The White Bear (01992 441389) also in town. The main parade of shops in Broxbourne also has a number of takeaways, as well as local shops and a small supermarket – all within walking distance. There's a large main supermarket on the far side of town, too, if you're willing to hop in the car.

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