The New River

] Just to add a snippet: the first canal in England wasn't built for navigation at all, but to supply water to London, early in the 17th century. It's 400 years old, and it's still called `The New River'.

And it is part of the Lee Valley system. The only reason that I did not mention it above is that it starts just after Ware and we had not got there yet! This waterway has fascinated me for years as because it is not a navigation there is no towpath along London part (the picture is of further north where there is a walkway), and you keep crossing it in North London, sometimes in unexpected places.

The New River is pretty close to the Lee Navigation at times until it gets to London, but it apparantly used to meander much more and it has been shortened over the years. Around Broxbourne and Hoddesdon where it follows the route of the Lee it is several meters higher than the valley floor, however.