8 miles (13km)The way from Mill Green on the edge of Hatfield is eastward to follow at first the main road behind Hatfield Park before turning north-east along the edge of Welwyn Garden City. This change from the original route is caused by the closure of a permissive path and means that the Lea Valley Way now follows the entire Cole Green Way to Hertford where the River Lea reappears. rejoining the river. Beyond Holwell, near Essendon, the route is along another former railway line now known as the Cole Green Way. The old railway hotel, still to be found by the former Cole Green Station, is now a handy open-all-hours pub and the natural break on this section, which reaches Hertfordshire’s county town.RefreshmentsMill Green, Hatfield: The Green Man, Mon–Fri, 12–2.30pm and 5.30–11pm; weekends open all day.Cole Green: Cowper Arms. Open all day. Children welcome.AccommodationHatfield: Premier Travel Inn,Lemsford Road AL10 0DA (08701 977 129).Hole Green: 5 Cole Green Cottages SG14 2NL; tel. 01707 333225.TransportMill Green, Hatfield: National Rail to Hatfield.Hertford: National Rail from Hertford East Station. (Trains from Hertford East Station run through the Lea Valley to London’s Liverpool Street. Hertford North Station, some distance away in North Road, is served by King’s Cross trains.)Tourist InformationHertford: 10 Market Place (01992 584322).MapOS Explorer 182 (St Albans & Hatfield) and 174 (Epping Forest and Lee Valley).