'It is about four cars long, smooth and was quite deep yesterday. It is a delightful spot and a real ford!' Image 2 sent in by Gordon Kerr (13/05/2003)

'A ford sign can be seen at the entrance of Hicks Road / Windmill Road from A5. But it seems that this should not actually be a ford. There is no footbridge, no gauge, and the base is badly damaged. A notice board is standing beside it (Image 2).'

'At a pretty location tucked away in the village, this ford has clearly had some serious work done to it recently, with a magnificent concrete culvert and very tidy brick walls, with a couple of scenic bridges nearby visible along the river. The water level was low on our visit so the road surface was dry, but I can imagine this one feeling quite precarious in flood.'

'It is on a very nice (and long) Byway that travels from Therfield to Sandon. It only had about 6" of water in it - may get deeper in the winter.

It is quite a tight fit and steep entry and exit but I got through in a Ford Ranger, after sizing it up first. You have to turn immediately right if travelling N-S, which is a bit tight.'

'Just south of Chipping off the A10 is this bridleway/byway (Landranger says byway, sign says bridleway - track shows plenty of 4x4 use so you decide!). Has a concrete bottom and fairly severe approach angles - probably not a good idea to use a car if only because of the mud.'

'An Irish bridge over a 3 meter wide stream complete with an unusual AA branded depth gauge (Image 2). '

'It's concrete based and about 3 inches deep on my visit. Its on a bridleway just west of the curiously named Cold Christmas and is on the 141 mile Harcamlow way (It starts and finishes in Harlow, with Cambridge in the middle!)'

'This ford is on a byway, just off the A414. Its is pictured here when water levels were very high and the ford had spread out to about 45 yards. The base seems to consist of sandy gravel.'

'An interesting Irish Bridge, that would require a water level rise of around 4 feet to cross the road. The provision of a footbridge suggests this is not uncommon!'

www.geograph.org.uk

'We had been looking for what I remembered as a long, rough but not deep ford at Much Hadham and asked for directions in the village. A helpful mechanic said he recognized the description as being the ford "for Land Rovers" at Violets Lane, Stocking Pelham. We drove up to Stocking Pelham turning left at the Cock P.H (167 453292) and found the sign "Unsuitable for Motor Vehicles - Ford" at 441299 where we turned left (Image 1).

This part of the route was surfaced until we got to the point a point in Brent Pelham where you will see behind bushes an "Unsuitable..." sign. The track itself looked as if it had been recently made up with gravel. We continued down the smooth track pictured above, before arriving at a bend in the track/ford/stream (Image 2)

It was impossible to guess the depth of water in front of the car at this point or any other useful data and did not have wellies so we were not able to walk along the outside to see further so we reluctantly reversed back several hundred yards turned round and went back to civilization where we found this sign in Brent Pelham itself at TL435306 (Image 3).'

Account sent in by Chris Jones:
'I have to say that the photos on your site, and description, don't really do it justice after a rainy spell! I wish I'd had my camera with me to take some photos, but it was "much" wetter today. To give you an idea of how wet, the road was underwater all the way from the 'Y' junction at the northern end to the point at the southern end where the river diverts away from the road, a distance of nearly 1km. The depth varied from about 6" at the northern end to about 2 feet (not quite enough to cover a bicycle wheel) further south. Really very impressive, and great fun!'

youtube video Sent in by Steve Nicklin

'RUPP runs part way along the bed of the Old Bourne'

'It is on a muddy rutted RUPP. And believe it or not, the ford itself is both rutted and muddy!'

'Just off Cock Lane to the west of Hoddesdon town centre, on the edge of Barclay Park. The unappetisingly named Spital Brook trickles across the old route of Cock Lane.'

Latchford (x2!)

'This is serious stuff ! Last year the water was clear and I would have tried this ford in my Dellow providing I had some assistance at hand. There was torrential rain yesterday just before these shots were taken, and I would have hesitated with the Dellow because there is no indication of the depth or bottom surface. I think this has to be 4 x 4 territory until I can prove otherwise! (Images 1 & 2)

The second ford is in a delightful spot but the road only goes to the hamlet. It has a gravelly bottom and is approached by loose surface track (right of way) for a short distance. Take care in road cars because it is quite deep and had been used recently by heavy agricultural vehicles making the approach rather muddy.'
Image mouseovers sent in by Andy Collins (18/06/2004)

London Colney (x2!)

'Adjacent to an impressive brick bridge but still fully usable with smooth gravel entry, exit and bottom. The depth was difficult to gauge but perhaps beyond most cars ? A truly picturesque location and only ˝ mile from junction 22 of the M25, well worth a look. (Image 1)' 'The second is on a restricted by way so legal access by foot, horse or bicycle only. Its a few inches deep, reasonably firm gravel bed, steep muddy exit on the north side, pays to have a bit of speed up if on a bicycle. Its about 200m west of the other London Colney one and on the same brook. Access to that one is frequently blocked by residents' cars, perhaps deliberately. Its too deep for most cars but OK on a mountain bike. (Image 2)'

Much Hadham (x2!)

'This is slightly unusual in that the Ford is on a T junction and the road is in fact a one way street. You come from the left and turn right across the ford or avoid it and carry straight on to the right and end up back on the main road through Much Hadham (Image 1). The ford in flood is shown in Images 2 & 3.

The second ford is a watersplash in flood conditions and is properly marked with ford road signs and is similar to the one at Kenilworth, Warwickshire (Image 4). I think the postman accelerated just for me !! Taken on 22nd Jan 2003.'

Account sent in by B Penny:
'That depth marker at Hadham Ford is such a liar, 2' it read yet the water was near the tops of my Land Rover's wings, I was still 40 yards the road and hadn't even got to the sloping sides - I hesitated and stopped - whoosh fill your boots as the water came in. This was January/February when the ford was in full swing, normally a few walkers or kids gather when a vehicle's going to attempt a crossing, the expressions on two victims faces when I sped up remains etched in my mind, clinging to the iron fence on the bank, I was thru the ford, however all of the stretch of road towards Perry Green floods, another ford feeds it, so you drive against fast flowing current for 200-300 yards, normally 6"-18" deep in flood, so with a bit of speed victims are there for the taking. I stripped the airbox on my Land Rover a week or so later to be greeted with thick mayonnaise like emulsified oil in the collector, that's how close I came to hydraulic lock. Few green lanes around within a mile or two of the ford.'

'A good ford in a beautiful setting down a bridleway next to Munden House's (private) grounds. It would be perfectly feasible to take a 4x4 down to this and drive through, though the access roads are private. Horses clearly use the ford regularly judging by the amount of hoof prints. It's a bit stony in the bottom and sufficiently long to have put me off cycling through though.'

'Parallel with the A5183, Watling Street, which crosses the R Colne via the bridge in the pictures. Gentle entry, and exit but about a foot of water under normal conditions. Beer garden of the Old Red Lion pub on the south side, north. access blocked by a parked car that hasn’t moved in at least four years. Public footpath along the northern side of the river.'

'Delightful little gravel bottomed ford with footbridge, few inches deep and about 15 yards wide in normal conditions. Near the end of a private cul de sac with limited turning after the ford, but has a public right of way as a footpath.'

Redbournbury (x2!)

Info from David Johnson:
'I crossed these several times in a Fiat Uno during dry summers in the early 90's without any difficulty, but at that time the bottom was fairly smooth gravel. However I was there a few months back (walking!) and there were quite a few rocks, some quite large, which had presumably been swept in by the current during floods. Would not like to try it now in anything but a 4x4 unless the rocks are cleared.

Water levels in the Ver were generally lower back in the early 90's because of extensive use by Three Valleys Water of the Friars Wash pumping station upstream of the fords. This is less used now, so even in a dry summer the ford is likely to be significantly deeper.'

Info from Graeme Kennedy:
'Great little spot. Water was about 18" in the first ford and just over 2.5' in the latter, entering from the Redbourne end. Water was clear and able to see to ford. No large rocks in the first and only one in the second but the clarity made it easy to navigate.'

'The ford is next to a more recent, but still rather old, bridge. The ford is not usable by cars because it has bollards at one end and a fence at the other, but theoretically a 4x4 could use it; it is not terribly deep (6" or so) but muddy bottomed with a fair few big stones.

Until a couple of years ago it didn't even look like a ford on the north side because it had simply become overgrown. The local council decided to restore it to at least looking like a ford, at the same time as which they put in the low fence deterring access.'

'Please do not confuse these shots with canal holiday brochures. The weather was poor and the water had a kind of ghostly mist rising from it at approx 4.30 pm yesterday.

I can clearly remember crewing on a rally with student friends from Chelsea College in the late sixties. It rained all night and we went through ford after ford. I also remember going through one ford with water sloshing through the car and seeing dimly out of the side window a brick wall. This must have been the one because through the undergrowth the river is contained within a channel of brick walls. Last year the water was very clear and I could see minnows swimming around in the shallows.

Seriously folks this is 4 x 4 country until I can conquer it in the Dellow with assistance on hand and prove otherwise. From memory,(12 months ago) the bottom is smooth and sandy.'
Image mouseover sent in by Andy Collins (18/06/2004)

Image 4 and additional details sent in by Andrew Young (13/08/2004)
“I have been to this ford on a few occasions now – the first time was in February 2004 – I would not recommended attempting this ford after heavy rains without a snorkel as the water can be very high. The last time I drove it was in June 2004 – although deep the ford was much less scary. It is wet all year as it is part of the river Rib. There is nearly always an audience and the ford is fun – recommend that it is taken at a sensible speed and not on a “hell for leather” approach.

It has a nice easy approach from either end – with a gentle slope. I highly recommend a quick walk along the bank to survey the river bed – water is normal lovely and clear – as the river has caused very deep patches near the footpath. You wouldn’t want to drop in one of those unintentionally. Stick near to the trees and the water remains about 2 feet or so deep – in the summer.

The ford itself is quite long and well worth a visit.”

Helpful advice sent in by Paul Manners
'The trick is to keep all the way to the right going south or left going north ( under the trees ) if this is done the water os 1.5 foot deep if you go the other side then 2.5 foot deep smooth gravel bottom 60 yds long.
The ford feels abandoned at the moment and is totally blocked by a fallen tree.'

'Simple watersplash...except at this time of year there's no water at all, so all there is is a forlorn bird pecking around in the gravel. Great fun when the water's up a bit though when coming down the hill pictured.'

'I came across this ford by chance a few years ago but have been unable to re-locate it again until now! An interesting ford worthy of a visit due to the location on a minor road that passes the lovely village church.'

'A large, impressive Irish bridge with a concrete surface. The river below is about 16 meters wide and flowing strongly. There are signs of regular flooding.'

'Just South off the B1004 between Ware and Wareside. Concrete base, about 3 inches deep. A footpath crosses the footbridge.'

'A stunning Ford next to an old mill building. 3 car lengths long with a good smooth Tarmac bottom passable by any vehicle. The centre of the ford is 5 inches deep and fast flowing, giving the impression of all year round splashing! '

'An unusually fenced, but otherwise ordinary Irish bridge. Situated on a public Byway but with surfaced access from the South, possibly worth a visit to investigate the gated (unlocked) Byway to the North. '

'This ford is down a RUPP. Ground is smooth mud/gravel. Fine for 4x4's but I would suggest a minimum of all terrain tyres.'