With Hertford to the East and Harlow to the West isn't Stanstead Abbotts just about on the border of Herts and Essex? May be worth a try.

stalkinblues Are the car parks/ bankside safe i.e on one of the lakes nearby I was advised never leave your tackle as it will go walkies which when your own your own and can't get a barrow through the woods due to kissing gates and stepped bridges made it impossible to fish a seesion.

Hi Mark, the car parks are open to the general public so they are as safe as you'd expect, I used to park near the houses the other side of the railway line to be on the safe side. As for the bankside, I never had any trouble getting a wheelbarrow anywhere, I never had any trouble on the bank, zipped my bivvy up every night and didn't have any trouble from anyone and I've never heard of anyone having their gear stolen or anything like that, and that goes for the surrounding lakes as well, Fisher's Green, Hooks Marsh etc. But I wouldn't advise anyone to leave their gear anywhere they can't see it no matter where the lake.

Cheers mate