Ware - River Lea & Old Priory

Essential Intel

Priory Gardens are part of the mission for Clues 05 to 07, and they are open from 08:00 to 20:00, or until dusk in winter. Plan your start time so your Agents can complete this section while the gardens are open.

Navigating The Route

This is a circular Spy Mission around Ware, the River Lea, Priory Gardens, St Mary’s Church and the town centre, with Agents racing to recover the activation code for Doctor Doze’s awakening device before half the town stays snoozing in the Great Bed of Ware.

The mission covers approximately 1.7 miles and should take around 2+ hours to complete. You’ll follow riverside paths, cross footbridges, pass King’s Meads Nature Reserve, investigate The Priory and its gardens, patrol High Street, slip through churchyard paths and explore old yards and side streets before returning to base.

This Trail is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. The route includes riverside paths, bridges, gardens, churchyard sections, road crossings and town-centre pavements. You’ll also be operating beside open water early in the mission, so keep younger Agents and canine recruits close and don’t let Doctor Doze turn anyone into a sleepwalking submarine.

Getting There

Time to assemble your Agents and begin Operation Pillow Heist:

By car - Park your spy-mobile in Burgage Lane Car Park on Burgage Lane (SG12 9XD), just off High Street next to The Brewery Tap pub.

To begin the mission, exit the car park via the iron footbridge over the river, at the opposite end of the car park from High Street. Your first clue is waiting there, so stay sharp from the very first step.

By public transport - Make your way into Ware town centre, then head for Burgage Lane Car Park, just off High Street next to The Brewery Tap pub, to begin the mission.

Need the Loo?

Even top Agents need a tactical comfort break before battling a sleep-gas scandal. Public toilets are available at the entrance to Priory Gardens, just before Clue 05, so make the most of them before the mission pushes further into town.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged Agents can join the operation 🐾

This route includes riverside paths, footbridges, parks, gardens, town streets, churchyard paths and road crossings. Keep canine recruits close throughout, especially near the River Lea, open water, traffic and any busier town-centre sections. Any suspicious snoring from moored boats should be reported by discreet paw signal.

Food & Drink Stops

Stopping a mass snooze is hungry work.

The recreation ground and Priory Gardens between Clues 04 and 05 make a good spot for a secret picnic with the squad. From Clue 12 onwards, you’ll be patrolling the town centre, where there are lots of cafes, pubs and restaurants for snacks, drinks or a full debrief once Doctor Doze’s plan starts unravelling.

Want to Make a Day of It?

River Lea and Riverside Path

The mission begins beside the River Lea, giving Agents a scenic waterside start. You’ll cross footbridges, follow the river and pass moored boats as the clues unfold, so enjoy the views while staying safely back from the water’s edge.

King’s Meads Nature Reserve

The route passes close to King’s Meads, a 237 acre nature reserve between Ware and Hertford. It’s a lovely green bonus for wildlife-loving Agents, with a name linked to Charles I’s sale of land to Hertford Corporation in 1627.

The Priory and Priory Gardens

Priory Gardens are a key mission zone, with several clues tucked around the grounds. They’re also a fine picnic stop, with green space, historic surroundings and just enough calm to make Doctor Doze look worryingly effective.

The Great Bed of Ware

Ware’s most famous sleepy landmark gets a starring role in this mission. The Great Bed was built around 1590, measures more than three metres wide and became a major Elizabethan tourist attraction, with travellers stopping in Ware just to sleep in it.