Walks

Albury. Three different walks (of 3, 4.5 or 5.5 miles) through this rural and semi-wooded landscape. Can be combined to make longer walk, including Albury, Albury Hall, Gravesend, Patmore Heath, Clapgate, Upwick Green, Little Hadham and views of Ash Valley. Catherine Wheel pub at Gravesend.

Albury Hall dominated the village until World War 2, when it was used by the Special Operations Executive with agents behind enemy lines in France and the low countries. Winston Churchill visited Albury Hall on a number of occasions, and underground tunnels and rooms were built. The house was wrecked by the war, and pulled down 1950, but leaving an extensive estate.

Anstey, Barkway. & Nothampstead.  This 7 mile walk is fairly flat, mostly on good paths with half a mile along Barkway’s main street. It passes through three parishes and offers a great variety of surroundings. In Autumn, there are blackberries and sloes to pick. There are pubs in Nuthampstead and Anstey

Ardeley.  This 5.4 mile walk follows byways, footpaths and quiet lanes through picturesque open countryside with excellent views. It’s fairly flat for most of the route. There are several gates and footbridges along the way. The Jolly Waggoner pub/restaurant is close to the start/finish point.

Aspenden. This 6 mile walk includes a 1 mile stretch along Stane Street, a Roman road which is now a tree-lined byway. The route also passes the site of the former medieval village of Wakeley. It starts and finishes in the village of Aspenden where refreshments can be taken at The Fox when open.

Arkesden. Arhesden is a great centre for walking. This 4 mile walk starts and ends at the Axe and Compasses pub in Arkesden, and can be muddy.

Arkesden - Rickling. 6 mile circular walk, starting atAxe and Compasses pub in Arkesden, passes Wiken Bonhunt, Rickling and the Cricketer' pub in Clavering, where Jamie Oliver was brought up. Usually dry walk.

Aston. This 5 mile walk starts in Aston to the south-east of Stevenage then follows the River Beane south before looping back through Astonbury Wood, a Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust nature reserve. Crosses arable fields that can be muddy after rain, and goes through a golf course but not across a fairway.

Barkway village. 1.7 mile leisurely stroll around village. 

Barley. 7.5 mile walk including Barkway, Barley and Newsells Park Stud. 

Benington. This 6 mile walk has some great views across the north Hertfordshire countryside. It follows many well-defined tree-lined tracks and footpaths. 

Benington north-west. This 6 mile circular walk heads NW out of the village before looping round to the south along byways and footpaths and across fields. The walk involves some lane walking, but, when we did it they were quiet. 

Berden. 5 miles around Berden, Stocking Pelham and Brent Pelham. 

Braughing. A circular walk of 5.5 miles from the village of Braughing along the attractive Braughing Bourne, across open countryside with views on all sides, through shady woodland following winding footpaths, and along byways and bridleways. Towards the end children, dogs and adults have the chance for a paddle in a clear running river at a ford. There are three pubs in the village.

Braghing SE. 3.4 mile walk from the village of Braughing, heading SE over fields with excellent views then SW and W to follow the valley of the River Rib and the River Quin. The walk starts and finishing at the ford on Maltings Lane.

Braghing Hare Street. This is a lovely 4.7 mile walk from Buntingford heading east over rolling open countryside to the hamlet of Hare Street and then back along old byways and footpaths. At one point the route goes through a field of wild flowers. The starting point is in Buntingford town centre. There are several pubs in Buntingford, one at the halfway point, and cafes at the start and finish point. There is not a lot of shade on this walk.

Brent Pelham. About 5 miles. Good paths; interesting views; lovely houses and farms . Pub to the left at Brent Pelham Church , and The Cock in Stocking Pelham to right of church. 

Buntingford.7.4 mile walk affording expansive views across rolling countryside. The walk starts in the town of Buntingford then heads west via Throcking then east via Chipping before passing through Wyddial then returning to Buntingford. You will cross the River Rib twice.

Buntingford. 7.4 mile walk affording expansive views across rolling countryside. The walk starts in the town of Buntingford then heads west via Throcking then east via Chipping before passing through Wyddial then returning to Buntingford. You will cross the River Rib twice.

Burn's Green, Three walks starting at the excellent Lordship Arms, famous for its real ale, in Burn's Green, near Benington, east of Stevenage. This 6 mile walk follows footpaths, bridleways, and byways over rolling countryside with wide, open views across north Hertfordshire.

Burn's Green. 4 mile walk over rolling countryside south of Benington, with great views. There are some stretches where the only sound you can hear is birdsong and the occasional plane.

Burn's Green. This 4 mile walk starts at Lordship Arms pub,. A mix of shaded footpaths and byways, woodland and wide-open views across beautiful, undulating Hertfordshire countryside.. 

Chrishall. 5.5 mile walk. Will take about 2.5 hours, with church in view for much of the time. Starting at Red Cow pub in Chrishall, passing the highest land in Essex and Chiswick Hall, where Queen Matilda may have been brought up (see end of People).

Clavering. 2.4 mile walk around Clavering village. See: The Miracle of the Ring at tghe end of Myths, and Robert fitz Wimarc at the end of People.

Cottered. This 5.5 mile walk crosses rolling countryside,  follows footpaths, bridleways, and lanes. Some sections can be muddy when wet. There are two pub/restaurants: The Bull in Cottered, at the start and finish point, and The Moon & Stars in Rushden.

Dane End - Munden. Pleasant 5 mile walk through the parishes of Little Munden and Great Munden following wooded byways, bridleways and footpaths across farmland. It's an undulating walk with wide open views. It's mainly good under foot except for one or two short stretches across fields.

Dane End - north-east. Really good 7 mile walk across rolling countryside,  following wooded byways, bridleways and footpaths with clear views across open fields. There are one or two paths across fields that can be muddy after being ploughed.

Dane End - Whitehill. Great 6 mile walk if you don't mind quite a bit of up and down; the reward is being treated to some wide open views across the rolling countryside. 

Elmdon. 5 mile stroll from church. Generally well made paths, but a bit churned up by horses in parts during winter. Passing the highest land in Essex and Chiswick Hall, where Queen Matilda may have been brought up (see end of People).

Elmdon - Strethall. About 6 mile circular. Strethall is named after the Roman Street that went through it, and there is a Saxon church. Elmdon is very pretty, but unfortuantley no longer has a pub.

Furneux Pelham. This lovely 5 mile walk starts in the village of Furneux Pelham then passes through woodland and crosses arable fields before reaching the Patmore Heath nature reserve close to The Catherine Wheel pub/restaurant at Gravesend, Albury about a third of the way round. The countryside is undulating and there are great wide open views. The Brewery Tap pub restaurant at Furneux Pelham is close to the start/finish point.

Graveley and Weston. A circular 5 mile walk lasting 2.5 hours via Gravely and Weston with scenic views across Forster country.

Great Chishill.  7.4 mile circular route through Great Chishill, Chrishall and Heydon. 

Great Hormead.  5.5 mile walk.. There are wide, open views, a great pub at the start and finish point (The Three Tuns pub/restaurant in Great Hormead) and another gem of a local a short detour from the halfway point. Wild deer, fieldfare, buzzards and kites, woodland with snowdrops. The paths are clear and well-maintained throughout. 

Hare Street. 7 mile walk, including Great Hormead, Little Hormead and Hare Street. Much of the route is on higher ground, a mixture of footpaths, bridleways and roads. There is much variety in the landscape through which it passes and the settlements are rich in ancient buildings. Some paths can be muddy at times. There is a pub and a tea room close to the start in Hare Street and another pub in Great Hormead.

Little Chishill. 8.3 mile marathon including Great and Little Chishill, Langley and Chrishall, crossing the highest and prettiest land in Cambridgeshire and Essex.

Little Hadham. Includes several walks in parish of Little Hadham. The gently undulating landscape, with river Ash, woodland and farmland and contains many historic timber framed cottages and farmhouses.the medieval St Cecilia’s Church, and Hadham Hall, family home of the Capels (see Arthur Capel and Fairport Conevtion in People). The Nag’s Head Pub, built in 1595, provides food and drink.

Manuden. This 4 mile walk is a real gem for a bright autumn day with wide open fields and fine views. The start is in Manuden, where you can explore the church and old buildings of main street. There is a map of the parish fixed to the wall just by the north gate to the church. 

Patmore Heath. This 5.3 mile walk starts and finishes in the car park at Patmore Heath, a nature reserve. It then heads E before crossing the Hertfordshire and Essex border then passing through the village of Farnham before looping back across rolling countryside offering some great views.

Reed. 5.5 mile walk east of Reed. It is a lovely quite route with large stretches where the only sound is birdsong interrupted by the odd plane overhead. You will pass the site of The Barkway Hoard, where treasure, buried in the 4th century, was found.

Reed SW. This is a lovely 5 mile walk over the gentle rolling countryside, with great views, wildflowers and butterflies.

Rickling & Quendon. This 7 mile walk is mostly along footpaths and passes beside or through several woods that are usually carpeted in bluebells in springtime. Much of the route is on higher ground with extensive views. The walk passses near two parish churches, plus The Cricketers Arms at Rickling Green, and the Chequers at Ugley. 

Rickling Green. Short 2 mile walk from Cricketers pub.

Roe Green. 6 mile walk from Sandon to Rushden and back. 

Rushden.  This 4.4 mile walk, following well-defined paths over rolling countryside, with woodland and some lane walking. There are opportunities for refreshments at a pub and at a garden centre cafe along the way. 

Sandon. This 4.7 mile walk starts in the village of Sandon and crosses Blagrove Common, a site of special scientific interest. 

Standon. 5 mile walk from the picturesque village of Standon that includes sections of the Hercamlow Way and The Greenwich Meridian Trail. The walk offers wide open views over the River Rib valley. It starts and finishes on High Street, Standon where there are two pubs, The Star and The Bell. There is also Days Bakery on High Street that serves tea and coffee.

Stansted Mountfitchet. 3 mile walk around town. 

Stansted Mountfitchet - Manuden.  11 mile marathon including Stansted Mountfitchet (starting at station), Farnham, Manuden and Ugley.

Stevenage & Forster country. Old Town Stevenage and/or Forster country, including Graveley. There are several old coaching Inns in Stevenage High Strreta, and two old pubs in Graveley.

Ugley. 4.5 miles circular starting from 16th-century coaching inn The Chequers. 

Ugley Green. Pleasant 2 mile walk. 

Therfield. 6 mile circular walk starts at Therfield pub, passes through the beautiful landscape, and offers wide open views.

Therfield Heath, near Royston. 6.5 miles.  Crosses the Heath, with wide views, barrows and chalk grassland (see Nature), before heading off to explore some equally attractive, rural and remote Hertfordshire countryside. There is cafe near begining, and pub, half way around, in Therfield.

Walkern.  This 5.4 mile walk offers wide open views across the rolling countryside north of Walkern. The route crosses some livestock fields and, at one point, a field of horse jumps. It also crosses a number of arable fields. The starting point is 4.5 miles ENE from Stevenage station by road.

Walkern south. A wonderful 7.4 mile walk through the rolling countryside to the S and W of Walkern.. The route heads SW to Aston End and then to Aston before returning along footpaths following the banks of the River Beane. There are pubs at Aston End and Aston and two in Walkern close to the start/finish point. The starting point is 4.7 miles ENE from Stevenage station by road.

Wallington.  6.4 mile walk from Wallington, passes Blagrove Common, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, described as “one of the few remaining areas of unimproved marshy grassland in Hertfordshire”, You also pass the cottage where the author George Orwell lived for four years as well as Manor Farm mentioned in his novel Animal Farm.

Wallington SW. Excellent 5.6 mile walk from Wallington across the hills, along well-defined paths with wide open views across to Cambridgeshire (see People and Myths for George Orwell and Animal Farm).

Westmill - Aspenden. 5 miles. This walk is a mixture of countryside and an exploration of two attractive Hertfordshire villages. It is moderately hilly, mainly on quiet lanes and good paths. There are no stiles. Westmill has a pub and a tea room and there is a pub in Aspenden.

Weston. 7.5 mile walk over the undulating countryside. It follows well-defined byways and footpaths offering open views on all sides. You pass through the graveyard of the Grade 1 listed Holy Trinity Church, Weston, where you might be able to spot the grave of Jack O'Legs, who is said to have robbed from the rich to give to the poor (see Myths).

Weston Hills Nature Reserve, near Baldock. This 8.7 mile walk starts and finishes at the Weston Hills nature reserve where there is a small car park off Chalk Hills in Baldock. Passes through Weston, Halls Green and Clothall, and 3 pubbs. 

Wyddial - Great Hormead. 8 mile circular via Gt Hormead, Hare Street, Layston, Wyddial, Anstey and back to Great Hormead.