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Walk 2: Camfield Place Loop

2.7 miles (4.4 km) with 85m total ascent


Photograph of The footpath between points 9 and 10 below  Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
The footpath between points 9 and 10 below
This walk circles Camfield Place, the country estate of the late Barbara Cartland. It takes you through five woods, down tree-lined footpaths, across a footbridge, and down quiet country lanes. The route starts and finishes at The Woodman at Wildhill. Check the opening times to ensure you are not disappointed. The starting point for this walk is two miles NE from Welham Green station by road.

Fly through preview of walk


If you want to check what sort of landscape you will be crossing before you set off on this walk you can view a short 3D video of the route below. It's created using the free version of Relive.


Directions


Map for Walk 2: Camfield Place Loop  Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker With elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors For KML and GPX details, see the interactive map below the directions
Map for Walk 2: Camfield Place Loop
Click here or on the map above for a larger version
Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker
With elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors
We have an interactive map below the directions
Those with GPS devices can download GPX or KML files for this walk. We've added What3Words references for those who use that system. If you print these walks you might want to use the green PrintFriendly icon at the bottom of these directions to delete elements such as photographs.

If you are going to end up taking refreshments at The Woodman the landlord says you can park in the pub car park (location - https://w3w.co/plots.thinks.files).

Photograph of The footpath leading south-east out of The Woodman car park Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
The footpath leading SE out of The Woodman car park
1: From The Woodman the car park you will notice a gate on the left just beyond the beer garden. This is Hatfield footpath 85 (location - https://w3w.co/star.yard.oppose). Go through the gate then walk uphill and diagonally SE across the field for 140m heading slightly to the right. This can be muddy after rain. This field often has horses grazing and they can be frisky.

Photograph of The gate at the top of the first field from The Woodman car park Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
The gate at the top of the first field
2: Go through the gate then head SSE across a field for 150m until you reach a gate on the edge of woodland (location - https://w3w.co/mess.garage.sticks), see image below.

Go through the gate then head SE with the woodland on your left
Go through the gate then head SE with the woodland on your left
3: Go through the gate and, keeping the wood on your left, walk along the edge of the field still heading SE until the path crosses the corner of a field (location - https://w3w.co/robe.storms.tour), see image below.

Photograph of Continue along the path through the crops until you reach Kentish Lane where you turn left Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
The path to Kentish Lane mentioned in point 3 above
The path is usually cut diagonally across through the crops and continues for 120m to a gap in the hedgerow leading to Kentish Lane (location - https://w3w.co/bared.wallet.opera).

4: Cross the road here then turn left and walk NE along the right-hand side (east side) of Kentish Lane (the B158) for 320m until you reach a bend with Wildhill Road on your left (location - https://w3w.co/race.oppose.press).

Photograph of footpath. Turn right on the footpath leading south-east off Kentish Lane Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
Turn right on Essendon footpath 19 and head SE
5: Turn right on Essendon footpath 19 then follow this footpath SE for 140m before it branches off to the left to reach a small footbridge with a gate on your left (location - https://w3w.co/sharp.joins.pads). Turn left at the gate. This is Essendon footpath 20.

Photograph of footpath. Turn left here and take the footpath as it heads north-east to Hornbeam Lane Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
Turn left here and take the footpath as it heads NE to Hornbeam Lane
Head NE with the field on your left and the woods on your right. After 120m you will reach the end of the woodland where you drop down slightly to the right to go through a gate by an outbuilding (location - https://w3w.co/pencil.shack.snake), see image below.

The gate mentioned above - continue for 70m to Hornbeam Lane
Go through the gate then continue heading NE, now with the house and gardens on your right and the hedge on your left for 70m until you reach Hornbeam Lane (location - https://w3w.co/trucks.limbs.tube).

Turn left on Hornbeam Lane and walk NW for 160m until you reach the B158. Immediately opposite you will see another path to the left of a house (location - https://w3w.co/shut.bubble.loyal).

Photograph of footpath. Turn right at the footpath sign and walk north-east through Duncan's Wood Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
Turn right at the footpath sign and walk NE through Duncan's Wood
7: Take this path, Essendon footpath 15, and head NW for 140m until you reach a footpath sign. Turn right and head NE for 480m first through Duncan’s Wood and continue until the path leaves the woodland (location - https://w3w.co/crowned.sparks.formal).

Photograph of footpath. Continue heading north-east following the path down to Essendon Brook where you turn left Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
Continue heading NE down to Essendon Brook
Here there is a panoramic view of a small valley enclosed in woodland and formed by two brooks, the Essendon Brook and Wildhill Brook.

Continues NE along a sheltered track between the fields and downhill until you come to a gate just before a footpath crossing (location - https://w3w.co/pose.square.pages). Ahead is a small track down to a bridge over Essendon Brook, but your way is left along the edge of the woodland keeping the brook on your right. This is Essendon footpath 16.

Photograph of footpath. Turn left at the footpath crossing and continue north-west alongside Essendon Brook Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
Turn left and continue NW alongside Essendon Brook
8: Head NW along this path for 400m until you reach a footbridge (location - https://w3w.co/mugs.verbs.escape).

The wooden footbridge over Wildhill Brook at the junction with Essendon Brook Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
The footbridge over Wildhill Brook
9: Cross the bridge then keep walking NW, climbing out of the valley with fields on your left and the hedgerow on your right.

Photograph of footpath. Turn left on the byway and follow it round as it heads south-west to West End Lane Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
Turn left on the byway and follow it SW to West End Lane
10: After 330m your path meets Essendon BOAT 14 (byway open to all traffic) at the top of the hill (location - https://w3w.co/salt.food.flips) where you turn sharp left. Follow this byway SW for 590m until you reach West End Lane (location - https://w3w.co/venues.flesh.button).

* As you walk this byway look to your left, across the fields and the valley, and you will see the late Barbara Cartland's home, Camfield Place, perched high on the distant hill.

11: When you reach West End Lane, turn left and walk along the road for 830m as it winds its way down the hill to Wildhill (location - https://w3w.co/fuel.full.rental).

12: Turn left at the end of West End Lane and you will see The Woodman on your right.



Interactive map




12 comments:

  1. Done a few walks on this site. All been very pleasant surprise apart from this one. Parking involves pub car park or mounting and blocking nearby pavement. First field had a horse that ran over from the other side of the field to attack my dog. It tried several times to kick it. I shielded my dog and let go of the lead and told my dog to run which he did gladly. I got a few thumps from the horse before it decided I was no longer a threat as my dog had gone. Not very attractive lanes on this walk. Many security lights and cameras, signs saying guard dogs patrol, loose live stock, keep your dog on a lead. Not very relaxing. Then as I trod on a stick, angry sounding pack of guard dogs sounded like they would burst through the barn wall and eat us alive. Walk ends with disappointing trek down the road as no paths available.Legs covered in thistles scratches and nettle stings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your comments. Sorry you had a bad experience. I have edited the post to include a warning about the frisky horses. I had added that to another walk that takes the same path but forgot to add it to Walk 2, so thanks.

      I have also added a comment about the security dogs, where are apparently used on leads during security patrols because of a recent spate of poaching.

      Sorry you got stung by nettles and scratched by thistles. We do warn in our About page that some paths can get overgrown during certain times of the year and to dress accordingly.

      I quite like the short walk along the quiet West End Lane at the end. A lot of walks include quiet lanes without footpaths. Unfortunately this can't always be avoided when creating a looped walk. Again, apologies.

      Dave

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    2. I also suggest you read our Walking Tips page where you will find advice on what to wear to protect against nettles and thistles, and some tips on crossing fields with livestock.

      https://www.hertfordshirewalker.org/p/tips.html

      David

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    3. Would you go back

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    4. Yes, we do this walk every couple of weeks and call at The Woodman for a pint. Hope you enjoyed it.
      David

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  2. Did this walk on adice from David at pub. Enjoyed it. Our dog haf plenty of opportunity to be off lead and enjoyed brook. Instructions and photos ensured we did not get lost. Will now try other walks.

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    Replies
    1. Great, glad you enjoyed it. Nice to meet you in the beer garden. Essendon Brook is a great place for dogs. And, of course, The Woodman is a great place for beer. 🙂

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  3. I've done this walk several times and really enjoy it, especially the woods. However today we encountered the dogs living at the house at point 6 who were very very unhappy at my dogs (on lead) being on the footpath, and it was quite a traumatic section passing them in their sneaking through the fence. Just a warning to other dog walkers!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for the feedback. This is also one of our regular walks. We have never had a problem, but we don't have a dog with us. Did they get through the fence and attack you on the public right of way? David

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    2. Hi Dog Walker like you have walked this many times ( I don’t have a dog ) but the dogs at House point 4 go Nuts every time I pass. Definitely not a good feel factor . Ian R.

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  4. Hi, they didn't get through the fence (autocorrect above for snarling!) but the owner was nearby and made no attempt to call them away and he could see I was struggling to pass.

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    Replies
    1. You can avoid this section of the this walk, and all walks using this path, by continuing along Kentish Lane between points 5 & 7. The only reason I use this path is to avoid having to cross the main road on a blind bend.

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Comments and feedback
If you try any of the walks on this site, please let us know what you thought of them. You can either comment here, or on our members-only Facebook Group where walkers are sharing photographs of their walks and walking tips. Comments on our Facebook Group go live immediately, as they do on our Facebook Page. Comments here on our website are moderated, so there will be a slight delay before what you write goes live.

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