Walk 105: Hunsdon East Loop

A gentle walk mainly on the flat

5.3 miles (8.5km) 54m of ascent 

This is a great walk for anyone who can't manage ups and downs or climbing over stiles. It’s mainly on the flat and along wide tracks. Ideal for anyone pushing a buggy. You will be following bridleways through open fields and footpaths through woodland. There are a couple of footbridges along the route, but few obstacles.  The walk circles the largely defunct Hunsdon Airfield, used by the RAF between 1941 and 1945 under the name of RAF Hunsdon.

Walk 104: Standon S Loop

A spectacular walk along the River Rib

5 miles (8.2 km)

Cows paddling in the River Rib between points 3 and 4 below
Image by Hertfordshire Walker released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

This has to be one of our favourite walks on the site. It’s a lovely circular route along two sides of the River Rib valley, with wonderful wide-open views across the rolling Hertfordshire countryside. Along the walk you cross the river several times at footbridges adjacent to fords where there are opportunities for dogs, kids, and older folk to dip their feet in the water. It’s quite a hilly route with a total of 125m of ascent over the course of the 5 miles. But the climbing is worth it for the views. There are several sympathetically placed benches along the way.

Walk 103: Benington NW Loop

Rolling countryside with wide open views

6 miles (9.7km)

This circular walk is our second from Benington, the other is Walk 102: Benington NE Loop. Walk 103 heads NW out of the village before looping round to the south along byways and footpaths and across open fields. The walk involves some lane walking, but, when we did it they were quiet.

Walk 102: Benington NE Loop

Well-marked tracks, wide, open views

5.9 miles (9.5 km)

This walk has some great views across the north Hertfordshire countryside. It follows many well-defined tree-lined tracks and footpaths. It starts in the village of Benington where there is a pub, The Bell, close to the start and finish point.

Walk 101: Colney Heath Loop

Great walk for bird-watchers

2.4 miles (3.9 km)

This is a short walk across Colney Heath, along the River Colne, and over Willow Lakes, where anyone who enjoys bird-watching could be in for a treat depending on the season, particularly between points 5 and 6. There is free parking at the start and finish, and a pub, The Crooked Billet, in Colney Heath a short diversion from the route (see yellow marker on the map). This walk is a shorter version of another walk on this site, Colney Heath South Loop.

Walk 100: Cottered S Loop

A windmill, Roman road, and wide open views

6 miles (9.6 km)

This is a pleasant undulating walk through some superb north Hertfordshire countryside. Most of it is along well-marked footpaths and byways, with some walking along quiet country lanes. There is a 2km stretch along a Roman road. The route passes Cromer windmill which is thought to have been built between 1192 and 1222.

Walk 99: Woodside Loop

Open fields, red kites, a wooded byway

3.5 miles (5.6 km)

Green Street looking back towards point 10
Image by Hertfordshire Walker released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

This is an extension of the shorter Wildhill Loop, which is walk six in this series. We’ve added it because it has been one of our regular walks during the coronavirus lockdown of 2020, when we wanted a walk that was quiet and which we could enjoy without meeting too many people. It starts and finishes at The Woodman, Wildhill. The walk includes a section called Green Street, which is a lovely 2km stretch of wooded byway.