Walk 151: Great Offley West Loop

5.7 miles (9.2 km) with 390ft of ascent

The footpath between points 4 & 5

This is an excellent walk for those who want to stride out across rolling countryside with some open views over the north-east Hertfordshire countryside. The walk starts in the village of Great Offley then heads west to Mangrove Green where you will find the King William IV pub/restaurant at the halfway point. The route then returns over fields and through woodland. There is a fair amount of up and down involved, with narrow paths cutting through crops. We have added two detours to avoid a bull in a field and paths that had become too overgrown. Because of this there is short stretch of lane walking, but the lane is quiet and there is a verge to avoid traffic.

Walk 150: Great Offley East Loop

4.5 miles (7.3km) with 320ft of ascent

Kings Walden restricted byway 36 between points 3 & 4

We really enjoyed this walk because it goes through some attractive, rolling countryside, and the bridleways, byways and footpaths are all well maintained and easy to follow. We particularly enjoyed bridleway 6 between points 5 & 6, and bridleway 14 between points 7 & 8. There are two pubs in the village of Great Offley, one at the start/finish point, the other 550m NW.

Walk 149: Cole Green Way Loop

5.6 miles (9km) with 277 ft of ascent

Hertingfordbury footpath 1 between points 5 & 6

This walk includes elements from two earlier walks in this series that both share a 2-mile stretch of The Cole Green Way, a former branch line between Hertford and Welwyn Garden City which is now a long-distance recreational route. The other walks are Walk 35: Letty Green Loop (3 miles) and Walk 93: Grotto Wood Loop (4.3 miles). This walk, which is the longest of the three, follows a footpath and part of a bridleway which are not featured in the other walks and which were both ablaze with wild flowers when we tested the route in July.

Walk 148: Jockey End South Loop

6.3 miles (10.2 km) with 464 ft of ascent

The footbridge over the River Gade between points 7 & 8

We really enjoyed this walk. It has a pleasant mix of some great tree-lined byways as well as footpaths that cross fields which, when we visited in July, were full of wild flowers. There are no pubs on the route, but The Crown & Sceptre in Briden's Camp and The Red Lion at Water End are close by. The walk starts in Jockey End where there are parking options along Gaddesden Row. Alternatively you could try to park in Great Gaddesden and start the walk from point 9. Either way, please check that parking restrictions haven't been introduced since this walk was published.

Walk 147: Water End North East Loop

6.2 miles (9.8 km) with 370 ft of ascent

Great Gaddesden footpath 35 between points 4 & 5

This walk explores the area around Water End and Briden's Camp following footpaths, bridleways, and byways through rolling countryside with open views. It passes two pubs. Some paths will be muddy after rain.

Walk 146: Flamstead West Loop

8.6 miles (13.8 km) with 550 ft of ascent

Flamstead footpath 47 between points 7 & 8

This is an excellent walk that starts along narrow footpaths and continues along bridleways with wide, open views across the north-west Hertfordshire countryside. There is some great scenery and, when we walked in July 2021 the hedgerows were ablaze with wild flowers. There is a short stretch of lane walking between points 16 and 17, but it's a quiet lane and we were passed by one car only.

Electric fencing removed from blocked public footpath

Little Berkhamstead footpath 14 after electric fencing removed

Officers from Hertfordshire County Council's Rights of Way (ROW) team have intervened after a footpath in Epping Green was blocked with electrified fencing.

Two weeks ago Hertfordshire Walker notified the council that what appeared to be an unofficial diversion had been set up along Little Berkhamstead footpath 14. Officers from the council say they visited the site and spoke to the landowner who agreed to move the fence off the path.