Walk 243: Datchworth South-West Loop

3.5 miles (5.7km) with 80m of total ascent

Datchworth bridleway 13 between points 11 & 12

This is a lovely walk over the rolling countryside south-west and south of Datchworth Green. It mainly follows footpaths, bridleways and byways, but there are some short stretches along quiet lanes. There are four pubs along the way, two at the start and finish where there is also a cafe. There is one stretch where a footpath crosses a livestock field and dog owners are asked to keep their pets on a short lead.

Walk 242: Smallford North Loop

4.5 miles (7.3 km) with 24m total ascent

Colney Heath footpath 14 between points 6 & 7

Please note, a bridleway on this route was closed on 15/08/2023 for six months for demolition and construction work. Please choose a different route until February 2024.

This is a perfect walk if you are getting your car serviced along Hatfield Road and need to kill a few hours while the mechanics are doing their stuff. The route starts and finishes at what was Smallford Station on the former Hatfield to St Albans railway line, now The Alban Way. There is free car parking at the site (at the time of writing - August 2023). Along the way you will cross livestock fields and a farmyard where there are signs asking dog owners to keep their pets on a lead.

Walk 241: Pirton South-West Loop

6.2 miles (10 km) with 143m total ascent

Pirton footpath 7 between points 4 & 5

Another excellent walk over the rolling hills in the north of Hertfordshire and west of Hitchin. This is a lovely route offering some wonderful wide open views along the way. It starts and finishes at Pirton then heads SW before looping back across the Pegsdon Hills along a section of The Icknield Way. Soon after the start you will cross an area of land that was once a mediaeval village.

Walk 240: Hexton South-West Loop

6.6 miles (10.7km) with 138m of total ascent

Barton Hills Nature Reserve from the bridleway at point 12

This is a lovely walk in late July when the hedgerows are ablaze with wildflowers, and butterflies flutter around as you walk. The majority of the route is like walking through a natural garden, particularly between points 4-6, 9-10, and 12-14.

This is our second walk from the village of Hexton, and, as with the other walk, Walk 237: Hexton South-East Loop, it involves a fair amount of up and down.

The walk starts from The Raven pub in Hexton then heads south before turning west and crossing the border into Bedfordshire. It then turns north to explore the Barton Hills then looping back via Barton-le-Clay. A little more than half the walk is in Bedfordshire.

Walk 239: Willows Lakes West Loop

3.5 miles (5.6km) with 27m of total ascent

The River Colne at Willows Lakes

This walk starts in Colney Heath then circles Willows Lakes, a series of former quarries which are now part of a private fishery. It's a great walk for anyone interested in wild flowers, butterflies, and bird spotting. The route follows public rights of way around the site and keeps away from the private footpaths which are accessible to anglers only.

Walk 238: Little Amwell South-East Loop

2.7 miles (4.3km) with 47m of total ascent

Hertford Heath bridleway 4 between points 16 & 17

This short loop follows both public rights of way and other trails across Hertford Heath, Golding's Wood, and Much Wood. Those with children might enjoy exploring 'Hertford Heath Fairy Trail' between points 5 & 6 on the walk. The walk starts and finishes at The Goat pub/restaurant and passes close to The College Arms.

Walk 237: Hexton South-East Loop

5.7 miles (9.3km) with 140m of total ascent

Hexton footpath 2 between points 14 & 15

This is an excellent walk from the village of Hexton. It starts and finishes at The Raven pub/restaurant before crossing the border into Bedfordshire then following a section of The Chiltern Way over the Pegsdon Hills. The route then loops back along part of The Icknield Way before returning to Hexton along a lovely path between Lion Hill and Moor Hill, see image above.

Walk 236: Lilley Loop

4.8 miles (7.8km) with 97m of total ascent

The byway between points 2 & 3

This is an excellent walk across the beautiful rolling countryside north of the village of Lilley. We were both struck by the silence between points 3 & 5, broken only by hovering skylarks. All through the route the hedgerows were ablaze with a wide variety of wildflowers. You will walk along parts of two long-distance paths, the John Bunyan Trail and The Icknield Way, and pass a Bronze Age burial barrow.

Walk 235: Heartwood Forest Six Woods Loop

4 miles (6.4km) with 77m of total ascent

One of the entrances to The Magical Wood at Heartwood Forest

This is a lovely walk through five wooded areas on the north-west side of Heartwood Forest and along the edge of a sixth. You will walk through Langley Wood, Round Wood, Pudler's Wood, Well Wood, and The Magical Wood, and along the edge of Pismire Spring.

Despite the title of the walk, only about a third is shaded. The rest follows footpaths through what were meadows and which are now rich in wildflowers.

Walk 234: Northaw Great Wood Red Trail

0.75 miles (1.18km) with 28m of total ascent

The red trail at Northaw Great Wood

This is one of the shortest walks on Hertfordshire Walker and is one of three in Northaw Great Wood. It's ideal for those who are unable to walk a great distance and need easy access to the trails from a car park. However the red trail, although short, does involve some up and down with a total ascent of 28m. Some of the paths can be muddy after rain. The route has plenty of shade if you want to escape the heat.

Walk 233: Northaw Great Wood Blue Trail

1.45 miles (2.33km) with 43m of total ascent

A sign post along the blue trail in Northaw Great Wood

The blue trail at Northaw Great Wood is ideal for those who want a shady walk with easy access from a car park. It loops inside the longer yellow trail and circles the shorter red trail. All three trails are signposted but not all forks are marked, which is why we have created separate walks for all three with GPX navigation files which you can use to follow the routes on a compatible mobile device.