Walk 13: The Candlestick Loop

4.1 miles (6.6 km) with 112m total ascent

 

An undulating walk from West End to Essendon with some open views north over the River Lea valley. There is quite a bit of up and down and there is a short stretch of a quiet country lane. The walk starts and finishes at The Candlestick restaurant/pub.

Directions

Map for Walk 13: The Candlestick Loop
Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker
Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors
There is an interactive map at the foot of this page

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 planning on having refreshments at The Candlestick before or after the walk, you can park in the pub/restaurant car park; if not there are usually spaces on the road next to the car park (location - https://w3w.co/theme.grape.index).

1: With The Candlestick behind you, head W along the lane opposite the pub for 370m.

2: After the last cottage on the right you come to a footpath sign on your right just before a rear entrance to Hatfield House. This is Essendon footpath 11. Follow this footpath down the hill for 1km until you reach to Hill End Lodge.

3: Continue along the lane, which is also Essendon footpath 11, and head N for 900m to the point where the road turns left.

4: Turn right here and follow the bridleway E for 850m. This is Hatfield bridleway 75 for the first 100m before becoming Essendon bridleway 6. Follow this bridleway with the river Lea on your left until you meet a Essendon bridleway 10 on the right.

5: Turn right here and continue heading S for 630m passing a farm track on your right, and continue looking out for a Essendon footpath 8 on your left (location - https://w3w.co/toward.nature.drops).

6: Turn left here and head SE towards Larkinshill Grove. Cross a track (location - https://w3w.co/cook.soap.pipes) and continue heading SE with the woodland on your left.

7: At the end of the woodland head S across a field until you reach West End Lane (location - https://w3w.co/latter.water.over).

8: Turn left on West End Lane and climb the hill for 670m until you reach the outskirts of Essendon village where you will a footpath on the right before the first house on the right.

9: Take this path, Essendon footpath 17, for 380m as it skirts the W boundary of the church and then crosses a field emerging in Backhouse Wood (location - https://w3w.co/fresh.shave.shed).

10: Turn right on Essendon footpath 13 and follow it WSW for 420m through the wood, down the hill, and across a footbridge.

11: Cross the bridge and climb up the path heading W for 250m until you meet Essendon BOAT 14 (byway open to all traffic).

12: Turn left, and almost immediately (after 25m) take the first footpath on the right, which is a continuation of Essendon footpath 13. Climb the hill with the fields on your left and the hedge on your right as you make your way back to The Candlestick and the starting point.

Interactive map

---