Hills, views and woodland
4.1 miles (6.6 km)
A really good undulating walk from West End to Essendon. Some great open views. Quite a bit of up and down. Short stretch of quiet country lane. Start and finish at The Candlestick restaurant/pub.
Directions
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Map for Walk 13: The Candlestick Loop
Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker
Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors
Click on the interactive map below to download KML or GPX files
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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.
1: With The Candlestick behind you, head W along the lane opposite the pub for 370m
2: After the last cottage on you come to a footpath sign on your right, just before an 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 heading N for 900m to the point where the road turns left.
4: Turn right here and follow the bridleway E for 850m. This bridleway starts off as Hatfield bridleway 75 for about 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 lane on your right, and continue looking out for a Essendon footpath 8 on your left.
6: Turn left here and head SE towards Larkinshill Grove. Continue with the woodland on your left.
7: At the end of the woodland head S across an open field until you reach West End Lane.
8: Turn left, 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.
9: Take this path, Essendon footpath 17, for 380m as it skirts the west boundary of the church and then crosses a field emerging in Backhouse Wood.
10: Turn right on Essendon footpath 13 and follow it SW 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 a byway open to all traffic (BOAT). This is Essendon BOAT 14.
12: Turn left, and almost immediately (25m) take the first footpath on the right (a continuation of Essendon footpath 13), climbing with the fields on your left and the hedge on your right as you make your way back to The Candlestick.
