Walk 2: Camfield Place Loop

2.7 miles (4.4 km) with 85m total ascent

The footpath between points 9 and 10 below

This walk circles Camfield Place, the country estate of the late Barbara Cartland. It takes you through five woods, down tree-lined footpaths, across a footbridge, and down quiet country lanes. The route starts and finishes at The Woodman at Wildhill. Check the opening times to ensure you are not disappointed. The starting point for this walk is two miles NE from Welham Green station by road.

There is a short section of footpath just before point 6 in this walk where you might get barked at by dogs living at a house on the other side of a fence that runs alongside the public right of way. Some walkers have found this disturbing. We included this particular public right of way in order to avoid a dangerous crossing on a blind bend at point 5. If you want to avoid being barked at you could always risk crossing the B158 at point 5 then walking NE along the pedestrian pavement for 200m to join the route at point 7.

Getting there

For those travelling by public transport there is a bus stop outside The Woodman pub which is served by the number 200 and 201 buses. You can check bus times at Intalink.

Fly through preview of walk

If you want to check what sort of landscape you will be crossing before you set off on this walk you can view a short 3D video of the route below. It's created using the free version of Relive.

Directions

Map for Walk 2: Camfield Place Loop

Click here or on the map above for a larger version
Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker

With elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors

We have an interactive map below the directions

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 going to end up taking refreshments at The Woodman the landlord says you can park in the pub car park (location - https://w3w.co/plots.thinks.files).

The footpath leading SE out of The Woodman car park

1: From The Woodman the car park you will notice a gate on the left just beyond the beer garden. This is Hatfield footpath 85 (location - https://w3w.co/star.yard.oppose). Go through the gate then walk uphill and diagonally SE across the field for 140m heading slightly to the right. This can be muddy after rain. This field often has horses grazing and they can be frisky.

The gate at the top of the first field

2: Go through the gate then head SSE across a field for 150m until you reach a gate on the edge of woodland (location - https://w3w.co/mess.garage.sticks), see image below.

Go through the gate then head SE with the woodland on your left

3: Go through the gate and, keeping the wood on your left, walk along the edge of the field still heading SE until the path crosses the corner of a field (location - https://w3w.co/robe.storms.tour), see image below.

The path to Kentish Lane mentioned in point 3 above

The path is usually cut diagonally across through the crops and continues for 120m to a gap in the hedgerow leading to Kentish Lane (location - https://w3w.co/bared.wallet.opera).

4: Cross the road here then turn left and walk NE along the right-hand side (east side) of Kentish Lane (the B158) for 320m until you reach a bend with Wildhill Road on your left (location - https://w3w.co/race.oppose.press).

Turn right on Essendon footpath 19 and head SE

5: Turn right on Essendon footpath 19 then follow this footpath SE for 140m before it branches off to the left to reach a small footbridge with a gate on your left (location - https://w3w.co/sharp.joins.pads). Turn left at the gate. This is Essendon footpath 20.

Turn left here and take the footpath as it heads NE to Hornbeam Lane

Head NE with the field on your left and the woods on your right. After 120m you will reach the end of the woodland where you drop down slightly to the right to go through a gate by an outbuilding (location - https://w3w.co/pencil.shack.snake), see image below.

The gate mentioned above - continue for 70m to Hornbeam Lane

Go through the gate then continue heading NE, now with the house and gardens on your right and the hedge on your left for 70m until you reach Hornbeam Lane (location - https://w3w.co/trucks.limbs.tube).

6: Turn left on Hornbeam Lane and walk NW for 160m until you reach the B158. Immediately opposite you will see another path to the left of a house (location - https://w3w.co/shut.bubble.loyal).

Turn right at the footpath sign and walk NE through Duncan's Wood

7: Take this path, Essendon footpath 15, and head NW for 140m until you reach a footpath sign. Turn right and head NE for 480m first through Duncan’s Wood and continue until the path leaves the woodland (location - https://w3w.co/crowned.sparks.formal).

Continue heading NE down to Essendon Brook

Here there is a panoramic view of a small valley enclosed in woodland and formed by two brooks, the Essendon Brook and Wildhill Brook.

Continues NE along a sheltered track between the fields and downhill until you come to a gate just before a footpath crossing (location - https://w3w.co/pose.square.pages). Ahead is a small track down to a bridge over Essendon Brook, but your way is left along the edge of the woodland keeping the brook on your right. This is Essendon footpath 16.

Turn left and continue NW alongside Essendon Brook

8: Head NW along this path for 400m until you reach a footbridge (location - https://w3w.co/mugs.verbs.escape).

The footbridge over Wildhill Brook

9: Cross the bridge then keep walking NW, climbing out of the valley with fields on your left and the hedgerow on your right.

Turn left on the byway and follow it SW to West End Lane

10: After 330m your path meets Essendon BOAT 14 (byway open to all traffic) at the top of the hill (location - https://w3w.co/salt.food.flips) where you turn sharp left. Follow this byway SW for 590m until you reach West End Lane (location - https://w3w.co/venues.flesh.button).

* As you walk this byway look to your left, across the fields and the valley, and you will see the late Barbara Cartland's home, Camfield Place, perched high on the distant hill.

11: When you reach West End Lane, turn left and walk along the road for 830m as it winds its way down the hill to Wildhill (location - https://w3w.co/fuel.full.rental).

12: Turn left at the end of West End Lane and you will see The Woodman on your right.

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Interactive map

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