Walk 25: Little Berkhamsted Loop

4.5 miles (7 km) with 137m total ascent

The footpath past Culver Wood at point 12 in the walk

A pleasant walk from Little Berkhamsted village through fields and woodland over to Bayford village and back. The walk includes open fields, shady woodland, footpaths, bridleways and has the benefit of a pub and village shop at the start/finish and a pub half way round. Some parts of the route are along lanes where, for a short distance, there is no footpath/pavement.

Directions

Map for Walk 25: Little Berkhamsted Loop
Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker
Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors
There is a larger, more-detailed map embedded at the end of these directions

Those with GPS devices can download GPX or KML files for this walk. We've added What3Words location 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.

1: Take the footpath to the east of the church, Little Berkhamsted footpath 9 (location - https://w3w.co/plates.solar.search), and follow the path NE for 340m until you come to a gate leading to Buck’s Alley. Turn right.

2: After 25m you will see a stile and footpath sign to Bayford on the left (location - https://w3w.co/called.cheese.reap). Take this footpath, Little Berkhamsted footpath 9, and continue heading E and NE for 580m, crossing a field and dropping down to Bayford Woods (location - https://w3w.co/sector.expand.sleep).

Footpath 5 leaving Bayford Woods mentioned in point 3 below

3: Walk ESE through the wood following Bayford footpath 5, for 640m as it climbs up to a field where you turn left and head N to a gate and stile in the hedgerow. Continue and follow the footpath to Ashendene Road (location - https://w3w.co/walks.soils.link).

4: Turn left on Ashendene Road and head NE for 750m into Bayford village taking care because there isn’t really a footpath/pavement to walk along at first. Keep walking through the village until you reach the Baker Arms - an opportunity for refreshments if you’ve picked the right time of day. Turn left down Well Row and follow the road, watching out for traffic. Again, this is a lane without a footpath/pavement.

5: When you reach Bayford church keep left heading NW along Bayford Lane for 280m. The road will swing NW and then NNE. Shortly after a cottage on your left you will see a footpath sign on the left (location - https://w3w.co/walks.soils.link). Take this path and head W through a gap between the house and the hedge. This is Bayford footpath 4.

6: Continue along heading W along this path for 260m through a field with horse paddocks left and right. When the path you are on turns to the right with the fields on your left and hedgerow on the right, you continue for another 70m heading NW until you reach a footpath on your left (location - https://w3w.co/shade.fish.shift) - see image below.

The footpath heading off to your left mentioned in point 6 above

7: Take this path, Bayford footpath 3, for 230m as it cuts through the crops heading WSW and downhill to Bayford Woods. Note: At certain times of the year this path gets ploughed over so make sure you head WSW. When you reach the woods on the other side of the field follow the path down to a stream, which you cross via a footbridge.

The footbridge in Bayford Wood at point 7 above

8: Climb up to the field and turn left following Little Berkhamsted footpath 6 and keeping the hedgerow on your left and the field on your right. Go through a gap in the hedge (location - https://w3w.co/aware.stared.little) and turn right keeping the field on your left and the hedge to your right and head W for 150m.

9: Continue until you reach a gravel track where you turn left (location - https://w3w.co/small.year.tiles). Follow this track as it goes SW for 270m. Look out for a bridleway on the right, Little Berkhamsted bridleway 21 (location - https://w3w.co/camps.racks.nodded).

10: Take this bridleway and head N and NW for 460m following Stockings Lane. You will reach a bridleway junction, you take the left fork and head NW along Little Berkhamsted bridleway 20 for 290m.

11: At this point look out for a footpath on your left, Little Berkhamsted footpath 5 (location - https://w3w.co/reach.heats.master), which heads W and after 250m leads to Robins Nest Hill where you turn left (location - https://w3w.co/fade.faster.keen). Continue along Robins Nest Hill heading S for 100m. After a cottage on your right, take the track on your right (location - https://w3w.co/vest.honest.pounds). This is Little Berkhamsted footpath 3 which you follow heading W with Culver Wood on your right.

The stile on Little Berkhamsted footpath 3 mentioned in point 12 below

12: Follow Little Berkhamsted footpath 3 as it weaves W, SW, then NW for 470 passing cottages on the right and ending in a gate and stile (location - https://w3w.co/ranged.recent.mops). Cross the stile and climb the hill and continue heading W for 300m over the hill and down to the bridleway on the far side (location - https://w3w.co/save.pigs.gifted).

13: Turn left on Little Berkhamsted bridleway 18, and follow it SE for 400m until you reach a footbridge (location - https://w3w.co/script.asleep.ahead).

14: After crossing the footbridge, turn left and following Little Berkhamsted bridleway 19 SE and uphill for 310m until it meets Breach Lane (location - https://w3w.co/retain.idea.congratulations). Turn right on the lane and continue S, still on Little Berkhamsted bridleway 19, for 320m until you reach the road. Cross the road, go through the churchyard, and return to your starting point. Refreshments can be taken at The Five Horseshoes, and snacks can be bought at the village store - subject to opening times.

Interactive Map

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