A disused railway line and historic pub
5.6 miles (9 km)
This walk starts and ends in the Ayot Greenway car park just north of Ayot Green. It crosses open fields, reaches the halfway point at Ayot St Lawrence where you can take a break at The Brocket Arms, and then returns through wooded paths and bridleways as they weave their way back to the car park via Ayot Greenway.
Directions
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| Map for Walk 40: Ayot Greenway North Loop Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors Note: There is a larger, more-detailed map embedded at the end of these directions |
- From the car park, follow the course of the old railway branch line, the Ayot Greenway, as it heads W, crosses the road and continues along the route of the former track. Continue along the Ayot Greenway for 710m heading NW passing Saul’s Wood on your right. .
- Immediately after the woodland take the path on your right, Ayot St Peter footpath 18 and heading NW and diagonally across the field a for 350 until you reach a track.
- Turn right. Follow this track, Ayot St Peter footpath 19, for 350m as it bends NNW then NNE round Ayot Place and reaches a drive where it turn right and continues to large gates ahead.
- Go through a door to the right of the gate and then another door on your left to emerge on the Ayot St Peter Road. Continue straight heading NE along the road for 270m until it bends to the right and there is a bridleway on the left.
- Follow Ayot St Peter bridleway 5 WNW and then NW across the fields for 650m until you reach Codicote Road.
- Cross the road and continue heading NW for 1.1km across the fields until you reach Hill Farm Lane.
- Turn right and follow this lane NW for 490m as it bends round to the left and into Ayot St Lawrence. The Brocket Arms is on your left and here you can have a pint of real ale and a snack if you arrive during opening/serving hours. After leaving The Brocket Arms, turn left and head SW and S through the village down Bride Hall Lane for 370m until you reach a bridleway on your left.
- This is Wheathampstead bridleway 1, which later becomes Wheathampstead bridleway 11 and heads SE for 1.5km past Stocking Springs, a Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust reserve, and eventually reaches Codicote Road (you can cut through Stocking Springs because a path through the reserve runs parallel to the one you are taking).
- Cross the road and continue heading SE along Ayot St Peter bridleway 16 for 1.3km along the side of Fish Wood and Warren Wood until you reach the Ayot Greenway.
- Turn left on Ayot Greenway and follow the path NE and then SE for 1.4km back to the car park.
