Walk 7: Little Berkhamsted North-West Loop

2.2 miles (3.5 km) with 54m total ascent

Little Berkhamsted bridleway 17 mentioned at point 4

This is an excellent walk which includes a spectacular stretch of bridleway, a sandy path edged in gorse, and rich woodland. Don't be put off by the golf course along the way, you don't cross any fairways.

You will follow a picturesque and well-worn path linking Howe Green and Little Berkhamsted, with oak trees that must be hundreds of years old.

We had to reroute this walk in 2020 after a public right of way was blocked. A lengthy legal battle followed, resulting in the bridleway being reopened in August 2026. We reverted these directions to the original route in September 2026.

Getting there

There are bus stops close to the start of the walk (location - https://w3w.co/tolls.basic.eagles)which are served by the number 38 bus. You can check bus times at Intalink.

At the time of writing there is free parking in a layby outside Little Berkhamsted Cricket Club opposite the Five Horseshoes pub (location - https://w3w.co/spine.starts.bikes). Emmie Murphy's village store at the start/finish point serves hot drinks and snacks. 

Directions

Map for Walk 7: The Little Berkhamsted North-West Loop
Click on the map above for a larger version
Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker
Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors
There is an interactive map at the foot of the 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.

Enter the cricket field by the gate near the shops

1: Enter the cricket field by the gate near the shops at the NE end of the ground (location - https://w3w.co/plots.driver.times). Follow Little Berkhamsted footpath 8 for 170m heading WSW keeping the hedge on your right and the cricket field on your left. Continue until you reach a gate in the corner of the field (location - https://w3w.co/filer.apples.twin), see image below.

Turn right on Little Berkhamsted bridleway 22

2: Turn right on Little Berkhamsted bridleway 22, then head NW for 70m until you reach Little Berkhamsted Lane (location - https://w3w.co/influencing.seat.twist). Turn left, then head SW for 90m until you reach a bridleway on your right (location - https://w3w.co/amber.soon.strict), see image below.

Turn right on Little Berkhamsted bridleway 17

3: Turn right on Little Berkhamsted bridleway 17 then head NW. After 290m you reach Danes Farm (location - https://w3w.co/games.enjoy.liner). At this point the bridleway becomes a track, see image below.

Continue heading NW on Little Berkhamsted bridleway 17

4: Continue heading NW on Little Berkhamsted bridleway 17 for 430m. There are good views to the left across to Bedwell Park. Follow the bridleway past gorse bushes on the left and right and enjoy the views N across the Lea Valley. The bridleway then drops down through woodland. At this point it can be quite muddy after rain.

At the bottom of this hill you pass a cottage on your left and an outbuilding on your right as the bridleway veers slightly to the left before reaching a gate leading to the golf club (location - https://w3w.co/guilty.noise.mason), see image below. 

Turn right on Essendon bridleway 25

5: Cross a small stream then turn right on Essendon bridleway 25 (location - https://w3w.co/glory.soil.ages). Walk N for 340m with the conifer trees on your left and hawthorn on your right until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/yard.zeal.holds), see image below.

Turn right on Little Berkhamsted bridleway 2

6: Turn right on Little Berkhamsted bridleway 2. Cross a small stream (this is marked as a ford on some maps). Keeping the quarry on your left, climb ENE up the sandy bridleway for 250m to the top of the hill.

Take either route at the fork

7: You will come to a fork in the path, with a step stile to your left (location - https://w3w.co/after.rift.mixed) and a bridleway continuing straight. You can go either way as both meet again soon after at a gate leading into a lane (location - https://w3w.co/piles.left.discrepancy).

When you reach the lane, turn right then follow the lane ESE 

8: When you reach the lane, turn right then follow the lane ESE for 230m passing Ashfield House on the left and Ashfield Cottage on the right. Continue until the lane ends at a farmyard (location - https://w3w.co/tile.only.flash), see image below.

Turn right on Little Berkhamsted bridleway 18

9: Take the bridleway on your right at the end of the lane, Little Berkhamsted bridleway 18, then head slightly uphill keeping the farm on your right. Continue on Little Berkhamsted bridleway 18 heading uphill and SSE for 400m until you reach a concrete footbridge (location - https://w3w.co/gentle.softly.fingernails), see image below.

After the bridge take the right fork

10: After the bridge take the right fork, still on Little Berkhamsted bridleway 18, see image below.

Continue heading S and uphill on Little Berkhamsted bridleway 18

Continue heading S and uphill for 405m until Little Berkhamsted bridleway 18 crosses private property, (location - https://w3w.co/festivity.nerve.merit), see image below.

Continue heading S on Little Berkhamsted bridleway 18

11: Continue, now heading SSE on Little Berkhamsted bridleway 18, taking care to observe the no trespass signs (remembering there has been a legal battle over this particular public right of way).

No trespass signs alongside the public right of way

Follow the bridleway along a gravel track between two properties

Follow the bridleway along a gravel track between two properties until you reach Little Berkhamsted Lane  (location - https://w3w.co/beams.friday.meals).

Turn left on Little Berkhamsted Lane then head ENE for 125m until you meet Church Road (location - https://w3w.co/tags.stable.plot). Turn right on Church Road then retrace your steps to the start of the walk.

---

Interactive Map

---