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Walk 64: Gustard Wood Loop

1.5 miles (2.3 km) with 22m total ascent


Photograph of path through the bluebells in Lamer Wood Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
The bluebells in Lamer Wood picture taken April 29, 2018
This is a great walk at Easter when wild daffodils spread a yellow carpet either side of the path through Lamer Wood. A few weeks later it’s the turn of the bluebells to flood the area with light blue. Amazing how the same woodland can change so much in the space of a few weeks. All year round it’s a popular spot for woodland birds.

This walk is fairly flat all the way but can get muddy in places after rain. The route starts and finishes in a small car park off Lamer Lane, the B651. There is the opportunityh of refreshments at The Cross Keys when open.

Directions


Map for Walk 64: Gustard Wood Loop Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors There is an interactive map at the end of these directions
Map for Walk 64: Gustard Wood Loop
Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker
Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributo
rs
There is an interactive map 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.

Park in the small lay-by off Lamer Lane (location - https://w3w.co/minds.tips.waddled), or, if that is busy, there is an alternative start and finish at The Cross Keys pub on Ballslough Hill (location - https://w3w.co/sports.panels.neon). I checked with the staff at the pub and they say they are happy for walkers to park in their car park if they are having a drink or meal there before or after the walk.

1: From the lay-by off Lamer Lane head E (away from the road) into Gustardwood until the path meets a Wheathampstead bridleway 101. Turn right and follow the bridleway S for 340m until you meet the Lamer Lane again (location - https://w3w.co/obey.dine.ships).

Photograph of path through the bluebells in Lamer Wood Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
The path running S from Gustard Wood at the beginning of the walk

2: Turn left on Lamer Lane and after 40m turn left heading E along a lane (location - https://w3w.co/final.spoken.salon), which is also Wheathampstead footpath 37. Continue uphill for 240m looking out for a footpath on your left (location - https://w3w.co/kicks.enable.clap) that takes you into the Lamer Wood.

3: Take this path, Wheathampstead footpath 85, and head N through Lamer Wood for 850m. This is where you will find the carpet of bluebells when in season.

Photograph of path through the bluebells in Lamer Wood Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
Bluebells to the east of the path through Lamer Wood

Photograph of path through the bluebells in Lamer Wood Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
Spring blossom falling like snow on the path through Lamer Wood
4: When you reach the top of the woods you come to a gate leading into a field (location - https://w3w.co/splash.cabin.link). Turn left and head SW on Kimpton footpath 12  until you reach Ballslough Hill (location - https://w3w.co/dunes.soap.loans). This bit can be muddy after rain.

5: Turn left on Ballslough Hill and head SW passing The Cross Keys on the right.

6: After 70m take the bridleway on your left (location - https://w3w.co/quest.mats.rocky) and head S through Gustard Wood. This is Wheathampstead bridleway 101 again. Follow this path for 320m looking out for a path on your right back to the lay-by where you parked at the start of the walk.



Interactive map




8 comments:

  1. Hi Dave. We really enjoyed the walk today. Perfect length for the little ones on such a hot day. It was nice to meet two beautiful horses on our way though the open field between points 4 and 5. The field south east of point 3 was also good for our picknick. I have one query/ request. Are you still providing links to the GPX/KLM map routes? I haven't been able to find them recently but find them really useful. Anyway, thanks again for all your hard work. It really is appreciated. All the best Daniel, Iwona, Sara & Casper.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Daniel,

      I am embedding maps from MapHub to the later walks as we add them. These have, under the 'share' option when you click through, the choice of downloading KML and GPX files. Is that what you mean? And, if so, would that meet your need if I eventually added such maps to all walks? I have just added one to this walk (scroll up to see).

      Dave

      Delete
  2. Hi Dave

    Yes, perfect. I read the directions before we set off but the route on my phone (in OS maps or ViewRanger) is really useful on the walk. I downloaded quite a few of the initial walks from your older site then lost them when I upgraded my phone. If you did manage to add these back to some of the initial walks it would certainly be appreciated. Hope you're having a nice Sunday and making the most of this glorious weather. All the best. Daniel

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Daniel, I have added a note about your suggestion to our tips page. https://www.hertfordshirewalker.org/p/tips.html#KML and will now work through the rest of walks adding the interactive maps as I go. Each walk takes about 10 mins to update, so I will start at #1 and work up. You enjoy your Sunday, too. Thanks again for the suggestion. Dave

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  3. This is a beautiful short walk and the bluebells in Lamer Wood are truly stunning for the second year in a row. They seem to have come a couple of weeks earlier in 2022 than 2021. Its a lot less busy than some of the better known bluebell sites but equally stunning.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, we have enjoyed the bluebells there in the past, but might pop up there again. Thanks for the reminder.
      David

      Delete
  4. Throughly enjoyed this walk yesterday, Bluebells out in force

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the reminder. One of our 'must visit ' walks this time of the year. Glad you enjoyed it.

      Delete

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