Walk 66: Danemead Loop

3.3 miles (5.20 km) with 75m total ascent

The information board outside Danesmere Nature Reserve

This walk starts and finishes at the Danemead Nature Reserve car park and passes through woodland steeped in history. Visit the site of a medieval park keeper's lodge surrounded by earthworks and close to the site of an old castle. The route also involves part of a Roman road called Ermine Street, and a short stretch of lane walking. Take refreshments because there are no pubs or shops on the route. The route can be muddy after rain, so waterproof boots are recommended.

Directions

Map for Walk 66: Danemead Loop
Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker
Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors
There is an interactive map below 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: Park in the Ermine Street, Martin's Green free car park off Cock Lane (location - https://w3w.co/probe.fills.fits) grid reference TL 34687 07684.

From the car park walk N on Brickendon Liberty restricted byway 24 for 410m - this byway is the former Roman road called Ermine Street. You will soon come across an information board on your left in front of the medieval settlement set back behind a moated enclosure. Continue until you reach the ford on the S side of Hoddesdon Park Wood (location - https://w3w.co/added.grass.share).

The information board for the medieval moated settlement

The medieval moated settlement close to the start of the walk

2: Here you cross the Spital Brook via a wooden footbridge, go through a wooden gate and turn right, following the path as it heads E for 860m with the woods on your left and fields on your right. Ignore any paths to your left and continue until you reach the end of the woods. You will see a path that has been blocked ahead.

Spital Brook, crossed by a wooden footbridge

3: Turn left here and head NNW for 370m keeping the woods on your left and the fields on your right. The noise from the A10 can be heard in the distance, but you will soon lose it as you continue deeper into the Broxbourne Woods Nature Reserve, Hertfordshire's only national nature reserve (pdfs with walks in Broxbourne Woods embedded at the foot of this piece).

The five-way crossing mentioned below. You take second left

4: At the footpath five-way crossing (location - https://w3w.co/boxing.boom.bottle) take the second path on the left, Hoddesdon footpath 22, which heads diagonally NW for 650m through the woods. This is a lovely path with several dedicated benches on your right. A great spot to stop for a picnic. When the path reaches the northern edge of the woods continue with it as it bends to your left and starts heading SW for 160m until it rejoins Ermine Street (location - https://w3w.co/sports.menu.straw).

During section 4 of the walk you follow way-marked signs

5: Rejoin Ermine Street and follow the path S for 650m until you return to the ford and river crossing you passed earlier. At this point cross two footbridges and make for the information sign at the entrance of Danemead Wood.

6: Enter the wood and head S for 150m then follow the path NW, W, and SW for 460m round a meadow until you reach a wooden gate, another sign for Danemead Wood, and a bridleway.

7: Turn left on Brickendon Liberty bridleway 14 (which becomes Brickendon Liberty bridleway 28) and head SSE for 910m to Cock Lane (location - https://w3w.co/tinsel.paid.leaps).

Head SSW along Cock Lane SSW for 370m looking out for a byway on your left (location - https://w3w.co/weedy.sang.dimes).

8: Take the byway, Brickendon Liberty restricted byway 24, and follow it N for 500m back to the car park.

More information about the area

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Interactive Map

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