Hertfordshire Walker: Walk 81: Wormley Wood Loop

Walk 81: Wormley Wood Loop

Shady woodland walking, ideal for a hot sunny day

2.5 miles (4 km)

The sign at the entrance to Wormley Wood
Image by Hertfordshire Walker, released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

A great walk for those hot sunny days when you want to escape the sun and enjoy a good ramble in the shade. Plenty of up and down along the way, with loads of bridges, elevated walkways and stairs. See if you can spot the painted logs on the right of the path between points 2 & 3. When we walked the route in August there were quite a few midges and flies bugging us, but we always carry insect repellant and didn't get bitten. Unlike most of our walks this one doesn't pass by a pub, so take refreshments with you. There is a picnic table at the end just before you reach the car park. Wormley Wood is managed by the Woodland Trust.

Directions

Map for Walk 81: Wormley Wood Loop
Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker
Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors
See the interactive map below the directions for KML and GPX details

Park in Bencroft Wood (West) car park on the south side of White Stubbs Lane (Grid Ref: TL326064). It's a free car park but has limited space. You will find a sign in the car park with a map showing two trail options for Bencroft Wood, but your route is not on this map, although the first section uses one of the paths to access Wormley Wood.

1: From the car park head SW following the wooden signs with the purple circle around the top. Continue as the path heads S downhill, first down some wooden steps and then along a wooden elevated walkway.

Photograph along Walk 81 Wormley Wood Loop

Follow the trail downhill and S

Image by Hertfordshire Walker, released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

2: When you reach a footpath junction turn right and head SW down to a stream which you cross via a wooden footbridge and then climb the other side using wooden steps. This is quite a steep but short climb. You will now be following posts with a pink line around the top.

Photograph along Walk 81. Cross the footbridge and climb the steps as you continue to head south-west Image by Hertfordshire Walker, released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

Cross the footbridge and climb the steps as you continue to head SW

Image by Hertfordshire Walker, released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

Continue heading in a straight line SW along this path for 980m as it crosses a couple of wooden footbridges.

Photograph along Walk 81. Continue heading south-west as the track climbs through the woodland Image by Hertfordshire Walker, released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

Continue heading SW as the track climbs through the woodland
Image by Hertfordshire Walker, released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

See if you can spot the painted logs on the right of the path.

The painted logs on the right-hand side of the track between points 2 & 3

Image by Hertfordshire Walker, released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

3: At the point where the track meets a footpath T-junction turn slightly left and head S then SSE and S for 390m following the signs with the green tops and white admiral butterflies. This is the only exposed part of the walk and you will spend about five minutes walking along an elevated walkway with flowers either side. Look out for butterflies along this part of the path. It's a charming section.

Photograph of A Silver-Washed Fritillary butterfly on brambles between points 3 & 4 Image by Hertfordshire Walker, released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

A Silver-Washed Fritillary butterfly on brambles between points 3 & 4
Image by Hertfordshire Walker, released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

4: Continue heading SSE along this path for 190m ignoring smaller paths to your right and left.

After the elevated walkway section you enter the woods again

Image by Hertfordshire Walker, released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

5: At a footpath crossing turn left and head NE, ENE, then E through the woodland for 480m.

Photograph along walk 81. Continue heading north-east through the woodland. There are several benches along the way Image by Hertfordshire Walker, released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

Continue heading NE through the woodland. There are several benches along the way
Image by Hertfordshire Walker, released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

6: At the next footpath crossing turn left and head N and NE for 360m.

7: When you reach the coal post on your left (Grid Ref: TL322057), turn right and head E for 300m. There is a feature about the coal posts of south Hertfordshire on our other site, the North Mymms History Project.

The coal post at point 7 on the route
Image by Hertfordshire Walker, released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

8: Follow the path as it bends to your left and heads N and NE for 530m back to point 2 on the route (Grid Ref: TL325060). Turn right and follow the path NE for 130m.

9: At the point where a track crosses your path, turn left and head NNW for 110m back to the car park.