Hill climb, quiet valley, woodland
7.35 miles (11.8km)
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Hawkshead Wood mentioned at point 18 Image copyright of Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
Directions
2: Turn right on North Mymms footpath 8 and head NNE for 150m. At a junction in the path turn left on North Mymms footpath 7 and head WNW for 130m before turning right and heading NW then NE for 280m until you reach the second white-topped post on the left.
3: Turn left here on North Mymms footpath 32 for 170m heading SW dropping down to a footbridge over a brook. Cross the bridge and climb up to the other side, now North Mymms footpath 30, heading W and an open field. Here you turn left and continue on North Mymms footpath 30 firs SW for 160m and then W for 200m until you reach Swanland Road. Turn left on the path alongside Swanland Road and head SSW for 190m until you reach the junction with Warrengate Road on your left.
4: Cross Swanland Road and head for the bridleway sign on the west side of the road. This is North Mymms bridleway 82, which crosses the A1(M). Once over the A1(M) look out for a footpath sign on your left.
6: Turn left on St Mary's Church Road and walk SSW for 440m following the road, also North Mymms bridleway 2, until it bends to the right.
7: Go though the gate and continue heading SSW for 760m along North Mymms bridleway 2 ignoring a path to your left at the point where the track starts its climb up to Cangsley Grove. At the top of the hill you can enjoy the views to the south over Potwells Valley.
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The bridleway mentioned at point 8 below Image copyright of Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
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The gate mentioned at point 8 above Image copyright of Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
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The bridleway sign mentioned at the end of point 10 Image copyright of Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
12: Here you turn left and then immediately right taking the path to the right of the cottage. This is Ridge restricted byway 11 which you follow uphill heading NE then NNE for 270m where the track becomes North Mymms restricted byway and heads NNE, NE, then E for 1.4km through the pine trees of Hawkshead Wood until you reach the A1(M).
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The cottage mentioned in point 12 above Image copyright of Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
14: Cross the footbridge over Mymmshall Brook (stop on the bridge for a few minutes to see if you can spot a kingfisher), then continue heading E for 840m following the footpath through Brick Kiln Wood. At the end of the wood you will go through a gate, turn right, cross a footbridge. Once across the footbridge turn left heading E, still on North Mymms footpath 11, with the hedge on your left and the field on your right until you reach a gate.
15: Turn left here and follow North Mymms footpath 9 over a footbridge and continue for 600m heading NE, NNE, then N until you reach Station Road where you turn right and head back to Brookmans Park.