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Walk 89: Welwyn North North-East Loop

7 miles (11.2 km) with 76m of total ascent


The path between points 6 and 7 below Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
The path between points 6 and 7 below
This is an excellent walk that goes through deep woodland, across open fields, has sweeping views over rolling Hertfordshire countryside, passes through several cute villages with interesting pubs, has a really good restaurant at the halfway point, and the whole walk can be done via public transport starting and finishing at Welwyn North station.

Directions


Map for Walk 89: Welwyn North NE Loop Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors See the interactive map below the directions for KML and GPX details
Map for Walk 89: Welwyn North North-East 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: Leave Welwyn North station via the car park on the W side (location - https://w3w.co/groups.minute.pitch) and take the footpath through to Woodside Road. Turn right and then right again down Warren Way. Keep walking NE along Warren Way, then take a right turn, also down Warren Way, and continue until you reach Welwyn Footpath 54 (location - https://w3w.co/city.scam.visit). Take this path ENE for 40m then NNE for 40 to a footpath junction.

The permissive path mentioned in point 2 below  Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
The permissive path mentioned in point 2 below
2: When you reach a footpath crossing (location - https://w3w.co/live.inspector.chief), continue straight along a permissive path cut through the woodland for 150m. A sign inviting walkers to use the permissive path reads: “Take nothing but photographs; leave nothing but footprints”.

The railway cutting mentioned in point 3 below Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
The railway cutting mentioned in point 3 below
3: When the path joins Welwyn Footpath 53 (location - https://w3w.co/allows.army.august) keep left and head N for 200m until you come to the top of the railway cutting (location - https://w3w.co/scores.snap.bikes), see image above. Here you turn right and then take the first footpath on your left (location - https://w3w.co/slide.same.asserts). This is Welwyn Footpath 29, which you follow for 900m as it heads NNE with the railway on your left in a cutting. Continue until you reach a large air ventilation shaft on the right (location - https://w3w.co/laws.tribal.grand), see image below. The ventilation shafts along this part of the route service the railway tunnels beneath. Don't be surprised if you hear a loud roar as a train passes below.

Pass the ventilation shaft then turn right
Pass the ventilation shaft then turn right
4: Immediately after the ventilation shaft veer right then head NE for 40m until you reach a track. Turn right at the track then take the right fork (location - https://w3w.co/lamps.feed.finger), see image below.

Keep right at the large tree then follow the main track SE
Keep right at the large tree then follow the main track SE
Continuing heading SE for 210m to a junction where footpath 27 goes off to the right, see image below.

Ignore the path on the right and continue heading SE on the main track
Ignore the path on the right and continue heading SE on the main track
Ignore footpath 27 on the right and continue on the main track still heading SE for 160m until you reach a gate (location - https://w3w.co/snack.task.drum).

5: Go through the gate then head SE on Welwyn Footpath 27, with the hedgerow on your left and the field on your right for 280m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/ideal.blitz.loads), see image below.

Turn left on Welwyn bridleway 26 then head N
Turn left on Welwyn bridleway 26 then head N
6: Turn left and head N on Welwyn Bridleway 26 and continue along this bridleway for 920m until you reach a footpath crossing (location - https://w3w.co/woke.jolly.epic).

7: Continue heading N for 500m on Woolmer Green Bridleway 24 until you reach Robbery Bottom Lane (location - https://w3w.co/lied.famed.faded).

Robbery Bottom Lane heading east mentioned in point 8 below Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
Robbery Bottom Lane heading east mentioned in point 8 below
8: Continue N on Robbery Bottom Lane for 90m and follow the lane as it turns right turn and heads ENE for 500m until you reach White Horse Lane (location - https://w3w.co/shins.yours.glee).

9: Cross White Horse Lane and take the bridleway immediately opposite, Woolmer Green bridleway 9, and continue heading NE along this bridleway for 950m until you reach Datchworth Green (location - https://w3w.co/dull.dizzy.visual).

Woolmer Green Bridleway 9 mentioned in point 9 above Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
Woolmer Green Bridleway 9 mentioned in point 9 above
10: There are a couple of pubs in the village if you want a break. The Plough (location - https://w3w.co/silver.wings.mirror) is an excellent real ale pub. No frills, just good beer. Across the road is The Tilbury (location - https://w3w.co/rated.likely.shower) which has a great menu and serves delicious food. There is also a coffee shop and a village store.

At the road crossing continue E for 340m along Watton Road looking out for a byway open to all traffic (BOAT) on your right (location - https://w3w.co/deputy.count.images). This is Datchworth BOAT 19. There is no pavement on this short stretch of lane, so walk against the traffic on the right hand side of the road until you reach the byway on the right.

Datchworth BOAT 19 heading south mentioned in point 10 above Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
Datchworth BOAT 19 heading south mentioned in point 10 above
11: Head SSE on this BOAT, also known as Back Lane for 610m. Ignore the first footpath on your right. The path enters woodland.

12: Shortly after entering the woodland turn right on Watton-At-Stone Footpath 27 (location - https://w3w.co/quench.cave.learn) and follow the path as it heads SW for 550m until it meets Bramfield Road (location - https://w3w.co/member.older.police).

Watton-At-Stone Footpath 27 mentioned in point 12 above Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
Watton-At-Stone Footpath 27 mentioned in point 12 above
13: Turn left on Bramfield Road then take the first turn on your right along Coltsfoot Lane. Here you pass The Horns restaurant and pub.

The Horns mentioned in point 13 above  Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
The Horns mentioned in point 13 above
14: Head W on Coltsfoot lane for 500m ignoring the first footpath on your left. When you reach Coltsfoot Farm on your right, take Datchworth Footpath 17 on your left (location - https://w3w.co/happy.refers.march). Follow this path SW for 780m until you reach Whitehorse Lane in Burnham Green (location - https://w3w.co/boring.grape.bands). There is the White Horse pub in the village if you want refreshments.

The White Horse mentioned in point 14 above
15: Turn left on Whitehorse Lane and head S for 170m, then turn right on Harmer Green Lane heading W for 210 along Harmer Green Lane looking out for Welwyn Footpath 34 on your left (location - https://w3w.co/blur.club.fluid).

16: Take this footpath and head SW for 830m until you reach Pennyfathers Lane (location - https://w3w.co/summer.decide.judges).

17: Cross Pennyfathers Lane taking Welwyn Bridleway 50 opposite and continue heading SW for 1.1km. This bridleway becomes Welwyn Footpath 34b and drops down to a road (location - https://w3w.co/twig.visual.tonic).

Welwyn Footpath 34b mentioned in point 18 above Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
Welwyn Footpath 34b mentioned in point 18 above
18: Turn right then left on Harmers Green Lane and head N back to Welwyn North station (location - https://w3w.co/divide.muddy.print).
* The Cowper Arms pub/restaurant (location - https://w3w.co/paint.moss.atoms) is 150m W of the station. To reach the pub either turn left out of the car park then right on Station Road and right again on Colyer Close.

Interactive Map




6 comments:

  1. Thank you for another comprehensive routed walk. This is a lovely quiet walk that winds its way through changing landscapes, with the added bonus of a few stop offs for a drink and some food. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Robbie,
      Yes, this is one of our favourites. We catch the train, have a few beers at The Plough, then lunch at the Tilbury. Then walk it off on the 3.5 miles return to the station with the option of a stop at a couple of pubs along the way. Great day out.
      David

      Delete
  2. Really enjoyable walk. Nice quiet paths and some great recommendations for food and drink on the way . Also really handy walk for us using public transport. Would be a great addition to the page if those walks starting near or within reach of a train station or decent bus service were marked up in some way . Fabulous guides and great website. Thank you .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, glad you enjoyed it. Funny you should mention public transport, I have just mapped two linear walks using the rail network. One from Welwyn Garden City to Knebworth and the other in reverse but using different paths. We are going to test them thoroughly and publish over the next few weeks weather permitting.
      David

      Delete
  3. Nice walk, thank you. This is the first of your walks that I've done but I will definitely do more.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi James, great to hear. Glad you enjoyed it. Keen to hear how you get on with the other walks. Thank for the feedback. David

      Delete

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