Woodland, open views, shaded paths
5.1 miles (8.2km)
This is a lovely circular walk to the SE of Ardeley in north Hertfordshire. It follows byways, footpaths and quiet lanes through picturesque open countryside with excellent views. It’s fairly flat for most of the route. There are several gates and footbridges along the way. The Jolly Waggoner pub/restaurant is close to the start/finish point.
Directions
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Map for Walk 98: Ardeley SE Loop
Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker
Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors
Note: There is a larger, more-detailed map embedded at the end of these directions
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1: Head S down School Lane for 200m following it as it bends to the left and turns into a track. This is Ardeley BOAT 4 (byway open to all traffic). Continue along this byway past Church Farm. The farm is described on its website as “a community interest, not-for-profit social enterprise, set up by its founders in order to innovate and create, replicable and sustainable small farm enterprises”. Continue down the byway heading S for 750m until you meet a path going off to your right. This is Ardeley bridleway 9.
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| The turn at point 2 below leading to Ardeley bridleway 9 Image by Hertfordshire Walker released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
3: Take this path, Ardeley footpath 50, which leads down to a metal gate and then across a field, and head S. After 90m the path becomes Walkern footpath 39. After 400m the path turns to the right and then to the left.
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| The path leading to St John's Wood at point 4 below Image by Hertfordshire Walker released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
4: Continue heading S with the field on your right and the woodland on your left. At the end of the field you meet a lane.
5: Turn left here for 80m looking out for a footpath on your left just after the woodland (St John's Wood).
6: Turn left on this path, Walkern footpath 8, and head SE with the field on your right and the woodland on your left.
7: At the end of the woodland continue straight across the path which now crosses the fields. At the end of the field enter the Lord’s Wood and continue heading SE until you leave the wood via a footbridge.
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| The footbridge mentioned in point 7 above Image by Hertfordshire Walker released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
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| The path mentioned in point 9 below Image by Hertfordshire Walker released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
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| The junction mentioned in point 10 below Image by Hertfordshire Walker released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
11: Turn left and head N then NE along Ardeley BOAT 51 for 650m until you reach the lane.
12: Turn right on the lane and head E for 120m looking out for a byway on your left.
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| The byway turn mentioned in point 13 below Image by Hertfordshire Walker released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
14: Here you turn left and head NW along Honey Lane, which is still Ardeley BOAT 24. Continue for 400m looking out for a footpath on your left.
16: Here you turn left and follow the path to the left of the pond. Immediately after the pond, and keeping the pond on your right, head towards a gate in the hedgerow to the right of the telegraph pole.
17: Go through the gate and turn left on a Roman road. This is Ardeley BOAT 10. Head NW for 380m looking out for a path on your left.
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| Ardeley footpath 35 mentioned in point 18 below Image by Hertfordshire Walker released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
19: Here you turn slightly left then turn right on a track heading S. Continue heading S for 210m looking out for a footpath on your right.
20: Take this path, Ardeley footpath 34, and head W for 200m until you reach a footpath crossing.
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| The footpath crossing mentioned in point 20 above Image by Hertfordshire Walker released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
22: Turn right and head NW back to the village centre.
