Walk 102: Benington NE Loop

Well-marked tracks, wide, open views

5.9 miles (9.5 km)

This walk has some great views across the north Hertfordshire countryside. It follows many well-defined tree-lined tracks and footpaths. It starts in the village of Benington where there is a pub, The Bell, close to the start and finish point.

Directions

Map for Walk 102: Benington NE Loop
Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker
Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors
There is an interactive map below the directions

Those with GPS devices can download GPX or KML files for this walk

1: Park in the village of Benington, we found a spot on Church Green just outside the church (grid ref TL 29745 23582). Head NE along Duck Lane, opposite the church and to the right of the village duck pond. Continue along Duck Lane for 500m. Just before a house on the right look out for a footpath sign on the left. This is Benington footpath 14.

Benington footpath 14 mentioned in point 1 above

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

2: Turn left here and follow the path NW for 270m across two fields until you reach Old School Lane. Cross the lane and continue heading N for 70m towards Cabbage Green.

The lane to Cabbage Green mentioned in point 2 above
Image by Hertfordshire Walker released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

3: At a junction in the tracks turn left on Benington footpath 6 and head SW then NW for 260m.

Benington footpath 6 mentioned in point 3 above 
Image by Hertfordshire Walker released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

4: When you reach Benington bridleway 4 turn right and head NNE then N for 780m until you reach the lane at Walkern Hall Farm.

Benington bridleway 4 mentioned in point 4 above 
Image by Hertfordshire Walker released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

5: Turn right here and head E along the lane for 90m looking out for a bridleway on the left just past the last house on the left.

Benington bridleway 36 as it opens up and heads NE, point 6 below
Image by Hertfordshire Walker released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

6: Take this track, Benington bridleway 36, and head NE downhill and then uphill for 680m until you reach a lane.

7: Turn left on the lane and head NE for 200m until you reach Bassus Green. Follow the lane as it bends left and heads NW for 280m until you meet a track on the right.

Walkern BOAT 29 mentioned in point 8 below
Image by Hertfordshire Walker released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

8: Turn right here on Walkern BOAT 29 and head NE for 280m until you reach a junction in the track just before Walkern Bury Farm.

The left turn for Walkern UCR 3 mentioned in point 9 below
Image by Hertfordshire Walker released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

9: Turn left here on Walkern UCR 3 (an unmetelled unclassified county road) and head N for 430m until the track turns to the right and heads E for another 110m before reaching a junction in the tracks.

Turn right on Ardeley bridleway 9 mentioned in point 10 below
Image by Hertfordshire Walker released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

10: Turn right here on Ardeley bridleway 9 and head SE for 740m until you reach a four-way junction.

Ardeley BOAT 4 mentioned in point 11 below
Image by Hertfordshire Walker released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

11: At the point where a path goes off to the left, you continue straight on Ardeley BOAT 4 and head SE, S and then E for 630m until you reach another junction in the tracks.

The point where you continue straight on Ardeley BOAT 4 mentioned in point 11 above
Image by Hertfordshire Walker released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

12: Continue heading SE on Ardeley BOAT 4 for 170m until you meet a T-junction where you keep right and continue for another 540m until you reach the point where several tracks merge.

The T-junction mentioned in point 12 above
Image by Hertfordshire Walker released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

13: Turn right here and head S on Ardeley BOAT 6 for 500m until you reach a cottage on the left.

The junction mentioned in point 14 below
Image by Hertfordshire Walker released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

14: Turn right here and head S on Ardeley BOAT 6 which runs to the right of a private drive for 500m crossing the private drive twice before reaching a cottage.

The junction mentioned in point 15 below
Image by Hertfordshire Walker released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

15: Turn left towards the cottage and take the path immediately on your right, Ardeley footpath 30,  which crosses a small field and then enters woodland.

The footpath fork mentioned in point 16 below
Image by Hertfordshire Walker released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

16: After 90m you come to a fork. You take the right turn on Ardeley footpath 30 and follow it for 100m as it crosses the private drive again and heads to the right of another cottage and reaches an open field.

The footpath and tree mentioned in point 17 below

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

17: Cross the first field for 150m heading W and to the left of a tree in the distance. The path then bends to the left and continues SW for another 95m before going through a gap in the hedge.

18: Cross another field, now on Walkern footpath 6, and head SW for 460m before crossing a third field for 230m until you meet Clay End Road.

Walkern BOAT 31 mentioned in point 19 below

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

19: Turn right and head W for 300m until you reach a byway on the left. This is Walkern BOAT 31.

20: Take this byway and head SW for 200m until you reach a junction.

Turn right at the hedge and then left on Benington bridleway 10

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

21: Take the path to the right of the hedge keeping the field on your right and continue heading S on Walkern bridleway 9 downhill for 480m, then uphill on Benington bridleway 10 for 110m until you reach an entrance into the woodland.

Turn right in the woods on Benington bridleway 10

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

22: After entering the woodland turn right on Benington bridleway 10 and follow it SW for 1km as it becomes Benington BOAT 13 and then Duck Lane before returning to the village.

Interactive map

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