5.9 miles (9.5 km) with 176m total ascent
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Great Gaddesden bridleway 10 mentioned in point 4 |
Directions
Note: This walk crosses over a golf course
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Map for Walk 116: Frithsden North-West Loop Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors There is an interactive map below the directions |
Park along the lane outside The Alford Arms, but please check whether any parking restrictions have been introduced since this walk was written. (Location https://w3w.co/harp.land.rails).
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Spooky Lane and Devil's Bridge - see point 1 below |
2: Turn left and head WNW along Nettledon Road for 50m looking out for a footpath on the right. Take this path, Nettledon with Potten End footpath 9, and head N for 590m at which point your path crosses a parish boundary and becomes Great Gaddesden footpath 76. Continue heading NNE for 310m until you reach a lane called St Margarets.
3: Turn left on the lane and pass the Amaravati Bhuddist Monastery on the left. Follow the lane NW for 690m until it becomes a track. Continue NW along this byway, Little Gaddesden BOAT 9 (byway open to all traffic) for 1.4km until you reach a bridleway on the left (location - https://w3w.co/relegate.angle.sticks)
4: Take this track, Great Gaddesden bridleway 10, and walk downhill for 920m as the bridleway heads SW, then bends SSE and then bends SW again before it reaches Nettleden Road, Little Gaddesden.
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Footpath 7 continues between low brick walls to a metal gate - see point 5 |
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At the metal gate continue diagonally left and downhill on footpath 7 |
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Footpath 33 entering Frithsden Beeches - see point 6 below |
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Footpath 33 through Frithsden Beeches |
8: Turn left here on the Hertfordshire Way, which is also Northchurch bridleway 33, and head SE through woodland and across a golf course for 600m to the point where the track splits (location - https://w3w.co/booklets.kiosk.lives). You take the left fork and continue on Northchurch bridleway 33 across the golf course fairway for 170m until you reach a lane (location - https://w3w.co/chains.tricycle.reporting).
9: Cross the lane and continue heading SE now along Nettledon with Potten End bridleway 24 for 650m ignoring the first junction on the left. Continue to the second footpath junction on your left (location - https://w3w.co/wiped.talent.verse).
10: Turn left here and head NE along Nettledon with Potten End footpath 17 for 900m back to The Alford Arms.
A wonderful walk! Walked today with a friend who lives nearby but had never walked the area, and we were not disappointed - a little out of breath maybe, with the hills, but the effort required was well worth it! Spooky Lane is just amazing, the countryside fabulous and the woodlands wonderful. A lovely route, with great, easy to follow instructions - thank you x
ReplyDeleteHi Cathy,
DeleteGlad you enjoyed it. We have done that walk a few times and it never disappoints.
Thanks for the feedback.
David
Enjoyed the work but managed to get really lost at stage 5. When you emerge from the woodland it isn't immediately obvious which path to take. Best advice is to ignore paths into woodland or the one following the valley floor. Head uphill on grassland with wood on your right and you will eventually reach a metal gate and the welcome sign saying footpath 7.
ReplyDeleteSorry you got lost. That is a difficult stretch to describe, which is why I added pictures, What3Words, and GPS files. I hope it didn't spoil your walk.
DeleteDave
Hi Dave you do say it’s an up and down walk and I knew it would be having walked a previous walk from The Alford Arms. Great stretch past the monastery, the the amazing Beech Trees.. Thanks yet again. IR.
ReplyDeleteHi Ian, Yes, this walk certainly get's the muscles and heart working. We love it. And we usually try to fit in a visit to the excellent Alford Arms after the walk. Glad you liked it.
DeleteHi I totally agree, I asked if I could park in their car park and returned for refreshments 🤣😂
ReplyDeleteI usually park in the lane. Nice to know they were helpful regarding parking.
DeleteHow long does this walk take please?
ReplyDeleteIt's really hard to say without knowing how fit you are and how fast you walk. The walk is 5.9 miles long. The average walking speed is between 2.5 to 4 mph. So let's guess you walk about 3 miles per hour, then it will take you about 2 hours. If you walk slower it will be longer, and if you stop to admire the view, even longer. Sorry I can't be more specific. I suggest you allow 3 hours to be on the safe side. I hope you enjoy the walk.
Delete