5.5 miles (8.8 km) with 106m of total ascent
Directions
Map for Walk 163: Widfordbury Loop Click here or on the map above for a larger version Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors There is an interactive map below these directions |
This walk starts and finished in one of two laybys either side of the Ware Road the B1004 (location - https://w3w.co/rods.brand.blank). We are grateful to Judy from Wareside for suggesting this parking spot.
Go through the gate into the churchyard |
At the signpost ignore arrows left and right and, instead, head N and downhill |
Go through the gate then continue heading NE for 50m to a junction |
Continue heading NE for another 50m until you reach a junction in the path (location - https://w3w.co/reds.target.monks).
3: Keep right at the junction and keep heading NE on Widford bridleway 16 for 220m until you reach Pegs Lane (location - https://w3w.co/grow.elite.stage).
4: Turn left on Pegs Lane then head NW for 35m crossing the River Ash then looking out for a footpath on the right (location - https://w3w.co/wires.cheeks.adopt).
Turn left at the tree, still on Widford footpath 13 |
Turn left at this point then head NW for 70m until you climb up to the track of the former Buntingford Branch Line (location - https://w3w.co/wallet.farmer.lungs).
Cross the field heading towards Barrow Farm |
Follow Widford bridleway 21 to the left of the metal fence |
The bridleway then heads NW to the left of a metal fence for 100m before becoming Wareside bridleway 17.
Wareside bridleway 17 continues straight over the junction to the left of the trees |
Take Wareside bridleway 66 on the right and follow for 50m |
Head WSW along Wareside footpath 8 |
Wareside footpath 8 heading SSE from point 9 |
Turn left on Wareside footpath 11 climbing the wooden steps |
11: Turn left and climb the wooden staircase, which is Wareside footpath 11, then turn right at the top and head SSW, with the hedgerow on the right and the field on the left, for 550m until you reach Scholar's Hill (location - https://w3w.co/charmingly.farms.toned).
Cross Scholar's Hill and follow a path heading S alongside Widford Village Hall for 50m until you reach Ware Road, the B1004 (location - https://w3w.co/fuel.luxury.when).
* At this point you have the choice of visiting The Chequers Inn on your right (location - https://w3w.co/earth.humble.maps) or The White Horse, which is 70m further along Ware Road to the SW (location - https://w3w.co/eaten.foam.vocab). We stopped at The Chequers and sampled the excellent and well kept Treacle Mine IPA, brewed for the pub by Hadham Brewery to a recipe devised by the pub. We were told it is called Treacle Mine because "donkey's years ago" an old lady living behind the pub used to make toffee apples for the kids in the village. When asked what the coating was she would tell them that it came from a treacle mine in her garden. The Chequers also does food, although we didn't eat there. Apparently, this small village once had seven pubs. Now it has two. On a previous walk we've enjoyed a drink at The White Horse, which has a Greek menu.
Wareside footpath 32 heading E then SE off the Ware Road |
Take this footpath, Wareside footpath 32, then head E then SE for 540m eventually crossing the old disused Buntingford branch line (location - https://w3w.co/drama.scar.voters).
13: Once over the branch line continue heading SE, still on Wareside footpath 32, for 60m until you cross the Hertfordshire Way (location - ) at which point the path you are on becomes Wareside footpath 19 which you follow SE and uphill for 290m keeping to the left of the woodland and continuing until you reach a stile alongside a bench with excellent views (location - https://w3w.co/scar.nurse.regard).
Wareside footpath 19 approaching Thistly Wood |
Hunsdon footpath 13 crossing a footbridge |
15: Continue on Hunsdon footpath 13 heading SE for 440m crossing another field then continuing to a junction in the tracks (location - https://w3w.co/rests.script.pits).
16: Turn left at the junction then head N, now on Hunsdon restricted byway 12, for 700m until you pass through then emerge from woodland (location - https://w3w.co/pulled.scam.chief).
Approaching Widford at the end of the walk along restricted byway 20 |
Between WPs 6 and 7 along Crackney lane it is still waterlogged andwith ankle deep mud despite recent dry weather (3.2.22)
ReplyDeleteThanks for that. Did you manage to work round it. David
ReplyDeleteI think we should try to find an alternative route around those points. Ellie and I will go out there in the next few weeks and see if we can find a better way.
ReplyDeleteWe've rerouted this walk to avoid the waterlogged section.
ReplyDeleteDid this walk today - great walk with so many good views and open countryside and a few benches to enjoy sitting and taking it all in. Saw some cows, horses, a rabbit as well as a deer and the sun was shining. Stopped at The Chequers (the White Horse was closed) and my husband had the Treacle Mine Ale and we sat outside enjoying the lovely weather. The fields of bright yellow rape were absolutely beautiful. Everywhere was very dry but we could see where it must have been very muddy earlier in the year. Really enjoyed this walk and the great instuctions and will certainly do it again soon.
ReplyDeleteWe loved that walk too, and really enjoyed your detailed description; I wish I could write like that, and I am a journalist. 😄
DeleteThanks for the feedback.
David (and Ellie)
I write like a 5 year old but glad you enjoy it😄
DeleteA really lovely walk. Rather overgrown in parts so shorts were not a great idea if you don't like nettles or pea crops. Lots of ups and downs with good views but nothing too strenuous. Got lost a couple of times due to not checking map and instructions but were able to rejoin route. Some Stansted air traffic noise but nothing excessive. Had pint of Treacle MIne at the end.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback John. Overgrown paths is a problem this time of the year. I hope it didn't spoil your walk. Just interested where you got lost and whether you were using the GPS navigation.
DeleteDave
Did this walk today, absolutely fabulous with some stunning vistas. Very lucky that just about all of the route was dry and we had such beautiful sunshine. Thank you for yet another super walk
ReplyDeleteHi Maggie, so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the feedback. David.
DeleteDid this walk again today but it was so muddy everywhere and we didnt have our wellies on. In some parts our walking boots were caked in mud and it was liked trying to walk with some heavy weights attached to your feet! Pleased to get part of the way round for a rest at the Chequers where they had muddy shoe covers to put on over our boots. We had a quick lunch and a drink. Jolly service in there and very welcoming. Rest of the walk back to where we had parked in the layby wasnt quite so muddy. I think we did this walk in April last year but it was much drier. Never mind it was all good exercise.
ReplyDeleteWell done Deborah. We know that feeling well when the boots start to weigh heavy. All part of the fun of rambling through Hertfordshire in the wet seasons. :-). David
Delete