Walk 171: Sandon East Loop

4.7 miles (7.6km) with 74m of total ascent

 

This walk starts in the village of Sandon and crosses Blagrove Common, a site of special scientific interest which is managed by the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust. Unusually for our walks this route doesn't pass a pub, but we have added the nearest on the map and added details at the foot of these directions.

Directions

Map for Walk 171: Sandon East Loop
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Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker
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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.

Turn right at the post then head WSW for 240m to a gap in the hedge

1: Facing Sandon JMI school on Rushden Road, Sandon (location - https://w3w.co/twinge.deals.published), turn left then take the footpath on your right immediately after the school. This is Sandon footpath 47 (location - https://w3w.co/enormous.flamenco.removers), which you follow SSE for 100m to the point where the footpath bends to the right (location - https://w3w.co/panel.proclaims.mascots), see image above.

Sandon footpath 8 meeting Sandon footpath 12

2: Take this path, Sandon footpath 8, which you follow SE for 210m to a gate leading to a footbridge and a footpath junction immediately after the bridge (location - https://w3w.co/sublime.trial.decking), see image above. Turn right, now on Sandon footpath 12, which you follow SW for 30m then turn left and head SSE for 400m, with the hedgerow on your right and the field on your left, until the path bends to the left (location - https://w3w.co/sublime.trial.decking).

Take the lefthand fork, Sandon footpath 10 to the left of the bushes

3: At this point the path splits and you take the lefthand fork, Sandon footpath 10 (location - https://w3w.co/fidelity.partly.plug), see image above. Head ENE for 160m to a point where the path bends to the right (location - https://w3w.co/sheets.consented.firm).

Turn left, still on Sandon footpath 10 then head ENE

4: Keep to the right then follow the path SE for 40m until the path bends to the left at an entrance to Blagrove Common (location - https://w3w.co/responses.plausible.shortens), see image above. Turn left, still on Sandon footpath 10, then head ENE for 110m until you reach a footpath on the right (location - https://w3w.co/heartless.monk.table).

Sandon footpath 7 can be boggy at this point (see detour)

5: Turn right on Sandon footpath 7. As you can see from the picture above this was boggy when we did this walk on 5 April 2022. We managed to walk this section without getting in too much trouble, but others might find it difficult, so we have added a detour below. 

* If the path at point 5 is too boggy, retrace your steps to point 4 then turn left and enter Blagrove Common and follow the detour below, marked in yellow, which avoids the wet area. However taking this right might result in missing the marsh marigolds shown at the top of this walk.

Suggested detour at point 4 if the footpath between 5 and 6 is too boggy

If you don't take the detour mentioned above continue heading SE on Sandon footpath 7 for 70m until the path crosses a footbridge (location - https://w3w.co/feasting.teaspoons.koala), see image below.

We found marsh marigold to the right and left of this footbridge

This is the spot where we saw the marsh marigold in a particularly boggy area. Keep left after the bridge then follow Sandon footpath 8a down to a gate leading to a footbridge (location - https://w3w.co/poster.shuttling.slope), see image below.

Cross the bridge then follow Sandon footpath 32 NE

6: Cross the bridge then follow Sandon footpath 32 NE along the edge of Tichney Wood for 230m to a footpath junction (location - https://w3w.co/adjuster.whoever.steadier).

Footpath 17 in red and our detour in yellow

7: Keep heading NE, but now on Sandon footpath 17, for 170m until you reach a lane (location - https://w3w.co/gripes.vitals.plankton).

* When we did this walk Sandon footpath 17 (shown on the image above in red) had not been reinstated after the sowing of crops, so, instead of trampling over the plants we turned right and followed the edge of the field round to join the footpath where it meets the lane (route shown on image above in yellow). We have informed Hertfordshire County Council's ROW team that the path has not yet been reinstated. The council has a page where you can report issues with footpaths.

Turn left on the track, see notice below

8: Follow the lane N for 100m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/originals.curve.repeating). Turn right at the junction then head E for 70m until you reach a track on the left (location - https://w3w.co/places.amplifier.polka). This track is not a public right of way but is being used to access Sandon BOAT 45 (byway open to all traffic), while clearing work is undertaken (see notice below, which has been posted along the way. Unfortunately the notice is not dated, and there is no evidence of any work taking place).

Notice explaining clearance work

Follow the line of the yellow arrow to reach Sandon BOAT 45

Continue heading NNE for 100m until a track leaves to your right (location - https://w3w.co/swordfish.cherish.televise), see yellow arrow on image above. Follow that track NNE for 90m until it merges with Sandon BOAT 45 (location - https://w3w.co/routs.hurray.ivory). Follow Sandon BOAT 45 NNE for 560m until you reach a right-hand bend (location - https://w3w.co/stiffly.sped.shave). You are now on Therfield BOAT 41.

Therfield BOAT 41 heading ENE

10: At the bend keep right on Therfield BOAT 41 then head ENE for 980m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/shipwreck.free.curtains).

Turn left on Therfield BOAT 36 and head NNW

11: Turn left at the junction, cross a footbridge adjacent to a ford, then head NNW on Therfield BOAT 36 for 770m ignoring a footpath on the left and continuing until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/daily.mimic.trudges).

Kelshall UCR 1 turning left off Therfield BOAT 36

12: Turn left on Kelshall UCR 1 (unmetalled unclassed county road) then head SW for 110m to a bend (location - https://w3w.co/louder.sound.highly), then follow the UCR NW for 320m to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/tried.dislodge.setting).

Kelshall UCR 2 turning left off Kelshall UCR 1

13: Turn left at the junction on Kelshall UCR 2 then head SW for 660m, ignoring a footpath on your right, and continuing until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/hiking.month.intrigues).

14: At the junction, continue heading SW and then W, now on Kelshall BOAT 17, for 410m until you meet a lane (location - https://w3w.co/pest.handicaps.lowest), ignoring footpaths to your left and right.

15: Turn left on the lane then head S for 530m until you reach a bend (location - https://w3w.co/renewals.pints.blink). Follow the lane round to the right then head SW for 220m, still on the lane, looking out for a footpath on the left (location - https://w3w.co/validated.slanting.theory).

Sandon footpath 36 heading SW

16: Turn left on Sandon footpath 36 then head SW and uphill for 370m until you pass through the churchyard of All Saints Church, Sandon, a Grade 1 listed building, see image below. Continue to a lane (location - https://w3w.co/validated.slanting.theory).

All Saints Church, Sandon

17: Turn left on the lane then head S for 40m to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/food.dynasties.flesh) where you turn right then follow the lane WSW for 200m back to the starting point.

Unusually for our walks this route doesn't pass a pub. The nearest to the start and finish point is The Fox & Duck in Therfield, which, at the time of writing, was closed on Mondays and open in the evenings only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Best check opening hours with the pub if you are thinking of stopping for refreshments.

Interactive map

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