Walk 186: Cadwell Loop

4.8 miles (7.8 km) with 74m of total ascent

The lavender fields early July, image courtesy of Diana Taylor

This is a lovely walk in June and July because it passes the Hitchin lavender fields on public rights of way. The route follows bridleways and footpaths over undulating open countryside with wonderful views on all sides. There are two pubs at the start/finish point, another close to the halfway point, and a fourth accessed via a short detour when you are about three quarters of the way round. The starting point is 1.9 miles NW from Hitchin station by road.

Video highlights

Below is a video of some of the highlights of this walk. It's been created by Gerry Gross, who has completed all 300 of the free walks on Hertfordshire Walker. We are grateful to Gerry for the time and effort he has put into recording - for the benefit of all - some of his favourite walks on the site.

To view the video in full screen click the expand arrows at the bottom right of the video screen. They are recorded in 4K but YouTube reduces the quality by default so you can change the video quality to 2160p (aka 4K) in settings once you play the video.

Getting there

There are bus stops in Ikleford near the start of the walk (location - https://w3w.co/hypocrite.overtones.auctioned), which are served by the number 9A and 9C buses. You can check bus times at Intalink.

Fly through preview of walk

If you want to check what sort of landscape you will be crossing before you set off on this walk you can view a short 3D video of the route below. It's created using the free version of Relive.

Directions

Map for Walk 186: Cadwell Loop
Click on the map for a larger version
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. 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.

We parked along Chambers Lane where there were no parking restrictions at the time of writing (June 2022). Please check in case the situation has changed.

The Plume of Feathers at the start of the walk

1: With your back to The Plume of Feathers on Chambers Lane (location - https://w3w.co/midwinter.shame.invent), turn right then head SE for 120m until you reach Arlesey Road. Cross Arlesey Road via the zebra crossing (location - https://w3w.co/foot.green.ogre), then turn right and head SW for 40m until you reach a track on the left (location - https://w3w.co/ownership.jousting.slot).

Turn left on the Icknield Way

2: Turn left on the track, which is also The Icknield Way at this point. Head E for 170m then cross a footbridge (location - https://w3w.co/ideas.kinder.immediate), see image below.

The footbridge mentioned in point 2 above

3: Continue heading E, now on Ickleford BOAT 18 (byway open to all traffic), for 340m until you reach a footbridge crossing the railway (location - https://w3w.co/filer.calculate.crimson), see image below.

Try the vocal test when crossing the 'reverberant' footbridge

4: When you get to the footbridge read the sign on the left as you climb the stairs. It explains the strange properties of this 'reverberant' bridge. Try the shouting or chanting test and listen to hear the result. You will be returning to this bridge later.

The information board just before the railway bridge

Cross the railway on the footbridge and then head NE on Ickleford BOAT 18, for 1.5km. This is a lovely section of the walk with excellent views.

Ickleford BOAT 18 heading NE

The bridleway between points 4 and 5

Continue until you reach a permissive path on the left just before Stotfold Road (location - https://w3w.co/lance.rectangular.column), see image below.

Take the permissive path on the left just before Stotfold Road

5: Head NNW on this path for 190m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/grafted.plant.shepherds), see image below.

Turn left on Ickleford bridleway 22

* At this point you could turn right then head E for 150m to visit The Wilbury pub and restaurant (location - https://w3w.co/brownish.outbound.bets).

6: Turn left on Ickleford bridleway 22 then head W for 690m until you reach a junction on the left (location - https://w3w.co/wicket.comedy.adapt), see image below.

Turn left at the junction still on Ickleford bridleway 22

7: Turn left at the junction, still on Ickleford bridleway 22, then head SW for 705m until you reach a T-junction at Hitchin Lavender Farm (location - https://w3w.co/went.scorecard.provider). As you walk this section look to your left over the lavender fields. If you are lucky and the breeze is blowing in your direction you might catch the fragrance. We tested this route in June the lavender was just starting to bloom. The image below was taken by Diana Taylor in early July.

The lavender fields early July, image courtesy of Diana Taylor

8: Turn left when you reach a barn, see image below, then head SE on Ickleford bridleway 23.

Turn left before the barn on Ickleford bridleway 23

Continue along Ickleford bridleway 23 for 150m passing a footpath on the right (location - https://w3w.co/lower.rushed.ringside).

* We had originally intended to take this footpath and go under the railway alongside the road, but when we tested this walk we felt it was too dangerous. There isn't a pedestrian pavement, and the traffic on the busy road travels fast. So we decided to reroute.

Keep heading SE on Ickleford bridleway 23 for 330m until you reach a T-junction (location - https://w3w.co/overlook.stacks.justifies). There is a well-placed bench at this spot with great views. You passed this spot earlier on the walk.

9: Turn right on Ickleford BOAT 18 then head WSW for 820m crossing the railway bridge again and continuing until you reach a footpath on the right (location - https://w3w.co/urge.stub.winners).

10: Turn right on Ickleford footpath 20 then head NNE across grass fields where livestock might be grazing. This section of the walk follows The Hicca Way, an official long-distance path. 

Hicca Way brochure page 2
Click on image to view larger version

Please be sure to keep to the official path and not venture to the left down to the banks of the River Purwell, which can be muddy and dangerous (see red warning markers on the map at the top of these directions).

Continue heading NNE along Ickleford footpath 20 for 675m until you reach Arlesey Road (location - https://w3w.co/shield.greet.webcams).

11: Cross Arlesey Road then turn left and head WNW for 150m looking for a track on the right (location - https://w3w.co/ironclad.sentences.expose), see image below.

* If you want to visit The Cricketers continue heading SW along Arlesey Road for 360m and you will find the pub on your right.

Take the track just to the right of the black post

Turn right on this track then head NW for 55m until you reach a junction with Ickleford bridleway 4. Keep to your right then head N through an avenue of trees (location - https://w3w.co/forks.yell.amps), see image below.

Ickleford bridleway 4

Continue heading N then W on Ickleford bridleway 4 for 570m until you reach a junction on the left (location - https://w3w.co/alleges.moves.soaps), see image below.

Turn left on Ickleford bridleway 6 then head SW

12: Turn left on Ickleford bridleway 6 then head SW for 420m until you reach Snailswell Lane (location - https://w3w.co/hosts.buzzards.glows), see image below.

Turn right on Snailswell Lane

13: Turn right on Snailswell Lane, which is also Ickleford BOAT 9, then head WSW for 190m until the lane becomes a track (location - https://w3w.co/synthetic.conqueror.salary), see image below.

Ickleford BOAT 9 at the end of Snailswell Lane

Continue for 110m until you reach a footpath on the left (location - https://w3w.co/hazel.nozzles.comfort), see image below.

Turn left on Ickleford footpath 5

14: Turn left on Ickleford footpath 5 then head SSE for 310m until you reach a junction and a bench (location - https://w3w.co/durations.rebounds.declares), see image below.

Keep left after the bench and continue on Ickleford footpath 5

Keep left at the junction and continue along Ickleford footpath 5 for 350m until you reach The Plume of Feathers on the right.

* If you want to visit The Old George (location - https://w3w.co/snippets.vague.obstruct) you can head SW for 140m along Greenfield Lane and then a footpath to reach the pub.

Interactive map

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