Walk 250: Northchurch Common Loop

4.1 miles (6.6 km) with 96m of total ascent

Northchurch footpath 31 approaching point 3 in the walk

This is a lovely walk through ancient woodland and across common land. It follows one of the Ashridge Estate's boundary paths for part of the route before branching off across arable land. The walk starts and finishes in the Northchurch Common car park.

When we tested the walk in December 2023 there were some muddy sections but we managed to navigate them wearing walking boots.

The 'The Walk In Cafe' (closed during winter months) is close to the start/finish point, more details below. And there are several pubs a short drive from the start/finish point including The Greyhound Inn (location - https://w3w.co/civil.tadpole.rewrites) and The Valiant Trooper (location - https://w3w.co/thudding.cabs.employer) in Aldbury, The Bridgewater Arms (location - https://w3w.co/unlocking.radiating.pulps) in Little Gaddesden, and The Alford Arms (location - https://w3w.co/backs.slope.laptop) at Frithsden.

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 250: Northchurch Common Loop
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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.

The entrance to Northchurch Common car park

Park in Northchurch Common car park (location - https://w3w.co/tight.clarifies.webcams) off the B4506. When we tested this walk in December 2023 the car park was free-of-charge.

The 'The Walk In Cafe" at Hill Farm Barn (location - https://w3w.co/annotated.letters.mimes) is opposite the entrance to the car park if you want refreshments before or after the walk. The cafe website states it's closed for the winter reopening in March. Please check opening hours.

1: After parking your car, exit the car park the way you drove in then take the first track on your right (location - https://w3w.co/readers.talkers.theory), see image below.

Turn right on the first track on the right as you leave the car park

Head SW and downhill along the track for 450m until you reach a footpath on the right just before a gate (location - https://w3w.co/confetti.hurtles.lifters), see image below.

Turn right on Northchurch footpath 31

2: Turn right on Northchurch footpath 31 then head NW along the Ashridge Boundary Trail for 745m until the path bends to the right (location - https://w3w.co/messing.tinted.foot), see image below.

Follow Northchurch footpath 31 as it climbs NNE

3: Follow Northchurch footpath 31 as it climbs NNE for 145m to a fork (location - https://w3w.co/grades.tinny.dorms), see image below.

Take the left fork then continue on Northchurch footpath 31

Take the left fork then continue, still on Northchurch footpath 31 and now heading N, for 200m until you reach a small car park (location - https://w3w.co/nicknames.wisely.lizard).

Turn right then head NNE on Northchurch bridleway 32

4: Enter the car park then turn right heading NNE on Northchurch bridleway 32 for 190m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/squirted.logo.chopper), see image below.

Keep left at the junction, still on Northchurch bridleway 32

5: Keep left at the junction, still on Northchurch bridleway 32, then follow the path NE for 10m before it bends to the right (location - https://w3w.co/heightens.head.proves), see image below.

Continue on Northchurch bridleway 32, now heading NNE

Continue on Northchurch bridleway 32, now heading NNE for 370m to a fork (location - https://w3w.co/save.contrived.ballooned), see image below.

Take the left fork then follow Northchurch bridleway 32 into the woodland

Take the left fork then follow Northchurch bridleway 32 into the woodland then head N for 225m to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/unless.albums.liberated), see image below.

Turn right on Northchurch bridleway 33

6: Turn right on Northchurch bridleway 33 then head NE for 700m until you reach a road (location - https://w3w.co/butlers.beam.baths).

7: Turn right on the road the head ESE for 105m to a T-junction (location - https://w3w.co/september.supply.bats). Cross the junction then continue heading ESE, still on Northchurch bridleway 33, for 675m to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/redefined.tools.ledge), see image below.

Keep to the right at the fork then head SE

8: Keep to the right at the fork then head SE until you reach a track (location - https://w3w.co/intrigued.neck.runner). Follow the track ESE for 320m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/snow.stated.bins), see image below.

Turn right on Northchurch footpath 64

9: Turn right on Northchurch footpath 64 then head SSW through the farmyard of Little Coldharbour Farm (location - https://w3w.co/baroness.escorting.restore), see image below.

Northchurch footpath 64 heads through the farmyard

Once through the farmyard, Northchurch footpath 64 bends to the left then heads SSE for 115m before bending right (location - https://w3w.co/recapture.tidying.snows) then heading SSW along track for 820m with hedgerow on the left and a field on the right. Continue to a bend (location - https://w3w.co/rarely.broccoli.litigate).

10: Follow Northchurch footpath 64 as it bends left then heads SSE and downhill for 60m before bending right (location - https://w3w.co/commented.icon.neckline) then heading SW and uphill for 125m to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/distorts.occurs.contracts), see image below.

Northchurch footpath 64 continues heading SW through a gate

11: Northchurch footpath 64 heads left and SW through a gate (see image above) then continues for 155m to a left-hand bend (location - https://w3w.co/wimp.stray.insert).

12: Turn left (location - https://w3w.co/insurance.fats.drama) then immediately right (location - https://w3w.co/culling.dent.flinches), see image below.

Northchurch footpath 64 now heads S and diagonally across a field

Northchurch footpath 64 now heads S and diagonally across a field for 275m before reaching a farmyard (location - https://w3w.co/crafted.work.insisting), see image below.

Follow Northchurch footpath 64 diagonally across a field

13: After crossing the field walk through the farmyard of Northchurch Farm, still on Northchurch footpath 64, for 110m to a gate (location - https://w3w.co/truffles.excusing.rankings), see image below.

Go through the gate then continue heading SW on Northchurch footpath 64

Go through the gate and ignore the first track on the right. Continue heading SW, still on Northchurch footpath 64, for 25m until you reach a Northchurch BOAT 39 (byway open to all traffic), (location - https://w3w.co/redefined.bypasses.irritated), see image below.

Turn right on Northchurch BOAT 39

14: Turn right on Northchurch BOAT 39 then follow it NNW for 395m until you reach the B4506 (location - https://w3w.co/alongside.victory.smelter). Cross the road then turn right and head N for 40m back to the car park and the start/finish point (location - https://w3w.co/audio.betrayal.prospered).

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Interactive map

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