Walk 264: Whitwell North-East Loop

3.1 miles (5.1 km) with 88m of total ascent

St Paul's Walden footpath 2 between points 3 & 4

This is a lovely walk exploring the countryside to the north-east of Whitwell. It's our fourth walk featuring the village but this route follows a number of public rights of way which are not included in the other walks. The route crosses the River Mimram twice and involves a fair amount of up and down.

There are options for refreshments at The Bull Inn (location - https://w3w.co/link.plates.bench) at the start and finish point and at Emily's Tea Shop (location - https://w3w.co/pirate.insert.good) and The Whitwell Stores (location - https://w3w.co/miss.burst.jolly) a short detour from the route. Check opening times to avoid disappointment.

There are parking options in various side roads but please do check for any parking restrictions that might have been introduced since the walk was published.

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 264: Whitwell North-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.

With your back to The Bull Inn turn left

1: With your back to The Bull Inn turn left then head ESE along High Street for 135m until you reach a footpath on the left (location - https://w3w.co/jungle.mass.goats), see image below.

Turn left on St Paul's Walden footpath 2

2: Turn left on St Paul's Walden footpath 2 then head NNE for 45m until you reach a row of cottages (location - https://w3w.co/bumpy.others.atom). Follow St Paul's Walden footpath 2 to the left of the cottages then head NNW for 75m until you reach a bridge over the River Mimram (location - https://w3w.co/mental.hedge.dads), see images below.

The River Mimram

Information board at the River Mimram
Click on the image for a larger version

3: Immediately after crossing the bridge you will come to a fork, (location - https://w3w.co/cube.lovely.loss), see image below.

Take the right fork then head NNE and uphill

Take the right fork then head NNE and uphill, still on St Paul's Walden footpath 2. Along the way you will notice signs asking walkers to not feed the horses or ponies because, according to the sign, "feeding them could kill them".

Do not feed the horses or ponies

Continue for 465m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/tribal.mass.scars), see image below.

Go through the gate then turn right on St Paul's Walden footpath 3

4: Go through a gate, turn right, then head ENE along St Paul's Walden footpath 3 for 80m until you reach a footpath on the right (location - https://w3w.co/stores.hint.under), see image below.

Turn right on St Paul's Walden footpath 5

5: Turn right on St Paul's Walden footpath 5.

* When we tested this walk in May 2024 there was a sign next to the gate suggesting that those who didn't want to walk across a livestock field could take a diversion. Sign and diversion below.

Sign suggesting the use of a temporary footpath

Detour for avoiding the livestock field marked in orange

We didn't take the diversion and instead headed downhill and ENE across the livestock field. The cattle were fine, none approached us. The path continues across the livestock field for 310m before reaching a gate leading to Whitwell Road, the B651 (location - https://w3w.co/landed.spout.rang).

* You will cross Whitewell Road at a blind bend in order to reach the footpath on the other side so please take care.

6: Turn left on Whitwell Road then head NNE for 35m until you reach a footpath on the right (location - https://w3w.co/speech.jabs.cycles), see image below.

Turn right on St Paul's Walden footpath 6

Turn right on St Paul's Walden footpath 6 then follow it ENE, with the hedgerow on the left and field on the right. Continue for 410m until you reach Reynolds Wood (location - https://w3w.co/part.riding.locals), see image below.

Continue through Reynolds Wood

7: Continue on St Paul's Walden footpath 6 through Reynolds Wood, now heading E, for 320m until you leave the woodland (location - https://w3w.co/tame.icons.length), see image below.

Follow St Paul's Walden footpath 6 to the right of a tree

Continue on St Paul's Walden footpath 6 following the path to the right of a tree (see line of orange arrow on the image above). Head SE for 55m until the footpath bends left (location - https://w3w.co/saying.wages.issues), see image below.

Keep left on St Paul's Walden footpath 6

8: Keep left on St Paul's Walden footpath 6 then head NE through the hedgerow to an arable field (location - https://w3w.co/firms.traded.enhancement), see image below.

Cross the field on St Paul's Walden footpath 6

Cross the arable field still heading NE for 280m until you reach a farmyard and then a lane (location - https://w3w.co/seated.usage.actors).

9: Turn right on the lane then follow it SE then S for 230m until you reach a byway on the right as the lane bends left (location - https://w3w.co/below.lobby.thing), see image below.

Turn right on St Paul's Walden BOAT 37

10: Turn right on St Paul's Walden BOAT 37 (byway open to all traffic) then head SW for 675m until you reach woodland (location - https://w3w.co/jolly.weds.glue), see image below.

Keep heading SW, still on St Paul's Walden BOAT 37

11: Keep heading SW, still on St Paul's Walden BOAT 37, which is also known locally as Norton Street Lane. Continue for 155m until the byway bends left through the woodland (location - https://w3w.co/jabs.foods.forced).

12: Follow St Paul's Walden BOAT 37 as it cuts S through the woodland for 105m before turning right then heading SW (location - https://w3w.co/scarcely.dates.seat).

13: Continue heading SW on St Paul's Walden BOAT 37 for 735m until you cross the River Mimram and reach Codicote Road by a brick and timber-framed building, (location - https://w3w.co/hills.shirts.insist) see image below.

A brick and timber-framed building

14: Turn right on Codicote Road then head NW for 115m.

* There isn't a pedestrian pavement along this short stretch of road but there is a verge where you can stand to one side if traffic approaches.

Continue along Codicote Road until you reach a track on the left (location - https://w3w.co/cure.crab.boost), see image below.

Turn left on the track

15: Turn left on the track (which is classed as a public highway by Hertfordshire County Council) then head SW for 225m until you reach a bridleway on the right (location - https://w3w.co/curving.laser.hunter), see image below.

Turn right on St Paul's Walden bridleway 34

16: Turn right through the hedgerow on St Paul's Walden bridleway 34. When you emerge from the hedgerow head straight, see image below

Head straight and WNW across the field

Head straight and WNW across the field for 325m. It's worth looking back as you walk this stretch for some lovely views to the north-east.

The view looking back from St Paul's Walden bridleway 34

Continue, ignoring the first footpath on the right, but turning right on the second footpath (location - https://w3w.co/rugs.giving.move), see image below.

Turn right on St Paul's Walden footpath 32

17: Turn right on St Paul's Walden footpath 32 then head NNE for 205m back to Whitwell High Street (location - https://w3w.co/ridge.tend.causes), see image below.

18: Turn left on High Street then head WNW for 65m back to the starting point.

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Interactive map

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