Walk 268: Rabley Heath Loop

3.6 miles (5.8 km) with 43m of total ascent

Knebworth footpath 10 towards the end of the walk

This is a lovely gentle circular walk along well-defined paths over undulating countryside with some great views. At various points you will be serenaded by the sound of skylarks above, broken only by the occasional plane. The route involves some lane walking, but they are quiet lanes and there are verges where you can stand to one side if needed. We met three cars only.

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 268: Rabley Heath 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 walk starts and finishes at The Robin Hood & Little John pub in Rabley Heath. At the time we tested the walk and wrote these directions (27 May 2024) there was a sign outside the pub saying that it is under new ownership and will reopen as a free house, which, for this real ale lover is great news - it used to be a McMullen pub.

The Robin Hood & Little John

1: With your back to The Robin Hood & Little John (location - https://w3w.co/aims.saints.pokers), turn left then head NE along Slip Lane for 80m until the lane bends left (location - https://w3w.co/spot.belly.edges) then heads NNW for 255m until you reach a footpath on the left (location - https://w3w.co/punk.focus.shed), see image below.

Turn left on Codicote footpath 27

2: Turn left on Codicote footpath 27. When we tested this route in April this first field was a blaze of buttercups in the early morning sunshine.

Head WSW on Codicote footpath 27

Head WSW across the field for 260m until you reach a stile (location - https://w3w.co/refers.format.lamps), see image below. Hertfordshire County Council is gradually replacing wooden step stiles so when you do this walk this may well be a metal gate.

Continue heading WSW, still on Codicote footpath 27

3: Cross the stile then continue heading WSW, still on Codicote footpath 27, for 210m until you reach Sally Deards Lane (location - https://w3w.co/allow.picked.ranch), see image below.

The gate leading to Sally Deards Lane

4: Turn right on Sally Deards Lane then head W for 135m then NNW for 85m until you reach a footpath on the left (location - https://w3w.co/prompting.urgent.odds), see image below.

Turn left on Codicote footpath 7

5: Turn left on Codicote footpath 7 then head SW. You might encounter nettles along the first part of this footpath if you are walking in the summer. Pick up a stick to brush them aside. Antihistamine cream is also useful to have in your backpack. This is a lovely stretch with great views.

Head SW on Codicote footpath 7

Continue heading SW for 855m until Codicote footpath 7 bends slightly to the right (location - https://w3w.co/honey.buck.apply). You are now on Codicote footpath 6 which you follow W for 150m to a footpath crossing (location - https://w3w.co/dates.sides.chase), see image below.

Turn left on Codicote footpath 5

6: Turn left on Codicote footpath 5 then head SE for 285m to a footpath crossing (location - https://w3w.co/analogy.curry.invent), see image below.

Continue heading straight, still on Codicote footpath 5

7: Continue heading straight and uphill, still on Codicote footpath 5 and still heading SE, for 370m until you reach Rabley Heath Road (location - https://w3w.co/toxic.cable.salon), see image below.

Turn left on Rabley Heath Road

8: Turn left on Rabley Heath Road.

Unofficial footpath to Spoke Cafe

We noticed a sign in the hedgerow opposite this junction that read "Footpath to Spoke Cafe". We didn't go that way and didn't visit the cafe, but I have added a link to Spoke Cafe if you want to check it out.

After turning left on Rabley Heath Road head NE for 210m until you reach a footpath on the right (location - https://w3w.co/pest.crash.grape), see image below.

Turn right on Codicote footpath 35

9: Turn right on Codicote footpath 35. You might have to push back some nettles on the first part of this path.

Nettles alongside Codicote footpath 35

Head ESE for 380m until you reach the edge of woodland and emerge in an open field (location - https://w3w.co/seated.bind.scout), see image below.

Turn left then head NE on Welwyn footpath 20

10: Turn left then head NE, now on Welwyn footpath 20, for 280m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/police.league.hardly), see image below.

Cross the junction then continue heading NE

11: Cross the junction then continue heading NE but now on Welwyn footpath 21 which becomes Codicote footpath 34 before reaching another junction (location - https://w3w.co/fine.saying.upgrading), see image below.

Go through a gate then go through a second gate on the right

12: Go through a gate then go through a second gate on the right, see images below. You are now walking through livestock fields and might meet horses. Please don't feed them.

Go through the first gate then turn right

Go through the second gate then head SE

After going through the second gate head SE on Codicote footpath 34 with the hedgerow on the right and field on the left. Continue for 235m to a footpath crossing (location - https://w3w.co/cats.plants.puff), see image below.

Turn left on Codicote footpath 31

13: Turn left on Codicote footpath 31 then head N for 150m until you reach buildings (location - https://w3w.co/flight.orange.odds). see image below.

Continue on Codicote footpath 31 now heading NNE

14: Continue on Codicote footpath 31 now heading NNE for 110m until you reach a gate on the left (location - https://w3w.co/reach.shins.arena), see image below.

Go through the gate then head diagonally across a field

15: Go through the gate the head diagonally NNE across a livestock field usually populated with horses. Continue for 80m until you reach a gate (location - https://w3w.co/ahead.layers.flown), see image below.

Go through the gate then through a second gate

Leave the livestock field at the gate then continue straight and heading NNE for 10m to a second gate. Go through the second gate then emerge on Potters Heath Road (location - https://w3w.co/verbs.chief.calls).

16: Turn left on Potters Heath Road then head NE for 270m to a junction with Rabley Heath Road on the left (location - https://w3w.co/charm.robe.bucket).

17: Continue heading NE, now along Spinney Lane, for 415m until you reach a footpath on the left (location - https://w3w.co/putty.bike.every), see image below.

Turn left on Knebworth footpath 10

18: Turn left on Knebworth footpath 10 then head W for 380m until you reach a gap in the hedge on the right (location - https://w3w.co/aims.rental.judge), see image below.

Go through the gap to a gate

19: Go through the gap to a gate, see image below.

Turn left on Codicote footpath 29

Turn left on Codicote footpath 29, go through the gate, then head WSW diagonally across a field, see image below.

Follow Codicote footpath 29 across a field

Continue for 155m to a gate leading to Rabley Heath Road (location - https://w3w.co/tuck.idea.stuck). see image below.

Go through the gate then turn left on Rabley Heath Road

20: Go through the gate, turn left on Rabley Heath Road, then head SW for 80m back to the starting point.

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Interactive map

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