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Walk 268: Rabley Heath South Loop

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


Knebworth footpath 10 towards the end of the walk
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
Map for Walk 268: Rabley Heath Loop
Click on the map above for a larger version
Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker
Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors

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.

The walk starts and finishes at The Robin Hood & Little John pub in Rabley Heath. 

The Robin Hood & Little John
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
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.

Continue heading SW, still on Codicote footpath 27
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 SW, still on Codicote footpath 27
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 first gate then turn right

Go through the second gate then head SE
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.

If you enjoyed this walk please consider joining our Hertfordshire Walker members-only Facebook Group where you can share photos and comments on your walking experiences.

Interactive map




5 comments:

  1. Lorraine and NeilSunday, June 09, 2024

    Another fantastic walk. Magnificent views, very easy to follow instructions. Definitely would recommend this one :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you enjoyed it. We revisited that walk again today followed by Sunday lunch at The Lytton Arms.

      Delete
  2. Excellent walk which we started from The Bury in Codicote. Beautiful autumn day and great views.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Really enjoyed this walk today although it was a bit of a dull, misty day but Im sure the views are excellent in better weather. Great instructions. We stopped at Spoke Cafe for coffee and cake and it was warm and welcoming inside and full of cyclists and dogs and walkers. Would definitely do this walk again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Deborah, thanks for your feedback. We have not visited Spokes but good to hear your positive assessment. David

      Delete

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