Walk 296: Hitchwood Long Loop

7.2 miles (11.6 km) with 186m of total ascent

The bridleway between points 18 and 19

This is a walk for lovers of wide open spaces. It offers amazing views as it crosses the undulating countryside north-east of Hitchwood. The route follows well-defined rights of way and some quiet country lanes as it weaves its way past Rush Green and St Paul's Walden. The walk passes two pubs along the way.

You will cross a couple of livestock fields where dog owners are asked to keep their pets on a lead. You will also walk along a few quiet country lanes where we met just one vehicle during the whole walk.

Getting there

The walk starts at the free car park at the NE corner of Hitchwood (location - https://w3w.co/drip.face.famous). The car park has space for about 10 cars at a squeeze. Parking was free of charge when we visited, but please check this has not changed before leaving your car.

If you are travelling by bus there are stops at The Rusty Gun close to point 7 in the walk (location - https://w3w.co/finely.photos.empty) which are served by the number 304, 314 and 315 buses. And there are also bus stops at The Strathmore Arms close to point 24 in the walk (location - https://w3w.co/charm.frogs.soils) which are served by the number 304 and 315 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 296: Hitchwood Long 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.

1: As mentioned earlier, the walk starts in the car park opposite the NE corner of Hitchwood. Leave the car park then turn left on Hitchwood Lane. Head E for 20m until you reach the B651 (location - https://w3w.co/horses.cook.dwell). Cross the B651 then take the byway on the opposite side of the road (location - https://w3w.co/gives.making.begun), see image below.

Head ENE and uphill along UCR 1

Head ENE and uphill along UCR 1 (unclassified unmetalled county road). On the left you will pass a footpath to the Hill End Chalk Pit, which is well worth a visit.

Hill End Chalk Pit a short detour from the route

After passing the chalk pit detour, continue heading up a steep hill on UCR 1 for 100m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/stored.fuel.agents), see image below.

Turn sharp left at the junction on Langley bridleway 17

2: Turn sharp left at the junction on Langley bridleway 17. Head N and downhill for 195m until you reach Whitwell Road (location - https://w3w.co/pines.spun.bunk), see image below.

Cross Whitwell heading diagonally to a bridleway

3: Cross Whitwell Road heading diagonally right and N to a bridleway on the other side (location - https://w3w.co/scale.agrees.glitz), see orange arrow on the image above.

Head NNE on Langley bridleway 2

Head NNE on Langley bridleway 2, with the hedgerow on the right, for 95m until the bridleway bends left (location - https://w3w.co/head.envy.local) then heads N across an arable field for 135m until it reaches woodland (location - https://w3w.co/nature.rising.maker), see image below.

Head N with the woodland on the left

4: Head N along Langley bridleway 2, with the woodland on the left, for 295m until you reach Minsden Chapel on the left (location - https://w3w.co/cubs.happen.chill), see image below.

Minsden Chapel

Minsden Chapel is thought to have been built in the 14th century and served the local farming communities as a chapel of ease to St Mary's in Hitchin. It also acted as a stop for pilgrims heading to St Albans Abbey. By the 17th century the chapel had fallen into disrepair though marriages continued there until the crumbling structure became too dangerous in 1738. In 1907 a hoax photograph of a ghost led to tales of spectral monks and distant music. It now stands as a picturesque, roofless shell and is listed as a scheduled monument by Historic England.

Continue heading N across an arable field

5: After leaving Minsden Chapel continue heading N across an arable field, still on Langley bridleway 2. After 185m you will come to a tree to the right of the path (location - https://w3w.co/host.order.transfers), see image below.

Keep to the left of the tree

6: Keep to the left of the tree then head NNE, still on Langley bridleway 2. About 70m further on the bridleway splits - it doesn't matter which option you choose, they both end up merging again within 150m.

Continue on Langley bridleway 2, now heading N again, for 445m until you reach The Rusty Gun on the B656 (location - https://w3w.co/ruby.caged.shadow), see image below.

The Rusty Gun

7: Turn right when you reach the B656 then, walking on the grass verge, head SE for 65m until you reach a footpath on the left (location - https://w3w.co/crust.congratulations.hello), see image below.

Cross the road then turn left on Ippollitts footpath 22

8: Cross the road then follow Ippollitts footpath 22 E and uphill. The views back from this footpath are amazing.

The view back from Ippollitts footpath 22

Continue for 555m until you reach a farmyard (location - https://w3w.co/barks.wallet.ramp), see image below.

Turn right when you reach the farmyard

9: Turn right when you reach the farmyard just beyond the marker post then head SE for 50m to an exit from the farmyard. (location - https://w3w.co/rating.dress.parks), see image below.

Ippollitts bridleway 20 leaving the farmyard

You are now on Ippollitts bridleway 20. The map below shows the route of the public rights of way through the farmyard.

Ippollitts bridleways 22 and 20 in and out of the farmyard

Continue on Ippollitts bridleway 20 for 125m to a junction immediately after a track on the left which you ignore (location - https://w3w.co/chimp.amused.crib), see orange arrow on the image below.

Fork left at the junction on Ippollitts bridleway 25

10: Fork left at the junction, now on Ippollitts bridleway 25, which looks like a lane. Head SE for 310m passing a house on the left at which point the bridleway becomes a track (location - https://w3w.co/chains.normal.leaps). Head straight and SE along this lovely bridleway with wonderful views to the right. Continue for 600m to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/dive.palms.picked), see image below.

Continue straight at the junction

11: Continue straight at the junction, still heading SE, but now on Ippollitts bridleway 24. After 425m you reach a track on the right (location - https://w3w.co/much.envy.recall), see image below.

Continue heading SE on Ippollitts bridleway 24

12: Ignore the track on the right and continue heading straight and SE, still on Ippollitts bridleway 24. After 165m Ippollitts bridleway 24 bends left (location - https://w3w.co/piano.vast.vanish) then heads E for 210m to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/stiff.else.thus), see image below.

Turn right at the junction on Stevenage UCR 1

13: Turn right at the junction on Stevenage UCR 1. This is another lovely track.

Stevenage UCR1 heading S

Head S for 460m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/leaps.earth.pilots), see image below.

Turn right at the junction on Stevenage bridleway 37

14: Turn right at the junction on Stevenage bridleway 37. This is another lovely right of way with great views.

Head SW on Stevenage bridleway 37

Head SW on Stevenage bridleway 37 for 170m at which point you cross a parish boundary (location - https://w3w.co/print.third.myself) and the track you are on becomes Langley bridleway 5. Continue heading SW, now on Langley bridleway 5, for 130m to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/budget.grants.claims).

15: Continue heading SW at the junction, still on Langley bridleway 5 and with the hedgerow on the left for 285m at which point the bridleway cuts through trees (location - https://w3w.co/shield.race.rides), see image below.

Continue for 40m to footbridge

16: Continue for 40m to footbridge leading to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/sage.uses.found), see image below.

Cross the footbridge and the junction

Cross the footbridge and the junction then continue heading SW, still on Langley bridleway 5. At the other side of a junction you will come to another footbridge (location - https://w3w.co/river.judge.survey), see image below.

Cross the footbridge then Continue heading SW

Cross the footbridge then Continue heading SW, still on Langley bridleway 5. Continue for 380m until the bridleway reaches a yard (location - https://w3w.co/worker.poems.kinks) then continues through the yard to the B656 (location - https://w3w.co/ankle.fails.enjoyable), see image below.

Langley bridleway 5 to reach the B656

17: Cross the B656 then turn right and walk along the grass verge heading N for 115m until you reach a track on the left (location - https://w3w.co/ship.title.dawn), see image below.

Turn left on Langley UCR2

18: Turn left on Langley UCR2. This is a lovely track but a steep climb. Head SW on Langley UCR2 for 690m until you reach a junction with a lane (location - https://w3w.co/shares.crunch.duty), see image below.

Head straight and S along the lane

  19: Head straight and S along the lane for 80m to a bend (location - https://w3w.co/sung.deeply.cheer) where you ignore the road on the right and continue heading straight and SW, see image below.

Head SW along the lane for 440m to a bend

20: Head SW along the lane for 440m to a bend (location - https://w3w.co/hunt.fish.atom). Follow the lane as it bends right then heads W for 90m to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/corn.major.newest) see image below.

Cross the junction then take the footpath on the other side

21: Cross the junction (see orange arrow on the image above) then take the footpath on the other side (location - https://w3w.co/mirror.admiral.pump), see image below.

Head WNW, on St Paul's Walden footpath 4

Head WNW on St Paul's Walden footpath 4 across a livestock field keeping the hedgerow on the left and field on the right. Continue for 215m to a gate leading to a lane (location - https://w3w.co/rent.stages.ally), see image below.

Go through the gate then turn left on the lane

22: Go through the gate then turn left on the lane. This is a quiet lane. Follow the lane SW for 450m until it merges with Bullocks Hill (location - https://w3w.co/obey.even.risk), see image below.

Continue heading straight and W

23: Continue heading straight and W along the lane for 355m until you reach the B651 opposite The Strathmore Arms (location - https://w3w.co/unique.arch.cigar), see image below.

Follow the lane to the right of The Strathmore Arms

24: Cross the B651 then take the lane straight ahead - which is to the right of The Strathmore Arms (location - https://w3w.co/fairly.turns.global). Follow the lane NW. After 450m the lane becomes St Paul's Walden footpath 9 (although it still looks like a lane). Continue heading NW for another 450m to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/memo.feared.doing), see image below.

Turn left at the junction then head W

25: Turn left at the junction then head W for 70m until a footpath on the right leaves the track (location - https://w3w.co/shield.worry.fruit) see image below.

Turn right on the footpath

26: Turn right on the footpath, which is still St Paul's Walden footpath 9, then head WNW for 180m to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/hook.loses.stump), see image below.

Go through the gap then turn right

27: Go through the gap then turn right (location - https://w3w.co/dare.tummy.pays), see image below.

Head NE on St Paul's Walden footpath 12

Head NE on St Paul's Walden footpath 12 for 140m. If you walk this way in the bluebell season you might be lucky to enjoy carpets of the beautiful flowers along this stretch. Continue until you reach an arable field (location - https://w3w.co/indeed.plots.sparks), see image below.

Continue heading NE, still on St Paul's Walden footpath 12

28: Head NE across the arable field, still on St Paul's Walden footpath 12. Continue for 170m until you reach a track where the footpath bends left (location - https://w3w.co/solar.sugar.losses), see image below.

Follow St Paul's Walden footpath 12 as it bends left

29: Follow St Paul's Walden footpath 12 as it bends left then heads NW for 35m before leaving the track just before you reach a cottage (location - https://w3w.co/nest.friend.credit), see image below.

Leave the track then continue heading NW

Leave the track then continue heading NW on St Paul's Walden footpath 12 for 45m to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/lively.meal.below), see image below.

Turn right on St Paul's Walden footpath 35

30: Turn right on St Paul's Walden footpath 35 then head NNE for 100m to an arable field (location - https://w3w.co/twice.nests.march), see image below. In bluebell season you will see a carpet of bluebells in the woodland to your right.

Cross the arable field heading NE

31: Cross the arable field heading NE for 190m, still on St Paul's Walden footpath 35, until you reach a footpath leading into Hitchwood (location - https://w3w.co/caves.belong.care), see image below.

Head NNE into Hitchwood

32: Head NNE on a footpath that straddles the parish boundary and is both Preston footpath 16 and Langley footpath 19. Continue for 210m until you reach a permissive path on the right (location - https://w3w.co/crust.slurs.erase), see image below.

Turn right on the permissive path

33: Turn right on the permissive path then follow it as it weaves its way in a northeasterly direction for 120m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/begun.pill.moon), see image below.

Keep left at the junction

34: Keep left at the junction, still heading in a north-northeasterly direction on the permissive path.

Continue following the permissive path

Continue following the permissive path N then NNE for 320m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/likely.means.pound) just before you reach the end of the woodland with Hitchwood Lane beyond the trees, see image below.

Turn right at the junction

  35: Turn right at the junction then follow the permissive path in an easterly direction, with Hitchwood lane on the left. Continue for 695m until you reach the car park at the start of the walk.

Interactive map

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