Walk 298: Bury Green Loop

5.7 miles (9.3 km) with 48m of total ascent

A footpath at point 8 in the walk

This is a great walk for lovers of 'chocolate box' cottages. The picturesque hamlet of Bury Green where the walk starts is full of them. You will then walk across some wonderful rolling countryside with excellent views. A short section of a lane that is part of this route will be closed from 8 May to 9 May 2025, so please don't attempt this walk on those days.

You will cross several livestock fields, including one with a broken 'Bull in Field' sign. We didn't see a bull but we did see cattle in the distance. There is an optional detour which we haven't tested. You will also walk around the edge of a polo field where you might spot a polo match taking place.

Getting there

The nearest bus stops to the route are on Hadham Road (location - https://w3w.co/puddings.booklet.prosper), 430m NE of point 7 in the walk. They are served by the number 20, 27, 35, 35C, 36, 36A, and 386. You can check bus times at Intalink. We travelled by car and parked in Bury Green (location - https://w3w.co/brand.bottom.blows).

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 298: Bury Green 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.

From Bury Green turn left then head S along Lower Road

1: From the stretch of Bury Green with large grass verges of the village green on either side (location - https://w3w.co/quite.universally.task), head S then turn left to head SE along Lower Road (location - https://w3w.co/upset.quiet.organs). Lower Road is a quiet dead end with some cute cottages. The one pictured below at the start of the walk.

A cottage at the start of Lower Road

Head SE for 180m until Lower Road becomes a track (location - https://w3w.co/having.yappy.lung), see image below.

Continue heading SE for 175m

Continue heading SE for 175m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/added.mouth.moon), see image below.

Turn left on Little Hadham bridleway 27

2: Turn left on Little Hadham bridleway 27. Head NE then E, with a brook on the left and field on the right. Continue for 360m until you reach a crossing over the brook on the left (location - https://w3w.co/cake.fence.nests), see image below.

Cross the brook then turn right on the other side

3: Cross the brook then turn right on the other side.

Head E on Little Hadham bridleway 29

Head E, now on Little Hadham bridleway 29.

Little Hadham bridleway 29 through Stocking Wood

This is a lovely stretch through Stocking Wood. When we walked this way in late April 2025 there were several Early Purple Orchids on either side of the path.

Early Purple Orchid in Stocking Wood

Continue on Little Hadham bridleway 29 for 550m with the brook on your right. You will leave Stocking Wood then walk under power lines supported by pylons before reaching a junction (location - https://w3w.co/loops.fairly.bleak), see image below.

Turn left at the junction

4: Turn left at the junction then head N on Little Hadham bridleway 30. Continue with the hedgerow on the right and field on the left for 415m until you reach a junction just beyond a bridge made of concrete girders (location - https://w3w.co/calms.solve.title), see image below.

Cross the bridge then turn left

5: Cross the bridge, turn left, then head NW. You are now on Little Hadham footpath 33 which passes under the power cables then continues with the hedgerow on the left. After 470m the footpath bends right and then left (location - https://w3w.co/react.noises.became), see image below.

Continue on Little Hadham footpath 33

6: Continue heading NW on Little Hadham footpath 33 for 215m until you reach a road at Cradle End (location - https://w3w.co/flags.photocopy.roadshow), see image below.

Cross the road then head NW along a lane

7: Cross the road then head NW along a lane for 265m until you reach a footpath on the left (location - https://w3w.co/tastings.values.headed), see image below.

Turn left on Little Hadham footpath 42

8: Turn left on Little Hadham footpath 42. This footpath twists and turns in a westerly direction keeping to the edge of fields. After 125m you will cross a footbridge on the right (location - https://w3w.co/glimmers.unity.figs), see image below.

Cross the footbridge on Little Hadham footpath 42

Cross the footbridge then continue on Little Hadham footpath 42 as it winds its way westerly for 315m then cuts through the hedgerow (location - https://w3w.co/flashing.roaring.barbarian), see image below.

Head W still on Little Hadham footpath 42

Go through the gap then head W still on Little Hadham footpath 42. Continue for 230m until you reach a lane (location - https://w3w.co/chromatic.fairway.textiles), see image below.

Cross the lane then head W on Little Hadham footpath 43

9: Cross the lane then head W, now on Little Hadham footpath 43. After 80m you will reach a polo field (location - https://w3w.co/constrain.when.bulletins), see image below.

Head W with the polo field on the left

Head W for 225m with the hedgerow on the right and the polo field on the left. Continue until you reach the NW corner of the field and a junction (location - https://w3w.co/lousy.flight.clear), see image below.

Turn left on Little Hadham footpath 46

10: Turn left then head S on Little Hadham footpath 46. Continue, with the hedgerow on the right and polo field on the left, for 280m until you reach a footbridge leading to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/thank.funded.solve), see image below.

Turn right on Little Hadham BOAT 45

11: Cross the footbridge then turn right on Little Hadham BOAT 45 (byway open to all traffic). Follow this lovely wooded byway in a westerly direction for 460m until you reach a section that can be flooded - even in the summer (location - https://w3w.co/cherry.logo.valid), see image below. DON'T PANIC, there is a way to avoid the mud.

The muddy section of Little Hadham BOAT 45

12: As you reach the muddy patch, with the sad looking bench on the left, turn right to join Little Hadham footpath 49 (location - https://w3w.co/galaxy.slide.critic), see image below.

Turn right on Little Hadham 49

After turning right on Little Hadham footpath 49, turn left across a footbridge, see image below.

Cross the footbridge on Little Hadham footpath 49

After crossing the footbridge, follow Little Hadham footpath 49 SW for 120m, with the hedgerow on the left and a field on the right. Continue until the footpath rejoins Little Hadham BOAT 45 (location - https://w3w.co/cave.closed.much), see image below.

Turn right on Little Hadham BOAT 45

13: Turn right on Little Hadham BOAT 45 then head SW for 135m to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/cost.poetic.simply), see image below.

Turn right on Acremore Street

14: Turn right on Acremore Street then head W for 85m until you reach a bridleway on the left (location - https://w3w.co/cried.tuned.cubes), see image below.

Turn left on Little Hadham bridleway 16

15: Turn left on Little Hadham bridleway 16. Follow this bridleway as it heads in a southerly direction for 1.1km. Continue until you reach a gap in the hedgerow (location - https://w3w.co/empire.proof.sheets), see image below.

Continue on Little Hadham bridleway 16 to a junction

16: Continue on Little Hadham bridleway 16, now heading SW for 190m until the bridleway passes through another gap (location - https://w3w.co/stove.voters.donor), see image below.

Continue on Little Hadham bridleway 16

Continue on Little Hadham bridleway 16, now heading S and with Bush Wood on the left and a field on the right. Continue for 75m to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/reds.chops.filed), see image below.

Turn left on Much Hadham bridleway 55

17: Turn left at the junction then head E on Much Hadham bridleway 55. Continue, with Bush Wood on the left, for 290m to a gap in the hedgerow (location - https://w3w.co/tight.lion.fancy), see image below.

Go through the gap on Much Hadham bridleway 55

18: Go through the gap then continue heading E, still on Much Hadham bridleway 55. Continue, now heading ESE for 320m to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/motion.silent.spits), see image below.

Keep right at the junction then head S

19: Keep right at the junction then head S, still on Much Hadham bridleway 55. Continue for 135m to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/fell.larger.wishes), see image below.

Turn left on Much Hadham bridleway 17

20: Turn left on Much Hadham bridleway 17 then head ESE for 410m, with the hedgerow on the left and field on the right. Continue until you reach a gate (location - https://w3w.co/spring.played.spoon), see image below.

Go through the gate then turn left

21: There is a sign on the gate which reads:

White Park Cattle
White Park Cattle have been kept in Britain for more than 2,000 years. With the help of The Rare Breeds Survival Trust the breed has increased from 60 breeding females in 1973 to 750 today. The cattle are very hardy and successfully out-winter in low temperatures and poor weather. The breed is ideally suited to both organic farming and conservation management.
To dog owners and those who use the footpath and bridleway
Cattle are well-tempered and docile but can mimic your behaviour if you decide to run, but only out of curiosity. A shout and/or a wave of the arms will stop them in their tracks. Please keep your dogs on a lead if you cannot rely on their obedience near farm animals. If the cattle do appear to chase your dog they are being naturally inquisitive, it may then be safer to let your dog off the lead - don't risk getting hurt by trying to protect it.Please close the gates - thank you

We also noticed a "Bull in Field" sign which has been broken. If you are worried about walking through this livestock field you could retrace your steps to point 19 then head N then NE on Little Hadham footpath 18 to return to the start of the walk (we have not tested this detour).

Go through the gate then turn left still on Much Hadham bridleway 17, see image below.

Head NE on Much Hadham bridleway 17

Head NE for 90m to a bridge (location - https://w3w.co/avoid.gear.dart), see image below.

Cross the bridge then turn right

22: Cross the bridge, still on Much Hadham bridleway 17, then turn right to head E for 30m to a gap between fencing (location - https://w3w.co/gross.wins.humans), see image below.

Go through the gap still on Much Hadham bridleway 17

Turn left through the gap then head NE, still on Much Hadham bridleway 17. Continue for 435m to a gate (location - https://w3w.co/tolls.slope.reject), see image below.

Go through the gate then keep right

23: Go through the gate then keep right on Much Hadham footpath 33 for 65m, ignoring a footbridge on the left (location - https://w3w.co/noses.from.dart) and continuing to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/bared.store.punks), see image below.

Turn left at the junction on Little Hadham bridleway 24A

Turn left at the junction now on Little Hadham bridleway 24A. Head NE along this lovely bridleway for 470 until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/seated.exile.bowls), see image below.

Keep heading NE, still on Little Hadham bridleway 24A

24: Keep heading NE, still on Little Hadham bridleway 24A. Continue for 215m until the path bend left to a bridge (location - https://w3w.co/tunes.many.friday), see image below.

Take the path down to the bridge

25: This bridge was in poor condition when we walked this route. If the bridge is closed for repair we suggest you retrace your steps back to point 23, turn right on Little Hadham footpath 22 then head NE back to the start of the walk (we have not tested this detour).

Cross the bridge then head NE

Cross the bridge then head NE for 110m to the junction you passed at point 2 in the walk (location - https://w3w.co/voters.tune.evenly), see image below.

Turn left at the junction

26: Turn left at the junction then retrace your steps NW for 310m back to the starting point.

Interactive map

---