Hertfordshire Walker: Tips

Tips

Good boots, a map, and a navigation app are recommended

Suggestions those new to walking

The list of suggestions below is to help you enjoy our walks to the maximum. They cover what you should take, how to print the pages without using too much paper, and how you can share your own tips and comments after completing the walks.

Finding the start point

The What3Words references for the start of a walk

When mapping our walks we offer a number of ways for people to find the start point.

We usually add the road/lane/street name and village so those with satellite navigation can pop the details into their device.
We also add What3Words references to the start/finish points and at various important junctions mentioned along the way, see below for more details.
If the walk starts at a pub we give the name of the pub and a link so that walkers can look it up and find the right address.

Public transport

uno service 602

We don't add public transport details for our walks because people will be travelling from different areas of Hertfordshire and timetables are subject to seasonal changes.

What we do recommend is that you use the Traveline site to calculate the best way to reach the start of the walk you want to do. Just enter you own nearest public transport departure point and the village or town where the walk starts and Traveline will work out the best route for you.

Parking

Car parks will be show with a blue icon and a white car

If there is a car park near the start of a walk we will mention that in the walk directions and say whether it was free or paid-for at the time of writing.

We don't make recommendations for parking along roads because restrictions might be introduced after our visit.

Neither do we mention the roads where we have parked because they are often residential areas and we have had complaints in the past for suggesting people park in certain roads.

The best way to find a parking space is to use Google Street View (or similar) and check for possible parking spots before you set off (which is what we do).

Local pubs will often allow you to park in the car parks if you are taking refreshments before or after your walk - but please do check with the pubs concerned before using their car parks.

Choosing the right walk

Finding the starting point for a walk

There are several ways of finding a walk that suits your needs.

We have a list of all the walks and their lengths in the left-hand column of the website.
There is also a page that lists all the walks on the site.
There is a box in the left-hand column of the website where walks are grouped by their length, so you can click on the distance you want to walk to see all the walks in that category.
In November 2022 we started adding the 'total ascent' of each walk in order to help people figure out how much climb is involved in each route. There is a page that lists the distances and elevation of every walk on the site. .
We have a page setting out a selection of flat walks which we put together after a request from one of our regular users.
There is a page that lists every pub mentioned on our walks, so you can pick a pub and see which routes pass by.
We have an interactive map where the start/finish points for all the walks are marked, so you can zoom in on that map to find one near you.
And you can use the search box at the bottom of the website and enter the village or location you would like to visit.

Total ascent

When measuring the amount of climb involved in each of our walks we use the 'total ascent' measurement.

Total ascent measures all elevation increases during each walk. This is also known as 'elevation gain'.

Some GPX tools use 'average ascent', which measures the average of all ascents during a walk, or 'maximum elevation', which is the highest elevation achieved.

But we think the most useful measurement for those planning our walks is to know how much they will have to walk uphill. That is why we use 'total ascent', or 'elevation gain'.

Total ascent measures all the ups in a walk. For example: If your house has 15 steps between floors. If you go up to the first floor you will have walked 15 steps. That is the maximum elevation. But if you walk up and down the steps 10 times during the day you would have walked 150 steps. This is the 'total ascent' or 'elevation gain'.

Walking apps sometimes choose different elevation measurements, such as 'average ascent', which offers an average of all ascents recorded during an activity or 'maximum elevation', which calculates the highest elevation achieved. But we are using 'total ascent', also known was 'elevation gain' so that you know the exact amount of walking uphill the walk involves.

Wheelchairs and pushchairs

The majority of our walks involve sections with narrow footpaths which are often overgrown with brambles and nettles. The routes also involve byways that can be muddy after rain and rock-hard and rutted during dry weather. All our walks cross undulating countryside. Most features stiles, narrow gates, steps, and footbridges.

As mentioned above, we have often been asked which walks would be suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. So we've created a page of flat routes that might be suitable for wheelchair and pushchair users.

There is also a linear section of Walk 80: Panshanger Park long loop would work if you went from the free car park and headed west from point 1 to points 16, 15, then keep heading west along the flat track to 9 before returning the same way (total of 2 miles).

Hertfordshire County Council's Rights of Way team has done a great job replacing old stiles and wooden gates with wider, aluminium gates, but there are still parts of the county‘s network of public footpaths, bridleways, and byways that would be difficult for those attempting the routes with a wheelchair or pushchair. Footbridges and stiles can fall into disrepair and become impassable and the council depends on walkers to alert them when a path is blocked or in need of work. You can also alert the council if you encounter a problem with the rights of way - see our section on reporting faults.

There is a national site that is building a database of routes suitable for wheelchair users.

Walking groups

There are many walking groups which welcome new members

Are you a solo walker wanting to join a walking groups in Hertfordshire? If so, we have a page with a list of groups you might want to join.

The list has been compiled from posts made in our Hertfordshire Walker members-only Facebook Group, which you are welcome to join. All the groups listed say they welcome new members.

Some might be free to join, others might charge a subscription - please check with the group you want to join.

Tree-friendly printing

If you want to print the walk directions without the pictures you can do so by using the PrintFriendly tool.

PrintFriendly allows you to delete any elements of the walk that you don't need

The icon, a white printer on a green background (shown on the left), is visible on the website only. It is at the bottom of the page immediately beneath the interactive map.

If you are using the mobile version of the site you can get to the PrintFriendly icon by scrolling down to the bottom of the page then clicking on the 'view web version' link. That will then load the web version on your phone.

You then scroll to the bottom of the page where you will find the green PrintFriendly printer icon under the interactive map.

If you click on it the page will load in PrintFriendly allowing you to delete any elements you don't need before printing.

Back up map

You might want to carry an Ordnance Survey map to check routes

We recommend you always carry a copy of the relevant Ordnance Survey (OS) map with you so you can check against our directions and maps. The OS Landranger 166 covers most of the walks on this site. Depending where you are walking, and if you want more detail you might want to take OS 182, OS 174, OS 194 and OS 193. Alternatively, for the price of little more than three maps a year, we subscribe to the OS app, which, gives us access to every OS map in the country.

GPS navigation

You can use KML and GPX files with the walks on Hertfordshire Walker Image by Hertfordshire Walker released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

Our walks can be downloaded free-of-charge to mobile devices

If you prefer to follow our walks on a mobile device you can do so in two ways.

The first is by using GPS. It's a bit like using a sat nav in a car. The route will be transferred to a map and your position will be shown with a marker which will move as you move. It will also prompt you when you are straying away from the route, so you are less likely to get lost.

We offer free GPS downloads for all our routes. Simply pick the walk you want, open it, scroll down to the static map under the walk's 'Directions', then click on the GPX file to start the download.

Once the file GPX file is downloaded to your device you can open it using your preferred GPS tracker. We test all our walks on three free GPS apps. We use Komoot, GPS Viewer, and OsmAnd. We also subscribe to the paid-for Ordnance Survey (OS) app because I like to see the extra details so I can add information when I am writing the directions for the walks. We have a page setting out how to download and follow our sat nav routes.

Ordnance Survey app

In early 2022 we encountered an intermittent problem downloading GPX files to the paid-for OS app. I have found a work around.

Download and save the GPX file for the walk to your desktop computer
Open the OS page on your desktop device
Open the GPX file for the walk on the OS desktop version
You will see it opens fine
Save the walk on the desktop device
Go to your mobile device
Open the OS app and log in to your account
Find the walk on your OS app
Open it and you will find it works.

I have written to the OS app support team describing the problem. They said they would investigate.

If the OS app fails to load a GPX file, please try the free Komoot, which works everytime.

The image above shows one of our walks dowloaded to the paid-for OS app.

Below are images of one of our walks downloaded to the free versions of Komoot and GPX Viewer.

One of our walks downloaded to the free version of Komoot

One of our walks downloaded to the free version of GPX Viewer

If you have downloaded the free Google Earth to your smartphone you can also view our walks using the free KML files, which are also under the static map at the top of the directions. This method offers another view of the walk where you can zoom in to check any junctions you are unsure about.

When one of our KML files is viewed in Google Earth you are able to see a bird's-eye view of the landscape with any geographic annotations that have been added. We usually just add markers for the start & finish, pubs, parking spaces, etc, but if you create your own KML file, or adapt one of ours, you are able to add all sorts of interesting information such as image overlays, video links, lines, shapes, 3D images, and points., see image below.

Free KML file being used on the free Google Earth

GPX downloading issues

The free GPX and KML satellite navigation files published on every walk on Hertfordshire Walker are tested several times to ensure they work properly on any compatible device when connected to the internet or a mobile data network.

The GPX and KML files are 'downloads', which means that when you click the link a file containing the data required for you to follow the route will be downloaded to your device.

You can then open the file in any compatible sat nav app you have installed on your device. This will enable you to follow the walk in much the same way sat nav works in a vehicle.

This means your device needs to have 'downloads' enabled.

If you are able to browse the internet on your smartphone but have problems downloading a GPX file to your device the issue will be with your phone or your network settings, not the file on Hertfordshire Walker. Perhaps you are getting a message saying that you are not connected to the internet - when you know you are.

I have listed the following fixes to try to help anyone experiencing issues when trying to download our GPX files to a compatible mobile device.

1: The first is simply to turn your device off, wait a few minutes, then turn it on again.

2: If that doesn't work make sure downloading over your network is enabled on your device. Some people have their phones set to download only when connected to wifi. If this is the case (and if you are happy to download using your network data allowance) you need to change this setting. How to do this will differ from phone to phone so check online for the steps for your make and model.

3: Check that mobile data is enabled on your device. Usually you need to go to settings, network and internet / SIMs / network / then activate mobile data.

4: If your phone is set to download files when on both wifi and your mobile network try switching between wifi and mobile data then back again to see if this helps.

5: If you are still having problems check the browser cache and history settings on your mobile device. You might need to clear both then restart the device. Before you do be sure you are happy to clear all the saved data on the sites you have visited and the data you have previously downloaded.

6: If that doesn't solve the problem go to your downloads folder on your device and check whether there is anything there you need. If not, clear your downloads folder then restart the device.

7: Check you haven't got 'data saver' active on your device. This will restrict what you can download.

8: Check you haven't got a VPN (virtual private network) active which might interfere with what you can access.

9: Check there isn't a form of ad-blocker active on your phone; this could prevent access to downloadable files.

10: If you are still having problems call or pop into your nearest network store (preferably where you bought the phone or signed up for your network data deal) and ask them to make sure your device is set to be able to download when on the network (and not just set to download when connected via wifi only).

Why Hertfordshire Walker doesn't have its own app

Some have asked why Hertfordshire Walker doesn't have its own app. The reason is that we don't need one. And it doesn't make sense to build one.

We have a mobile version of the site which includes all you need to download, plan, and enjoy more than 240 free walks in the Hertfordshire countryside.

All you need to do is download one of the many free GPS navigation apps and open our free GPX files in the one you prefer and you are all set.

The reason we don't have our own app is that they need to be continually updated, optimised, adjusted, and maintained in order to meet changing technical requirements and changing user behaviour. That is a costly business and involves calling on the services of developers.

It makes more sense to leave that to the many professional companies who offer access to free navigation apps which are continually being developed.

That way, those walkers who download the free GPX files that we create on Hertfordshire Walker are more likely to enjoy a much better user experience.

Viewing web version on mobile

A regular user of Hertfordshire Walker has asked whether it is possible to see the web version of the site on their mobile device. The answer is yes.

The default view for all mobile devices is different from the version you will see on the web. The content is displayed in one column rather than three for easier viewing, see image below.

The mobile version of Hertfordshire Walker

However you can still view the web version of the site on any mobile device although large screen tablets are best for this. If you view on a smaller screen mobile device you might want to turn the phone to view in landscape. Here is what you need to do.

If you scroll down to the bottom of any page you will see a green interactive link under the 'HOME' button that reads 'View web version', see image below.

Click on the highlighted link to flip between web or mobile view

Click on this and the web version will show. Turn your phone on its side (landscape mode) for best view. To revert to mobile version scroll to the bottom of any page and click on the 'View mobile version' link.

Alternatively, you can flick between the two versions in your smartphone's browser settings.

The two images below show Hertfordshire Walker viewed using the mobile version on the left and the site viewed using the desktop version on the right.

Mobile version (left), desktop version (right)

Mobile version of Hertfordshire Walker (left), desktop version (right)

The two images below show a walk viewed on the mobile version on the left and the same walk viewed in the desktop version the right.

The mobile version of a walk (left) and desktop version (right)

'How to Geek' has a handy guide for how to switch between the two.

Bookmarking 'favourite' walks

Click on the black star to bookmark favourite walks

A user of Hertfordshire Walker emailed to ask whether there is a way of saving their favourite walks from the site for future reference. They wrote: "I can’t find a way to save certain walk away as my favourites. Is this possible please?"

The answer is 'yes', but, because Hertfordshire Walker is a website available on mobile and desktop, the way to do this is in the operating system that you are using.

So if you are an Android user you need to open your preferred Android browser (I use Google Chrome) then click on the walk on Hertfordshire Walker which you want to bookmark. Once you are on the walk page, select the “Menu” icon (which is three vertical dots). Then select the “Add Bookmark" icon (which is a star - see image above with the star circled in orange). A bookmark is then automatically created and saved to your “Mobile Bookmarks” folder. If you synchronise your mobile activity that bookmark will also show up in your desktop, laptop, or tablet bookmarks.

I am not an iPhone user but apparently this is how it is done on that system. You tap the "Share" button at the bottom of the walk page you want to add to your favourites, and then you tap "Add Bookmark" to create a bookmark in your iPhone's Safari browser. If you save a bookmark to the Favorites folder or choose the "Add to Favourites" option, it'll appear in the Favourites list when you open a new tab in Safari on a computer or iPad.

Smartphone power issues

We always carry a fully charged power bank on all our walks

One of the regular users of Hertfordshire Walker said that they didn't use the free GPS navigation files that come with all our walks because they were worried that doing so would drain their smartphone battery.

I always carry a fully charged power bank and a power connector. Mine is an Xtorm Fuel Series 18W (see image above). It can charge two phones at once and is an essential piece of kit if you are worried that you might end up with a dead phone when you are out walking. My power bank cost about £25.

I don't often have to use it, but when I am doing a 6-10 mile walk and using GPS, taking photographs, recording What3Word location references, and making notes on my phone, it's good to have that extra power in reserve.

What3Words location references

A What3Words location reference on one of our walks

We have added What3Words location references at every major junction on all our walks. What3Words has "divided the world into 3m squares and given each square a unique combination of three words".

What3words references are as accurate as GPS coordinates and can help you ensure that you are in the right place.

Here is an example (location - https://w3w.co/copy.spring.pass). That location is taken from Walk 181 in our collection. If you click on the link you will be taken to a map. Click on the satellite view option (bottom right of the screen), and you will be shown a satellite image of exactly where you should be, see image above. Zoom in or out for clarity. Then click the location button (the circle with a dot in the middle) to see where you are. You can then compare your location with where you should be, then check the directions in our walk to get to the right place.

With our free GPS files, maps, directions and W3W we hope you will never get lost.

Getting lost

Image by Vera Kratochvil released under Public Domain Licence

All our routes follow public rights of way or permissive paths. We do not create walks that trespass on private property.

So, if you are following one of our routes and come a cross a sign saying 'private' or 'no entry', please stop. You have gone the wrong way.

Check the directions and W3W references and, better still, the GPS navigation files to get back on track.

Hertfordshire Walker can take no responsibility for people who trespass because they have misread the directions.

Footpath names and numbers

All footpaths in Hertfordshire have names and numbers. These include reference to the parish they are in.

We include those details in the directions for our walks so that ramblers can cross-reference with the Hertfordshire County Council rights of way (ROW) map if they choose.

Please be aware that the signs on the paths sometimes contain the numbers, but not always, and they never contain the parish names.

Posts along the way displaying the ROW signs often have the numbers written on them, which is why we include them in the directions.

The Hertfordshire County Council ROW map

Hertfordshire County council has two map formats showing the public rights of way. One is a Geographic Information System (GIS) map with data, and the other is a Google map. Both can be accessed here.

Compass points

It's worth carrying a compass, or a compass app, on our walks

We add compass points such as ESE (east-south-east) and NNW (north-north-west) to all our walks to try to help those following the routes on traditional maps and using compasses to navigate their way around. The illustration above gives a rough idea of how those points work.

What to wear

We recommend you wear water-resistant boots for our walks. Some of the footpaths cross fields of wheat or rape, which can result in you getting wet after rain or in the early morning. Also, many paths go through long grass, which can be heavy with dew if you are starting the walks early.

We always have three pairs of boots on the go. One pair for the longer and more rugged walks we do, lighter boots for summer walks, and wellies for walks where we expect to get muddy and wet - especially in the winter months.

We also recommend you wear long trousers that dry out quickly, or carry a stick to push back any nettles that encroach on the path.

Keeping hydrated

Carry enough water when you set off for a walk

We have put together some tips on how to stay hydrated when walking in the countryside. Our short guide suggests how often and how much to drink before the walk, along the walk, and atfer the walk.

First aid

Suggested first aid kit for walkers

Whether we are walking in the Hertfordshire countryside, the Lake District, or the Alps, we carry a small pack containing: plasters, antiseptic wipes and cream, insect repellent, antihistamine cream, and spray plaster. We hardly ever use any of the contents in the pack (except for the insect repellent), but it comes in handy from time to time. The Ramblers has an interesting article about first aid kits for walking.

Insects

It's worth taking insect repellent with you when walking

There is always the risk of being bitten by an insect when walking in the Hertfordshire countryside. Ticks, horseflies, and mosquitos can be particularly active in the summer months.

We always carry insect repellent with us.

The NHS has issued some simple advice on avoiding insect bites, particularly from ticks. To reduce the risk of being bitten:

cover your skin while walking outdoors and tuck your trousers into your socks.
use insect repellent on your clothes and skin.
stick to paths whenever possible.
wear light-coloured clothing so ticks are easier to spot and brush off.

The government has produced a leaflet warning about the dangers of ticks and sharing advice about what to do if you find one on your body. We have embedded the advice below. Click on the 'pop-out' icon on the document to expand to full size.

Livestock

Some of the walks go through fields where livestock graze. At certain times of the year, particularly during the spring and summer, animals may be more frisky. Please take care at all times. And if you have dogs, please obey any warning signs or requests to keep your pets on a lead.

Shaded walks

The yellow route on Walk 56, The Great Wood

A user of Hertfordshire Walker has suggested we introduce "a rough percentage grading for the proportion of a walk that is in shade".

It's a great idea. The trouble is that a route walked in the early morning will have a different grading than the same walk undertaken in the afternoon; east-facing paths might be in the sun in the morning but in the shade in the afternoon.

We already have a page listing some shaded walks, but here are two suggestions for those wanting to try other walks that avoid too much sun.

1: If you are planning to do one of our walks, take a quick look at the map that is published with the walk directions and check the amount of woodland or hedgerow shown. Heavily wooded maps, where the paths go through the woodland, should offer some shade. Maps such as the one below show little woodland and will be exposed to the sun.

Walk 197: Buntingford East Short Loop has little shade

For example, Walk 197: Buntingford East Short Loop has little shade, see map above. Even where the map shows woodland, the path is on the south side of the woods and so exposed to the sun. This would not be a great walk during a heat wave. Having done it on a hot August day in 2022 I reckon there would be less than 5% in the shade. On the other hand, the map below shows that all routes will be in the shade.

The three routes for Walk 56: The Great Wood, Northaw

The map above shows the three routes for Walk 56: The Great Wood, Northaw, which are almost 100% in the shade. All three routes are excellent for hot days when you want to avoid the sun.

2: Going back to the suggestion of a rough percentage grading for shade, perhaps there could be a crowd-sourced assessment involving all users of Hertfordshire Walker.

If those who complete our walks were to post a comment at the foot of the walk page they would be able to let others know how much shade they experienced. Perhaps something such as: "we started this walk at 9am and estimate that about 45% is in the shade".

By adding a comment you would be helping fellow walkers assess whether the walk offered enough shade for them.

Pubs

Many country pubs have been struggling due to the economy and Covid. As a result, some of those mentioned in these pages may have closed. So please check before setting off on your walk. Unfortunately we are unable to keep tabs on all the pubs in order to update the information.

We have a list of all the pubs mentioned on our walks in the left-hand column of the website and on our ‘Pubs on our walks’ page featured on both the website and the mobile version of the site.

Closures

The Hertfordshire County Council ROW (rights of way) department has a team of officers who continually monitor the state of the public ROWs across the county.

From time to time these ROWs need to be temporarily closed. This can be because of a broken footbridge, an unsafe surface, a dispute with a landowner, utility and road works, and building development.

The ROW team keeps a spreadsheet of all closures which it shares with Hertfordshire Walker every month. We then update a page on Hertfordshire Walker titled 'Closures' which is available on both our website and mobile version.

The first image below show where you can find the page on the web version of Hertfordshire Walker.

The two links to the 'Closures' page on the web version

The image below shows the 'Closures' link in the menu of the mobile version of Hertfordshire Walker. You can access the menu on the mobile version by clicking on the downward arrow icon at the top of the page.

The link to the 'Closures' page on the mobile version

Reporting faults

Please report any public rights of way issues directly to Herts CC
Photograph by Peter Holmes released via Creative Commons

If you see any overgrown or blocked paths, broken signs, rotten footbridges or any problems with the rights of way (ROW) along any of our walks, please report them directly to Hertfordshire County Council's ROW team.

You might find a public right of way has been ploughed over at certain times of the year and the route has not been reinstated. Perhaps crops have been allowed to grow over a footpath or bridleway.

The law states that farmers should "avoid cultivating a cross-field footpath or bridleway", but, if they have to cultivate they must make sure the footpath or bridleway "remains apparent on the ground to at least the minimum width of 1 metre for a footpath or 2 metres for a bridleway, and is not obstructed by crops".

They must also ensure that the public right of way "is restored to at least the minimum width so that it’s reasonably convenient to use within 14 days of first being cultivated for that crop and 24 hours of any subsequent cultivation, unless a longer period has been agreed in advance in writing by the highway authority".

A growing number of fellow walkers who download and follow our walks have taken on to report overgrown or blocked paths, broken signs, rotten footbridges directly to the council. Together we are working to keep our wonderful Hertfordshire footpaths, bridleways, and byways open for the enjoyment of all.

Golf courses

We have added a note to all walks that cross golf courses via public rights of way so that those walkers who want to avoid them can do so. If you are shouted at or abused when crossing a golf course please report the incident to the HCC ROW team and they will look into it.

Treating boots

It's important to wash and treat boots, especially after walking through mud

If you have been walking in muddy conditions it's worth taking time to clean your boots in order to remove any mud that has built up, then treat the boots with a good quality protection. Caked mud can lead to the boots cracking, especially leather boots, so the sooner you wipe it off then feed the leather, or in the case of fabric boots treat the fabric, the better.

We love hearing from people who have enjoyed our walks. Please leave a comment in the box beneath every walk. You might have spotted a mistake in my directions, or you might have a suggestion to make about the route, or some other information to share about the local history or environment. All contributions are welcome. Comments are pre-moderated, so there will be a delay in your comments going live.

If you are on Facebook, please also consider joining our friendly and helpful members-only Hertfordshire Walker Facebook Group where people are sharing photographs and comments about the walks they do. It's also the place to find Hertfordshire walking groups open to new members. Everyone is welcome.

Layers on maps

A follower of our walks has just contacted me as follows. "Love your walks thank you BUT my Google maps constantly shows the outline of Hertfordshire and all the walks now. Any idea how to remove them".

If you are also experiencing this problem it's easy to fix. The issue is to do with map 'layers'. At some point the person will have viewed a Google map I created showing all the starting points for all the walks on our site. Doing so has created a 'layer' with all that data superimposed on their Google maps.

If you have the same problem it's easy to turn off - as it is for any 'layer' that might be on your map.

There are two screenshots below. The first, the green one, shows a Google map with our Hertfordshire Walker 'layer' showing all the starting points. To the right near the top is the layers icon, which I have circled in orange with an orange arrow pointing at it. Click that.

The layer button circled in orange

You will then see a second screen (the one with the grey top) showing map types, map details, and 'Explore'. Under Explore will be the Hertfordshire Walker layer (which I have circled in orange). Click that layer, then click the X at the top to the right of map type and the Hertfordshire Walker layer will disappear.

Turn off the layer, circled in orange

There are social share buttons on every walk. If you liked the ramble, please consider sharing your experience and letting others know.

About this site

You can find out who is behind this site along with some tips for preparing for the walks by visiting our about page. Information about the content that appears on the site is set out on our copyright page.

Site Information

Welcome to Hertfordshire Walker

CPRE Hertfordshire double award winner 2022