Walk 285: Preston North Loop

6.6 miles (10.7 km) with 134m of total ascent

Preston bridleway 11 between points 23 & 24

This is a wonderful walk over high rolling countryside with magnificent views. It follows well-defined rights of way including some lovely old tree-lined byways and holloways. The walk starts and finishes at The Red Lion in Preston.

Walk 280: Buntingford North Loop

7.4 miles (11.9 km) with 129m of total ascent

Buntingford bridleway 4 at point 24 in the walk

Another lovely walk in the north-east of the county affording expansive views across rolling countryside. The walk starts in the town of Buntingford then heads west via Throcking then east via Chipping before passing through Wyddial then returning to Buntingford. You will cross the River Rib twice.

Walk 260: Bedmond North-West Loop

5.7 miles (9.1 km) with 149m of total ascent

The path through Long Deans near the end of the walk

This is a wonderful walk which crosses rolling countryside on well-marked footpaths and bridleways. It winds through two beauty spots Bunkers Park and Long Deans and passes Blackwater Wood which was carpeted in bluebells when we tested the walk in April 2024.

Walk 251: Pegsdon Hills Loop

3.5 miles (5.6 km) with 131m of total ascent

Shillington footpath 17 at the top of the Pegsdon Hills

This walk is the fourth in our collection exploring the Pegsdon Hills. It starts in the hamlet of Pegsdon in Bedfordshire, passes the Knocking Hoe Nature Reserve which is also in Bedfordshire, before heading south along the Hertfordshire border then climbing to the Pegsdon Hills & Hoo Bit Nature Reserve. About a third of the route is in Hertfordshire.

Walk 249: Stevenage to Welwyn North Linear

8.6 miles (13.8km) with 141m of total ascent

Knebworth footpath 25 approaching point 7

This linear walk includes stretches of attractive woodland and wide open countryside with excellent views. As with all our station-to-station walks the route starts and finishes in urban areas. You will cross the A1(M) and the East Coast Mainline twice which means you will be aware of traffic and train noise for much of the route. However, despite that, the walk is a really enjoyable route and there are some lovely stretches that are worth the effort.

Walk 241: Pirton South-West Loop

6.2 miles (10 km) with 143m total ascent

Pirton footpath 7 between points 4 & 5

Another excellent walk over the rolling hills in the north of Hertfordshire and west of Hitchin. This is a lovely route offering some wonderful wide open views along the way. It starts and finishes at Pirton then heads SW before looping back across the Pegsdon Hills along a section of The Icknield Way. Soon after the start you will cross an area of land that was once a mediaeval village.

Walk 240: Hexton South-West Loop

6.6 miles (10.7km) with 138m of total ascent

Barton Hills Nature Reserve from the bridleway at point 12

This is a lovely walk in late July when the hedgerows are ablaze with wildflowers, and butterflies flutter around as you walk. The majority of the route is like walking through a natural garden, particularly between points 4-6, 9-10, and 12-14.

This is our second walk from the village of Hexton, and, as with the other walk, Walk 237: Hexton South-East Loop, it involves a fair amount of up and down. The walk starts from The Raven pub in Hexton then heads south before turning west and crossing the border into Bedfordshire. It then turns north to explore the Barton Hills then looping back via Barton-le-Clay. A little more than half the walk is in Bedfordshire.

Walk 237: Hexton South-East Loop

5.7 miles (9.3km) with 140m of total ascent

Hexton footpath 2 between points 14 & 15

This is an excellent walk from the village of Hexton. It starts and finishes at The Raven pub/restaurant before crossing the border into Bedfordshire then following a section of The Chiltern Way over the Pegsdon Hills. The route then loops back along part of The Icknield Way before returning to Hexton along a lovely path between Lion Hill and Moor Hill, see image above.

Walk 232: Watton-at-Stone to Welwyn North Linear

5.3 miles (8.5 km) with 135m of total ascent

The lane between points 2 & 3

This is a lovely station-to-station linear walk which starts and Watton-at-Stone Station then heads south-west via Brickground Wood and Tewin Wood before dropping down to Welwyn North Station. It is one of 15 linear walks on the site which have been created for those who prefer to leave the car at home and travel by public transport. The White Horse at Burnham Green is a 380m detour about two-thirds of a way along the walk. You will cross one livestock field where there are signs asking dog owners to keep their pets on the lead.

Walk 218: Dane End South-East Loop

5.7 miles (9.2 km) with 128m of total ascent

The route between points 14 & 15

This is a great walk if you don't mind quite a bit of up and down; the reward is being treated to some wide open views across the rolling north Hertfordshire countryside. The climb along a bridleway from Dane End to Whitehill is one of the steepest in our collection of walks, but the panoramic views when you reach the top are worth it.

The route runs along the edge of a golf course and crosses one fairway. There are some signs along the way asking dog owners to keep their pets on a lead. You will pass livestock fields.

Walk 201: Much Hadham North Loop

6.1 miles (9.8 km) with 138m of total ascent

Much Hadham bridleway 5 between points 4 & 5

This is a lovely walk that follows footpaths, bridleways and byways on either side of the River Ash between Much Hadham and Hadham Ford. It involves a fair amount of up and down, but it's worth it for the great views along the way.

Walk 176: Breachwood Green Short Loop

4.3 miles (7km) with 126m of total ascent

The view approaching point 6 in the walk

We created this walk following a request for a shorter version of Walk 172, the Breachwood Green NE Loop (6.1 miles). This route misses out the hamlet of Ley Green and, instead, cuts through the beautiful Kingswalden Park. There are an estimated 300 oak trees in the park, many about 400 years old. One is called the Domesday Oak because it is thought to be more than 1,000 years old.

This walk across the rolling Chiltern Hills - be ready for some steep up and down - starts and finishes at The Red Lion in Breachwood Green, where we have enjoyed refreshments on previous walks. You will hear the sound of air traffic taking off and landing at nearby Luton airport, but it's worth putting up with for the views across open countryside that this walk offers.

Walk 169: Burn's Green North Loop

6.2 miles (10.1km) with 129m of total ascent

Benington restricted byway 39 towards the end of the walk

This is a lovely walk which starts and finishes at the Lordship Arms in Burn's Green. It follows footpaths, bridleways, and byways over rolling countryside with wide open views across north Hertfordshire.

Walk 168: Baldock South-East Loop

8.7 miles (14 km) with 133m of total ascent

 

This walk includes parts of a shorter walk on this site, Walk 125: Weston NE Loop, with the added advantage of starting and finishing at the Weston Hills nature reserve where there is a small car park off Chalk Hills (location - https://w3w.co/tiger.hurray.dose). We have embedded an information brochure at the bottom of these directions showing all the paths in the reserve.

Walk 160: Chenies Loop

6.1 miles (9.9km) with 148m of total ascent

 

This is one of only two walks on this site which don't start in Hertfordshire. We've added this one because we wanted to explore further along the Chess Valley and extend an earlier walk, The Sarratt West Loop.

This walk starts in the Buckinghamshire village of Chenies then follows two long-distance paths, The Chiltern Heritage Trail and The Chess Valley Walk as it loops into Hertfordshire before returning along the River Chess. There are two pubs close to the start and finish point, The Red Lion and The Bedford Arms, both in Chenies, and another pub, The Cock Inn, in Sarratt, Hertfordshire, two-thirds of the way around.

Walk 153: Breachwood Green South Loop

5.8 miles (9.4 km) with 138m of total ascent

St Paul's Walden UCR1 heading SW

We really enjoyed this walk because of the mix of wide byways, winding footpaths, and quiet country lanes - with great views throughout. There is a pub, The Red Lion, close to the start and finish point, and a pub, The Bright Star, at the halfway point.

Walk 148: Jockey End South Loop

6.2 miles (10.1 km) with 137m of total ascent

The footbridge over the River Gade between points 7 & 8

This walk has a pleasant mix of some great tree-lined byways as well as footpaths that cross fields which, when we visited in July, were ablaze with wild flowers. The walk starts in Jockey End where there are parking options along Gaddesden Row, please check that parking restrictions haven't been introduced since this walk was published. You will cross the River Gade twice.

Walk 147: Water End North-East Loop

6.1 miles (9.8 km) with 130m of total ascent

Great Gaddesden footpath 35 between points 4 & 5

This walk explores the area around Water End and Briden's Camp following footpaths, bridleways, and byways through rolling countryside with open views. It passes two pubs. Some paths will be muddy after rain.

Walk 141: Nuthampstead North-West Loop

7.6 miles (12.3 km) with 141m of total ascent

The route between points 8 and 9

This walk starts in the village of Nuthampstead. During WWII the area had an airbase which was home to the 55th Fighter Group and subsequently the 398th Bombardment Group of the U.S. Army Air Forces. Our route heads NW through Barkway, which is mentioned in The Domesday book as Birchwig, meaning Birch Way. The village has a number of buildings dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. The walk then passes through Newsells Park before heading E and returning via the village of Barley.

Walk 135: Shenley East Loop

5.7 miles (9.2 km) with 137m of total ascent

Shenley bridleway 38 towards the end of the walk

This walk starts in Shenley Park, which has a car park and a Cafe in the Orchard. The car park has an overflow section if it is busy. A sign states that the park is open all year round, but best check opening times on the park’s website. This walk includes a 2.2km section of another walk in our collection, Walk 133: Ridge W Loop (5.1 miles), but in this walk that shared section is walked in reverse, so you can enjoy it from another perspective. Along the way you pass two WWII pillboxes, part of the Outer London Defence Ring.