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.

Walk 293: Hexton Long Loop

7.9 miles (12.7 km) with 153m of total ascent

The Icknield Way soon after point 19 in the walk

This is a lovely walk which criss-crosses the border between Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire four times as we explore parts of the Barton Hills and Pegsdon Hills which were not visited on our two previous route in the area. The new route combines parts of the two shorter walks but follows different paths and the previously walked paths are walked in reverse. If you are planning to try this route make sure you pick a dry and clear day, preferably with sunny skies because the views are wonderful.

Walk 283: Much Hadham West Loop

7.4 miles (11.9 km) with 104m of total ascent

The view as you leave Much Hadham

This is a great walk for those who enjoy wide open views across rolling countryside well away from traffic and people. At times all you will hear is birdsong and the occasional plane overhead. There is a good mix of footpaths, bridleways and byways with some shaded stretches.

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 258: Wheathampstead South-East Loop

7.7 miles (12.3 km) with 114m of total ascent

Bluebells along Devil's Dyke between points 30 & 31

This is a lovely varied route that includes riverside and woodland walking as well as stretches across open rolling countryside. It involves several rights of way which are included in other walks in our collection but links them in a new loop which passes along footpath and bridleways not visited before. There is a small amount of lane walking.

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 229: Baldock NE Loop

7.4 miles (12 km) with 102m of total ascent

Photograph taken along the route
Image courtesy of Norman Osland

This is an excellent walk for those who like wide open uninterrupted views across undulating countryside. For most of the way the route follows well-defined tracks, although there are a few sections where footpaths cross arable fields which might be tough going after ploughing and before the paths are reinstated.

Walk 213: Buntingford East Long Loop

7.1 miles (11.5 km) with 157m of total ascent

A bridleway on the return leg to Buntingford

This walk has a fair amount of up and down and offers some great open views across the north Hertfordshire Countryside. You will cross the River Rib and the River Quin twice.

This is a longer version of another walk in our collection and shares the same lanes and paths for 900m at the start before branching off on rights of way which we have previously not featured. There is also one section where you will be walking along footpaths and byways which we have walked before but in the opposite direction, so the views are completely different.

Walk 199: Knebworth North-West Long Loop

7.6 miles (12.3km) with 153m of total ascent

The gate at point 15 in the walk

This is a lovely walk across the rolling countryside north-west of Knebworth. We have created a shorter version of this route, Walk 255: Knebworth North-West Short Loop which is 5.4 miles (8.7 km) with 101m of total ascent.

This longer route follows well-defined paths over open farmland and passes through deep woodland where you will pass ancient burial mounds from the Bronze Age and Roman period. The walk starts and finishes at Knebworth train station and has been added to our list of station-to-station linear walks for those who want to access walks via public transport rather than taking a car.

Walk 183: Walkern South Loop

7.1 miles (11.4 km) with 105m of total ascent

Walkern footpath 41 soon after the start of the walk

A wonderful walk through the rolling countryside to the S and W of Walkern, a village which appeared in the Domesday book of 1086 as Walchra. The route heads SW to Aston End and then to Aston before returning along footpaths following the banks of the River Beane. There are pubs at Aston End and Aston and two in Walkern close to the start/finish point. The starting point is 4.7 miles ENE from Stevenage station by road.

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 155: Ickleford Loop

7.5 miles (12 km) with 58m of total ascent

Pirton footpath 5 between points 2 & 3

This walk is mainly flat, following well-defined paths across the rolling countryside of northwest Hertfordshire. The route crosses Toot Hill motte and bailey castle and shrunken medieval village at Pirton, passes three pubs, and is close to two more. We have marked a well-positioned bench at roughly the halfway mark which makes an ideal spot for a picnic.

Walk 154: Whitwell Loop

7.2 miles (11.5 km) with 188m of total ascent

St Paul's Walden restricted byway at point 7

This walk circles the village of Whitwell, following footpaths, bridleways, and byways, over rolling hills with views across open countryside. It has a fair amount of up and down as it crosses the River Mimram twice before dropping down towards Kimpton then looping back. The walk starts and finishes at The Bull Inn, Whitwell, then passes close to The Strathmore Arms at St Paul's Walden.

Walk 146: Flamstead West Loop

8.6 miles (13.8 km) with 179m of total ascent

Flamstead footpath 47 between points 7 & 8

This is an excellent walk that starts along narrow footpaths and continues along bridleways with wide, open views across the north-west Hertfordshire countryside. There is some great scenery and, when we walked in July 2021 the hedgerows were ablaze with wild flowers. There is a short stretch of lane walking between points 16 and 17, but it's a quiet lane and we were passed by one car only.

Walk 143: Wheathampstead North Loop

7.1 miles (11.5 km) with 99m of total ascent

The bridleway between points 6 & 7

This is one of our favourite walks in the collection. It starts in the village of Wheathampstead which has several cafes and restaurants and three pubs. There is a car park which, at the time of writing, is free of charge. The route follows the Lea Valley Walk before following a disused railway branch line, the Ayot Greenway, then looping round to the north passing close to two more pubs before returning to Wheathampstead.

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 132: Sandridge South-West Loop

8.1 miles (13 km) with 131m of total ascent

A bridleway along the route

A walk from Heartwood Forest in Sandridge heading south through the fruit farm at Hawkswick Lodge, on down to Batchwood, across the golf course, up through Childwickbury, then back via the Magical Wood and Langley Wood. This walk offers a mix of walking through woodland, parkland, and across fields with wide open views on all sides. There is the option of refreshments at three pubs in Sandridge at the end of the walk.

Walk 130: Furneux Pelham North Loop

Walk details currently being updated

Countryside & Rights of Way Service volunteers repairing a ROW

We are currently rerouting this walk to avoid a permanently flooded right-of-way (ROW). Apologies for any inconvenience caused. Please choose one of our other free walks. We will update this page when the route has been amended. Thanks for your patience.

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Walk 125: Weston North-East Loop

7.2 miles (11.6 km) with 137m of total ascent

 

This is an excellent walk over the undulating countryside of north Hertfordshire. It follows well-defined byways and footpaths offering open views on all sides. You pass through the graveyard of the Grade 1 listed Holy Trinity Church, Weston, where you might be able to spot the grave of Jack O'Legs, who is said to have robbed from the rich to give to the poor. We have embedded a document about the history of Weston at the foot of the walk directions.

Walk 118: Dane End North-East Loop

7.2 miles (11.6km) with 134m of total ascent

Scene from Walk 118 at point 9

This is a really good walk across the rolling countryside of north-east Hertfordshire following wooded byways, bridleways and footpaths with clear views across open fields. There are one or two paths across fields that can be muddy after being ploughed, in particular the paths between points seven and eight and nine and 10. We recommend you take a compass and map on all our walks. This walk shares a short section with walk 117 in this series.