Walk 252: Gustard Wood South-East Loop

3.7 miles (5.9 km) with 44m of total ascent

Wheathampstead footpath 42

This is a lovely walk exploring the countryside to the south-east of Gustard Wood near Wheathampstead. We added this short route to the collection because it follows a number of public rights of way not visited by any of our other loops that feature Gustard Wood.

Walk 231: Gustard Wood West Loop

4.7 miles (7.5 km) with 67m of total ascent

Kimpton bridleway 5 approaching point 4

This lovely walk, with some excellent views south over the River Lea valley, includes sections from five other routes in our collection, so regular followers of Hertfordshire Walker might find some of the junctions familiar. However, all the paths that appear in previous routes are walked in reverse, so the views are different and the whole experience feels new. A list of the five walks is included at the foot of these directions.

Walk 224: Ayot St Lawrence West Loop

4.4 miles (7 km) with 65m of total ascent

Kimpton footpath 11 between points 3 & 4

This is a really nice walk exploring a section of the countryside W of Ayot St Lawrence. The route crosses rolling countryside with some great views N following well-defined paths and bridleways. Regular users of our walks will notice that the route revisits rights of way we have used before, but this time walked in the opposite direction.

The route is possible thanks to a landowner allowing a permissive path to link two public rights of way so that walkers can avoid walking alongside a road. The walk starts and finishes at The Brocket Arms in Ayot St Lawrence then passes The Cross Keys at Gustard Wood two thirds of the way round. There is also the possibility of a short detour close to the halfway point to visit The Boot at Kimpton.

Walk 209: Gustard Wood South Loop

4.7 miles (7.6 km) with 89m of total ascent

The footpath between points 21 & 22

This walk starts and finishes at a small car park close to Gustard Wood Common then heads S to Wheathampstead where we detour along the restored platform of the former Wheathampstead station before heading E along the River Lea then N through woodland and across open fields. The route passes The Cross Keys pub at Gustard Wood near the end.

Walk 185: Wheathampstead West Loop

6.5 miles (10.5 km) with 151m of total ascent

The route between points 4 & 5

This lovely walk climbs out of the valley of the River Lea from Wheathampstead up to Gustard Wood and then across undulating countryside with excellent views to the south. The route then drops down to pass through the Batford Springs Nature Reserve before heading back to Wheathampstead along the track of the former Hertford, Luton and Dunstable Railway. There are several pubs at the start and finish point as well as one near the halfway point. The starting point is 2.5 miles E from Harpenden station by road.

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 111: Gustard Wood East Loop

4.3 miles (7 km) with 45m of total ascent

The bridleway between points 1 and 2

A figure-of-eight walk from Ayot St Lawrence to Gustard Wood and back crossing parkland, farmland and woodland. The route is mainly flat with good paths along the way. There is a pub at the start and finish and one at the halfway point. The route passes two historic churches and Shaw's Corner, the home of the late George Bernard Shaw.

Walk 64: Gustard Wood Loop

1.5 miles (2.3 km) with 22m total ascent

The bluebells in Lamer Wood picture taken April 29, 2018

This is a great walk at Easter when wild daffodils spread a yellow carpet either side of the path through Lamer Wood. A few weeks later it’s the turn of the bluebells to flood the area with light blue. Amazing how the same woodland can change so much in the space of a few weeks. All year round it’s a popular spot for woodland birds.