Halloween Hike from Watton-at-Stone (9 miles / 14.5km - Leisurely, Booking Required)

This walk is for up to 30 people, including the leader.

A Halloween-themed walk in rural East Hertfordshire, visiting a wood which was supposedly home to a witch and a pub said to be haunted by the ghost of a highwayman. The route is along quiet roads, farm tracks, woodland paths and old sunken byways, and has some gentle slopes. Some paths may be muddy after rain, so walking boots are recommended.

From our start point next to Watton-at-Stone railway station we immediately enter the countryside and head southwards to Great Gobions Farm along country lanes and field-edge bridleways. We can enjoy wide views over the rolling landscape before we come to Bramfield Woods, a series of mixed woodlands where we’ll hope to see some autumn colour. We’ll stop for a morning snack break in the woods, next to a large pit which in the 18th century was home to an alleged witch named Sally Rainbow.

After passing through the little village of Bramfield, we turn westwards to walk through Bramfield Park Wood, then go north and uphill to Queen Hoo Hall. This is an impressive Tudor country house with a great view over the Mimram valley. Next we come to Brickground Wood; a post at the edge of this wood marks the spot where in 1782 the highwayman Walter Clibbon was shot and his body buried after an attempted robbery. His ghost is said to haunt the the old pub nearby, The Horns at Bull’s Green. We’ll have our packed lunch break on the green and those not afraid of ghosts have the option of a drink from the pub.

The last part of our walk takes us through fields where we might see some horses, before further sections of woodland give way to open countryside with scenic views. After returning to Watton-at-Stone there’s the chance of a post-walk drink at one of the village pubs, about 10 minutes’ walk from the station.

Dogs are welcome on a lead.

For information about walking with the group, including our dog policy, please visit the Stag Walkers website.

Booking your place: Please book your place using the free Meetup website/app. Join the Stag Walkers Meetup group and click the 'Attend' button on the event page.

Please do not turn up for a walk without booking, as places are limited.

If the walk is fully booked, please click 'join waitlist' then please check back regularly as you will likely get a place. The waitlist gives priority to single bookings so if you wish to bring a guest, we recommend booking separately.

Unless you opt in to further communications, we will only use contact information you provide to get in touch about the walk.