Hertfordshire Way

6 January 2024 - Hitchin to Whitwell

On Saturday we started in Hitchin and made our way through somewhat muddy and waterlogged countryside to Whitwell, via Great Wymondley and St Paul’s Walden. As well as some great views, along the way we passed plenty of history including the remnants of a motte and bailey, ruins of 14th century Minsden Chapel and fossil-rich Hill End Chalk Pit.

3 February 2024 - Whitwell to Wheathampstead

On Saturday we covered the 9.5 miles from Whitwell to Wheathampstead, via Codicote and Ayot St Lawrence. We enjoyed open countryside, woodland, impressive churches, a historic bridge, snowdrops, modified cars, a cosy pub stop, tiny ponies and a secret zoo! Thanks to Lindsay for leading the route!

2 March 2024 - Wheathampstead to St Albans

Hertfordshire Way or Hertfordshire wade?! On Saturday we negotiated paths more akin to rivers on our walk from Wheathampstead to St Albans!

The sun finally started shining though and we enjoyed some beautiful scenery and villages before finishing by St Albans’ magnificent cathedral. Thanks to Paul for leading the 10.5 mile route!

6 April 2024 - St Albans to Markyate

We hoped to avoid flooded paths this time but the River Ver had other ideas! With some scavenged logs and a bit of teamwork everyone managed to get across without getting too wet!

This section from St Albans to Markyate featured plenty of varied and pretty countryside, including a stop at Redbournbury Watermill for baked goods made with their local flour. Thanks to Alastair for leading the route!

4 May 2024 - Markyate to Tring Station

Part 5 of our Hertfordshire Way challenge complete!

We enjoyed the fantastic weather on Saturday as we walked between Markyate and Tring to kick off the bank holiday weekend!

It was a lovely scenic route with rolling fields, bluebells, bright yellow rapeseed, wild garlic-filled woodland, a deer herd and the always impressive @ashridgent estate along the way.

Thanks to Hannah for leading the route, plus the drivers who helped with shuttles between the start and end points!

1 June 2024 - Tring Station to Hemel

Part 6 of our Hertfordshire Way challenge complete!

We enjoyed castles, canals and countryside on Saturday as we walked between Tring Station and Hemel Hempstead!

As well as the ancient Berkhamsted Castle, even more history was seen as we passed WW1 training trenches. We also managed to fit in a couple of pub stops along the way!

Thanks to Thomas for leading the route!

6 July 2024 - Hemel to Kings Langley

It certainly felt like summer was over as rain and mud were back as we made our way through the countryside from Hemel Hempstead to Kings Langley!

We enjoyed some woodland wandering, as well as a pub stop in Chipperfield during a brief period of sunshine!

Thanks to Paul for leading the walk!

3 August 2024 - Kings Langley to Radlett

Good weather was back as we headed from Kings Langley to Radlett on another varied section, which took in the most southerly point of the long distance trail.

We had a welcome pub stop at @theroundbushpub and encountered an unexpected footpath user in the form of an escaped cow!

Thanks to Greg for leading the walk!

7 September 2024 - Radlett to Potters Bar

Part 9 of our Hertfordshire Way challenge complete!

On Saturday we tackled the 11.5 miles from Radlett to Potters Bar, including a picnic stop at Shenley Park and a pub stop at The Black Horse in South Mimms.

Big thanks to Chris for leading the walk, his first time leading for us! It’s always great to have a member volunteer to lead for the first time!

5 October 2024 - Potters Bar to Cuffley

Part 10 of our Hertfordshire Way challenge complete!

On Saturday we tackled the 7 miles from Potters Bar to Cuffley, including a pleasant stretch across a former golf course and a part of Morven Park, followed by a 5-mile extension for seven of the group through Northaw Great Wood Country Park and Home Wood.

Thanks to Gavin for leading the walk and arranging a pre-walk breakfast meet!

2 November 2024 - Cuffley to Broxbourne

Part 11 of our Hertfordshire Way challenge complete!

On Saturday we walked 12 miles between Cuffley and Broxbourne, part of the Herts Way ‘extension’ route. It took us through the Broxbourne Woods National Nature Reserve, which offered up fantastic autumnal scenes.

Thanks to Greg for leading! The next section is on 7th December from Broxbourne to Ware, booking and details on Meetup.

7 December 2024 - Broxbourne to Ware

Despite Storm Darragh's best efforts to blow us off course, we celebrated the upcoming 12 days of Christmas with stage 12 of the Hertfordshire Way!

Starting off from Broxbourne station, our courageous walkers followed the New River Path to the River Lee Valley and onto Stanstead Abbots.

Onto Ash Valley, we went for a bit of shelter and a well-earned lunch. Afterwards, we walked to Amwell Nature Reserve and to see the grave of the 1924 100m Olympics gold medalist Harold Abrahams. Finally, we moved on to our finishing line in Ware.

Thank you very much to our brave walk leader, Emily!

4 January 2025 - Ware to Bayford

13 might be unlucky for some, but not for Stag Walkers as we completed stage 13 of the Hertfordshire Way from Ware to Bayford!

Starting along the River Lee Navigation from Ware to Hertford, a good spot for pubs and coffee shops, along the path parallel with a railway line that took us towards Bayford. After finding a spot for lunch, the tour took us back towards Hertford through some beautiful winter woodland onto the River Lea.

Onto the edge of Hertfordbury, we picked up the Cole Green Way, which used to be a railway line. This guided us back to Hertford, where we had a well-earned drink at the Hertford Bell.

Thank you very much to Hannah for leading the walk!

1 February 2025 - Bayford Circular

Last Saturday, we completed stage 14 of the Hertfordshire Way with a circular of Bayford!

Starting along the Hertfordshire Chain Walk, we headed to the valley of Ponsbourne Park, where we hopped onto the Hertfordshire Way at Newgate Street.

Once, at the top of the hill, there was plenty of farmland to walk through with beautiful views over Northaw Great Wood and London beyond. After this, our walkers got a well-earned break from the mud with a patch of block paving through Warrenwood Manor and Stud Farm.

Travelling along brooks and streams, we headed towards the isolated hamlet of West End, where we stopped for a bit of lunch and then a pub stop at The Candlestick pub. We had some greetings from some of the local animal residents, wishing us well for the remaining part of the leg!

The last part of stage 14 took us through the villages of Essenden and Little Berkhamsted. If you look carefully enough, you can see the Stratton's Tower, a local landmark before arriving back in Bayford at our starting point.

Thank you very much to Al Maceachern for leading the walk!

1 March 2025 - Hertford to Wadesmill

Last Saturday, we completed stage 15 of the Hertfordshire Way from Hertford to Wadesmill!

We started at Hertford Station, before heading north towards the Courtyard Art Centre. This fascinating place has a striking mural of Van Gogh hiking through allotments and countryside in Britain. The art is a commemoration of Van Gogh's reported journey to visit his sister in Welwyn Garden City.

We later joined a beautiful stretch of the River Beane, where we had our lunch stop and a bonus selection of sweet treats from our birthday girl, Sarah!

Woodall Park was our next point of interest, home to a Grade 1 listed neo-classical mansion built in the 18th century. It has been a school since the 1930s. Our Stags got something different to climb over with a ladder stile to exit the grounds (with an excellent vantage point for views). Our final stretch covered farmland until we arrived in Wadesmill and our pub stop at Feathers Inn Hotel.

A big thank you to first time walk leader, John!

7 April 2025 - Wadesmill to Much Hadham

Last Saturday, the sun was on full view as we completed Stage 16 of the Hertfordshire Way from Wadesmill to Much Hadham!

Starting in Wadesmill, we picked up the trail and ventured through some amazing scenery, including relaxing rivers, whimsical woodlands and charming churches.

We had our lunch stop in the quaint village of Widford, before making our way to The Bull at Much Hadham for a well earned pub garden drink!

A big thanks to Greg for leading the walk!

3 May 2025 - Much Hadham to Bishop's Stortford

Last Saturday, we completed Stage 17 of the Hertfordshire Way, taking in the sights from Much Hadham to Bishops Stortford!

Starting from Much Hadham, a village that is around 1,100 years old, we took 'Rightmove' searching on foot as we saw some beautiful rural houses. We then crossed the River Ash and into the hamlet of Perry Green, where we saw an exhibit of Henry Moore sculptures that are permanently situated in the grounds of what was his garden.

We stopped for lunch at the village green in Green Tye before heading through farmland (and meeting a very chilled pony) south of Bury Green and arriving in Bishops Stortford. This is where we finished with a drink at Beer Shop.

A big thanks to Alastair for leading the walk!

7 June 2025 - Stortford to Buntingford

Saturday last week, we completed a 'thunderous' stage 18 of the Hertfordshire Way!

Starting from the edge of Bishop’s Stortford, we headed straight to the parish of Little Hadham and Church End, where we stopped for a look inside the little St Cecilia's Church. Next on our walk was the Hadham Hall estate, dating as far back as the 11th century, now utilised as a residential development. We enjoyed views over Albury as we reached Patmore Heath, a grassland nature reserve, which made for a lovely lunch stop. We then had a pub stop at The Catherine Wheel, Albury.

As we approached Mutfords Farm, we got to see the house Martin Freeman's character Arthur Dent used in the modern film adaptation of The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Before finishing the walk, we took shelter from an incoming thunderstorm, a treat for enthusiasts! The last part of the stage took us off the Hertfordshire Way for today and onto the Greenwich Meridian Trail past Alswick Hall. We were welcomed by some grazing sheep as we came into Buntingford via a wildlife area and recreation ground.

A big thanks to Al for leading the walk!

5 July 2025 - Buntingford to Reed

Last Saturday, we completed Stage 19 of the Hertfordshire Way!

We started in Buntingford, an old market town that developed along Ermine Street - the Roman road once connecting London to York. We got a view of some period buildings that give the town a very historic feel. Next on this stage was the hamlet of Hare Street and Great Hormead. Here, we visited St Nicholas Church before stopping for lunch in Anstey’s village park. We got to view an old airfield in Nuthampstead before a refreshing drink at The Blind Fiddler in Anstey.

We bumped into a very friendly ginger cat who wanted to lead his own future walks and some foals who would rather we came to live with them! Continuing westward, we passed across farmland towards Barkway, noted for its thatched roofs and characterful village pond. The final stage took us into Reed, and the centrally located and beautiful village cricket green, a serene, quintessential English setting.

A big thanks to John for leading the walk!

2 August 2025 - Royston Circular

Last Saturday, we headed for Royston to complete stage 20 of the Hertfordshire Way!

We started at Royston Civic Centre, heading out into the countryside towards the small village of Reed, passing beautiful hilly landscapes. This led us nicely to Newsells Park Stud and our arrival in Reed. The village sits on a chalk ridge south of Royston; after a steep climb to the top of the ridge, views across to at the Cambridge and Ely were an eye to behold. After our lunch stop, we said goodbye for now to the Hertfordshire Way as we ventured in the direction of Reed End and Therfield. This is where we had the first of our pub stops at the Fox and Duck.

We set off back onto the Hertfordshire Way as we headed to Therfield Heath across some grassy plains used for training racehorses. We came across a rather unusual place for a stile that definitely had more stile than substance! We also passed through the local nature reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. We finished the walk back in Royston and a 2nd pub stop at The Jolly Postie, Royston.

A big thanks to Hannah for leading the walk!

6 September 2025 - Baldock to Royston

Last Saturday, we were jumping in a Roe as we completed the penultimate stage of our Hertfordshire Way tour!

We started outside Baldock station, where we joined the Icknield Way, passing through glorious fields up towards the Hertfordshire Way on the chalk ridge at Clothall. Next was the village of Wallington, where the late George Orwell lived from 1936 to 1940. He also ran a village shop from his home to fund his writing endeavours, including The Road to Wigan Pier and Homage to Catalonia, and is thought to have based the setting of Animal Farm on Manor Farm in the village.

We stopped for lunch on the peaceful Roe Green, where our group photo shows us jumping for joy! We rejoined the Icknield Way to lead us to Kelshall, Sandon where there was an interesting looking church without a spire and Therfield, where we had a refreshing stop at @foxandduckherts. After this, we headed onwards to our final destination in Royston.

A big thanks to Emily for leading the walk!

4 October 2025 - Baldock to Hitchin

For one last time, we completed the final leg of our Herts Way tour with Stage 22!

We started in Baldock, where we passed the Holy Trinity Church where Jack O'Legs was supposedly buried. Jack was reputed to be a giant and Hertfordshire’s own Robin Hood. Arrested for stealing and sentenced to death by the bakers of Baldock, his last wish was to shoot an arrow from his bow and be buried where it landed. His arrow apparently flew three miles, glancing off the church tower before hitting the ground. We headed through a remnant of a medieval deer park, Weston Park, and then Warrens Green to join the Stevenage Outer Orbital Path. Here, we visited the site of Chesfield, a deserted village, where we got to see the remains of St. Etheldreda's Church.

Next on the way was Graveley via Forster Country, named after EM Forster, who lived in the area and was the author of novels including Howards End, The Machine Stops and A Passage to India. Here, we stopped for drinks at The Waggon, Graveley. After this, we headed for the final leg of Stage 22, rejoining the Stevenage Outer Orbital Path towards Hitchin. We detoured off the Herts Way itself and joined the Hitchin Outer Orbital Path, where we headed through Purwell Meadows to our finish point at Hitchin Railway Station. To celebrate the end of the Hertfordshire Way tour, some of us stopped off at The Radcliffe Arms for a meal and a toast!

A big thanks to Gavin for leading our final Hertfordshire Way Stage!