Hitchin - Burymead Springs evening walk + Beer Festival Social (4mi / 6km - Leisurely, Booking Req)

This walk and social is for up to 20 people, including the leader.

Join us for a short evening walk and social event at Hitchin Beer & Cider Festival. 

The walk to the Beer Festival should take about an hour. Starting at Hitchin station, we’ll head through local park Ransom’s Rec, alongside the River Hiz and into Burymead Springs, a small nature reserve with a lagoon where we might spot some bird life. We’ll follow a rural footpath between a willow plantation and an old railway embankment (once part of the disused Hitchin - Bedford line) to reach the edge of Ickleford. At the bridge over the Hiz we’ll turn south and walk along the pavement into Hitchin, stopping at the Rugby Club where the Beer & Cider Festival takes place.

Drinks and food will be available at the Festival. When we’ve had our fill, it’s a walk of about a mile back to the station via Heathfield Avenue and Stormont Road then through Ransom’s Rec again.

About the Festival: Organised by North Herts CAMRA, Hitchin Beer & Cider Festival offers around 200 real ales, ciders, perries and meads, plus food from a variety of vendors. Drinks can be enjoyed in the marquee or on the field. Tickets are £2 + a refundable £3 for a Festival glass (tip: choose a half-pint so you can sample more drinks!).

We recommend buying advance tickets from the CAMRA website (https://tckty.camra.org.uk/e/131/hitchin-beer-cider-festival-2023) - Thursday General Admission tickets are £16 including £10 of drinks tokens.

Dogs are welcome on a lead.

Booking your place: If you would like to join, you must book in advance using the Stag Walkers Meetup group - see Notes for how to book & what to bring. If you are unable to attend, please cancel your booking so that someone else can take your place.

Please do not turn up for a walk without booking, as places are limited. Unless you opt in to further communications, we will only use contact information you provide to get in touch about the walk.

Please car-share or use public transport if possible. To offer a lift or ask for one from a fellow walker, please use the Meetup event page.