Hitchin - Oughtonhead evening walk + food option (5 miles / 8km - Leisurely, Booking Required)

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

This after-work walk heads through Hitchin to visit Oughtonhead Common nature reserve, returning to town for an optional street-food pub dinner at The Vic.

Setting off from Hitchin station, we’ll cut along a hidden footpath to reach Windmill Hill, where we can pause to admire a view of the town. We’ll walk down the hill and through the historic town centre, joining the route of the Hitchin Outer Orbital Path. The HOOP will take us into the countryside, through farmland to the source of the River Oughton, one of Hertfordshire’s many globally-rare chalk streams.

At golden hour we’ll follow the river through woodland and into the nature reserve, walking through meadows grazed by longhorn cattle. We’ll then return to town, passing Butts Close, Hitchin’s oldest open space - once a sporting ground for archery. 

Near the end of the route back to the station, we have the option to stop at The Victoria Pub for food. The popular pub specialises in street-food style burgers and pizzas, craft beer and real ale - check out the menus here: https://www.thevictoriahitchin.com/

If you’d like to join us at the pub, please indicate this when you RSVP for the walk; if not, the station is just 10 minutes’ walk along the road. 

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.