Hitchin & Preston Bluebell Woods (11 miles / 17km - Moderate, Booking Required)

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

A walk exploring the countryside south of Hitchin and taking in two of the area's best bluebell woods. The bluebells have flowered very early this year, so we will have likely missed their peak but hopefully some purple will still be on display for us to enjoy!

We'll leave town via Hitchin Hill, offering the first views of the day, and gradually track our way higher on footpaths and bridleways towards the pretty village of Preston, which we'll retun to later in the walk. From here we'll head to Hitch Wood, one of North Herts' best-known bluebell woods, passing bright yellow rapeseed fields on the way. After taking in a loop of the woodland, hopefully with some spring colours remaining, we'll stop for a packed lunch on the edge of the wood.

After lunch we'll carefully follow country roads back to Preston for a stop at The Red Lion, the village's community-run pub. Suitably refreshed, we'll walk through the lesser-visited but equally scenic Wain Wood, which has historical links to 17th century author and Baptist preacher John Bunyan, who preached to thousands here in the open air. Our return journey will provide views over Hitchin as we cross rolling farmland and skirt the hamlet of Charlton, before making our way back through town.

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.