Stag Walkers Social: Hexton Manor Estate Guided Walk (Ramblers members only)


Join us for a fascinating guided walk in the Hexton Manor Estate to hear about the history of the site and its regeneration into a new National Nature Reserve.

The walk will be led by Holly Bilcock, Senior Reserves Manager for the North Chilterns NNRs at Natural England. This will be a short route of around a couple of miles, with breaks along the way to hear about what’s been happening on site and plans for the future.

Formerly used for game shooting, 586 acres of the Hexton Manor Estate was bought by Natural England in 2023. The land sits between Pegsdon and Barton Hills and the aim is to create a continuous habitat linking these reserves and improve the diversity of species. The location includes woodland, chalk grassland and the site of Ravensburgh Castle, one of the largest Iron Age hill forts in the south of England.

This is a rare opportunity to visit the site which is not yet open for public access.

You can watch a video about nature recovery at Hexton on Youtube.

Please wear suitable footwear as the ground may be uneven in places, with some slopes.

Booking Your Place
 

This event is for up to 20 people including the host and is open to Ramblers members only.

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 without booking, as places are limited.

If the walk is fully booked, click 'join waitlist' to get a place if one becomes available and 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.

Location
 

1 Hexton Road, Hexton, Herts SG5 3JP

The entrance to the Estate is on Hexton Road between the Hexton crossroads and Hexton Chalk Pit. Look out for a gate by a fingerpost for the public bridleway. The gate will be opened at 10.00 then we are to drive to the parking area ready to begin the walk at 10.30.

There is no public transport to Hexton so if you plan to drive please consider offering a lift from your town or places you will pass through on your route.

Meeting time: 10.00
Start time: 10.30

Event Host: Al M

Please:

• DO NOT book onto a walk unless you are pretty sure you will be able to make it.
• UPDATE YOUR RSVP. We understand ‘life happens’ so if you need to change your RSVP please do this at least 24 hours before the walk and before booking closes to enable someone else to take your place.
• DON’T NO-SHOW on the day unless it is absolutely unavoidable (we do understand ‘life happens’) because it prevents others from enjoying a walk if it is fully booked.
• *TAKE NOTE that if you no-show three times, without extenuating circumstances, we will decline further bookings from you for a period of six weeks.*
• DO 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.
• BRING a snack and drinks, appropriate clothing for the conditions and optionally a basic first aid kit.
• FOLLOW NHS guidelines and do not attend the walk if you are unwell.

About the organisers
Stag Walkers is a Ramblers group aimed mainly at people in their 20s and 30s but all are welcome and we have members of all ages. We run weekly walks, on Saturdays or Sundays, varying in length from around 5 to 15 miles, and we host regular social nights. Walks and socials generally take place across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and south Cambridgeshire.

This event is open to Ramblers members only. For details of how to join Ramblers and how much it costs please visit: www.ramblers.org.uk/stag-walkers

The Ramblers' Association is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Company registration number: 4458492. Registered Charity in England and Wales number: 1093577. Registered office: The Ramblers, Stone King LLP, Boundary House, 91 Charterhouse Street, London, EC1M 6HR