Walk 84: Waterford Heath Loop

Heathland, chalk-bed river, wild flowers, and butterflies

2 miles (3.2 km)

The River Beane on Walk 84: Waterford Heath Loop
Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

This is a short walk through several fascinating geological areas including an old quarry which is now a nature reserve, marshland alongside a rare chalk-bed river, and deep woodland. It has a fair amount of up and down as you loop across heaths, down to the river, and back up through the woods. There is a free car park, well-marked paths, but, unusually for this collection of walks, there are no pubs or refreshment stops along the way, so do take water and a snack if you intend to make a day of it. There is an elevated picnic table three quarters of the way round affording great views.

Walk 83: North Mymms S Long Loop

Hilly, with pine woods, and a remote valley

4.20 miles (6.8 km)

The footpath through Mymmshall Wood - August 2018
Image by Hertfordshire Walker, released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

This is a gentle walk that starts and finishes at St Mary's Church, North Mymms, heads south climbing up through Cangsley Grove, crosses a quiet valley at Potwells, continues up through pine woodland in Redwell and Mymmshall Wood, then sweeps back passing an old well and windpump that once served the nearby farms and houses. There is a five minute stretch alongside the A1 (M), and then the path crosses a field where (sometimes) there is a bull warning (we have never encountered a bull in 20+ years). If there is a bull in the field you can always take the alternative lane route marked in red on the map below.

Walk 82: Kimpton N Short Loop

Wide open landscape, wonderful views

5 miles (8 km)

Footpath along walk 82 the Kimpton N Short Loop

Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

If you want a walk over open fields with great views of the rolling Hertfordshire countryside, then this route is ideal. It starts in the village of Kimpton, heads north to the outskirts of Whitwell, then returns following a circular route. The walk follows well-marked paths and is mostly along remote tracks apart from the start and finish in Kimpton and a short stretch as you pass Whitwell.

Walk 81: Wormley Wood Loop

Shady woodland walking, ideal for a hot sunny day 

2.5 miles (4 km)

The sign at the entrance to Wormley Wood
Image by Hertfordshire Walker, released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

A great walk for those hot sunny days when you want to escape the sun and enjoy a good ramble in the shade. Plenty of up and down along the way, with loads of bridges, elevated walkways and stairs. See if you can spot the painted logs on the right of the path between points 2 & 3. When we walked the route in August there were quite a few midges and flies bugging us, but we always carry insect repellant and didn't get bitten. Unlike most of our walks this one doesn't pass by a pub, so take refreshments with you. There is a picnic table at the end just before you reach the car park. Wormley Wood is managed by the Woodland Trust.

Walk 80: Panshanger Park Long Loop

Wonderful parkland, shaded woodland, river walking, history

4.75 miles (7.64 km)

This is an excellent walk through Panshanger Park. It combines three loops to create an undulating, varied, and fascinating stroll through former parkland, a walk along a rare chalk river (one of only 180 on the planet), quarries now taken over by nature, some historical remains from the former country estate, and a visit to the largest 'maiden' or clear-stemmed oak in the country, which is thought to be more than 500 years old.