There are also walking loops off the Nickey Line that take you to Rothampsted Park and Rothampsted Estate if you prefer more of a circular walk. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Our activities include: Herts Weekend Walkers (HWW for short) is aimed at people in their 40s & 50s who are normally working during the week and can usually only find time to get outside and enjoy a walk at the weekend. Kings Langley6.5 milesThis third route option is basically an epic adventure in the countryside around the village of Kings Langley. 6. Refreshments: The Bull, Cottered, Cottered6 milesThis fourth option is basically a longer extension of the third route option. The Hertfordshire walks listed below range from easy circular walks to more demanding longer routes. However, after enjoying the woodland walking, the route also ventures off much further north, out of the woods, towards Hertford Heath and Little Amwell, where you'll find a lovely pub and pretty church. There are facilities at Ashridge Estate including a caf and toilets. Walking in the New Forest | Forestry England The are no facilities at Heartwood Forest, but if you are feeling peckish, there is a gorgeous little tearoom in Sandridge serving delicious, home cooked food and the BEST cakes. It is a 7 mile disused train line (Harpenden to Hemel Hempstead Railway) that has been converted into a public footpath. As with the first route, there is a lovely pub at the end of the walk for some well-earned post-walk refreshments. 2h 17m. Here you'll find cultural and adventure travel ideas including road trips, beach breaks and family-friendly accommodation. Heartwood Forest is one of the best places for Hertfordshire walks for families. These may include flowers like common spotted orchid and enchanter's nightshade, butterflies such as white admiral and silver-washed fritillary and birds including woodcock, nuthatch and great spotted woodpecker. Start your walk off in Cottonmill Lane in St Albans and spot sights such as the Blackberry Arch and the River Ver, through to Wrestlers Bridge in Hatfield. All Rights Reserved. This steep circular walk of about 2 miles has uneven tracks and paths which means it is not suitable for buggies or wheelchairs. Refreshments: The Spotted Dog, Flamsted The Swan, Markyate, Flamstead4 milesThis third route option is basically an extension to the first walk that heads out into the countryside to the south of Flamstead. Ardgillan Castle Walk. Its smooth surface makes it perfect for all users and there are many access points, most of which are ramped or level" - from the Sustrans website, Amwell Nature Reserve - "Amwell Nature Reserve near Ware is one of the most important places for wildlife in the county and is well-used and enjoyed by the local community. Refreshments: The Crooked Billet, Colney Heath, Colney Heath2.5 milesIf you have a bit more time, then this second route option might be a better option. You'll still enjoy some pretty countryside on this route and the village itself with it's pub. For more family friendly pub ideas, check out my post about pubs in Hertfordshire.Parking and transport: There is parking at the Nigel Poulton Community Centre (postcode SG14 3SF) or the High Street (check restrictions on weekdays), otherwise there is free parking at the train station (SG14 2RJ). Northaw Great Wood in Hertfordshire is nearly 300 acres of beautiful ancient woodland that was once part of a Norman forest. Ashridge Estate | Hertfordshire | National Trust A buggy friendly route from Hertford, which was requested by a follower of Hertfordshire Walker on Twitter. This short pram friendly walk in the Peak District offers a well-surfaced route around the reservoir with spectacular views across the water and steep-sided moors and crags. The bluebells put on a particularly impressive display here. Parking - 10 per car. If you help out with opening and closing the lock, you may even get invited aboard! - from the Three Rivers District Council website, Rye Meads Nature Reserve - (RSPB) - "This delightful wetland reserve beside the River Lee is a firm favourite with walkers, birdwatchers and photographers thanks to its many trails and hides. " - from the Three Rivers District Council website, Cole Green Way - "The Cole Green Way runs from Hertford to Welwyn Garden City along the path of a former railway and caters for cyclists, horseriders and walkers.The path starts by Hertford Football Club and there are entrance and exit points at a number of points along the way. There is a reasonably sized car park at Verulamium but this can get really busy at the weekend. However, this route also ventures out into the open countryside to the south of the village, to make this walk a bit longer overall. Its not easy to find walks as picturesque as this that are also suitable for buggies. Find out more about Broxbourne Woods Sculpture Trail. Visitors are urged not to feed the ducks though. THE 10 BEST Hertfordshire Scenic Walking Areas (with Photos) If youre reading this in autumn, I also have an article about autumn walks in Hertfordshire which families will enjoy. Parking is free, and unless you're going at peak times on a sunny day you'll get parked easily. The first of our routes is a very short stroll into the Beeches and around the golf course area of the woodlands. As with all of our routes from Aldbury, there is a lovely pub in the village to enjoy! Refreshments: The Greyhound Inn, Aldbury, Hertfordshire, Aldbury7 milesThis final route option is basically the second and third routes joined together to give you an epic adventure in this lovely part of Hertfordshire. Then, the second half of the walk takes you through the pretty woodlands of Woodman's Wood and then descends down through the Lower Plantation woodland and back into the village. The youngest member of our team had no trouble believing that these outlets were goblin towers, especially when the train drove through the tunnels sending haunting sounds and winds into the surrounding forest. Dog walks in Hampshire. You can decide for yourself whether you want to allow cookies or not. Refreshments: The Boot, Kimpton The Bull Inn, Whitwell, Kimpton6.25 milesThis fourth option heads out in a completely different direction to the other walks as it heads out West towards the small village of Peter's Green. Buckler's Forest, Crowthorne - this is a great walk amongst the forest paths, with loads of ponds with viewing platforms to enjoy. A Chess Valley walk from the Cricketers pub in Sarratt, Hertfordshire. Refreshments: The Fox & Duck, Buntingford The Black Bull, Buntingford The Jolly Sailors, Buntingford, Buntingford3.25 milesThis is another relatively short walk from the market town of Buntingford in Hertfordshire. Refreshments: Lilley Arms, Lilley, Lilley6.25 milesThis sixth option is basically a combination of the other walks to the west and north of Lilley and it offers a much longer walk option without too much climbing. Theres a range of waymarked trails ranging from one to eight miles as well as a longer 17 mile hike for those who fancy a challenge. Verulamium park is close to St Albans and covers over 100 acres. (although there still is a long gentle ascent in the first half of the walk.) It is teeming with wildlife. This nature reserve is a mix of woodland, ponds and open meadowland. You'll then loop around and head back to the start of the walk along the Chain Walk. We want to encourage everyone to get out into the lovely Hertfordshire countryside, and to help with this, we've devised self-guided walks covering many different areas of the county. Refreshments: The White Horse, Burnham Green, Chipperfield Common1.25 miles to 6.25 miles, Colney Heath1 mileThis is a nice and short family-friendly stroll around the common to the south of the village of Colney Heath, Hertfordshire. Note that there are lots of steps at the beginning of the line in Harpenden but if you head to the entrance of the Highfield Oval, there is a step free entrance. Banky Meadows and Ashton upon Mersey, Trafford. One of England's home counties and sitting just north of London, you'll find walks in Hertfordshire take you right into the kind of wonderful countryside England is famous for. Subscribe to receive our latest blog posts, Family friendly and buggy friendly walk in Hertfordshire, Where to start the walk and where to park. Refreshments: The Chequers Inn, Wareside The White Horse, Wareside, Wareside8.75 milesThis final route option is basically an epic adventure in the wonderful undulating countryside surrounding Wareside. We have spent many years, and are continuing to collaborate with various people and companies to build a section on The Outdoor Guide to enable this. There are three main walks you can take, although we tend to make up our own walks as there are so many criss-crossing paths. Pushchair friendly walks: Bristol Harbourside. Breachwood Green2.75 milesThis first route is a simple short stroll in the arable farmland and countryside to the northwest of Breachwood Green, Hertfordshire. Weve only ever cycled this route its perfect for kids who are fairly new to pedalling as its flat and you have the option of returning by rail from Ware to Hertford East. Length: approx 3.5kmFeatures: beautiful spring flowers, far reaching views over the countryside, woodland to explore.Terrain: aside from a slightly muddy area (which I managed to get my buggy through) youll be walking mostly on farm tracks and quiet lanes.Refreshments: The Bull in Watton is family friendly, theres a good sized garden with a small play area and they do a decent Sunday roast. There are two waymarked trails through the reserve one is a mile-long bluebell walk which is very popular in the springtime. Rangers also lead walks if youre interested in learning more about the estate. Flashpacking Family is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Refreshments: The Bull, Cottered, Cottered3 milesThis second route option is another relatively short, but slightly more strenuous, countryside walk in the undulating arable farmland to the north of Cottered. There is also a pub in the village if you want some post-walk refreshments. If you choose to cycle this route with children, Id recommend doing it from Welwyn to Hertford as its slightly downhill and you can really whizz along it the journey in reverse might be more of a struggle for little cyclists. You'll first head out from the town and walk a short loop alongside peaceful arable farmland to the east. The 1 km trail starts and finishes at the car park and takes you on a loop passing 9 sculptures by local artist, Daniel Cordell. Cycling along flat, car free routes is perfect for building up stamina and confidence in young cyclists. All walks are free to download and print and all routes have GPS files. Copyright 2023 accessiblecountryside.org.uk. s.type = 'text/javascript'; Now, theres a selection of walks through varying habitat woodlands and meadows lovely for wildflowers in early summer. We live in East Herts so quite a few of the Hertfordshire walks Ive detailed here are on our side of the county. It also then calls in on the village of Whitwell where you'll find the water cress farm shop, another great pub and a nice tea room. In Kimpton itself, you'll then visit the lovely church and a nice pub on the High Street if you need refreshments. Ickleford1.5 milesThis first option is a nice short and simple pub walk in the Hertfordshire countryside around the village of Ickleford. The great thing about a buggy walk here is that there are 3 different loop walk options. We access Sherrrardspark woods from the car park near the B197 which runs parallel to the A1. Refreshments: The Spotted Dog, Flamsted, Hertfordshire, Flamstead3.75 milesThis second route option is a simple open countryside walk between the two villages of Flamstead and Markyate. Outdoor amenities: Fishing, nature trail, play area, watersports centre, model boating, nature walks, orienteering trail, restaurant, coffee shop and kiosk. As well as enjoying the twisted woodlands with their ancient Beech trees, there is also a large open section of walking on the route that offers some more sunshine and variety to your walk. The track is paved for around the first 1km from Harpenden and then it turns into a countryside track that can get very muddy in wet weather. That option then offers you a much longer loop of walking through the undulating open countryside to the south of the village before the long climb back up to the pub. Whether you believe this or not, its a useful history lesson for the children and a great spot to head for. Some of my posts contain affiliate links. The perfect places for family walks including woodland walks, stunning gardens and lakeside walks. Ashridge Estate is ideal if you are looking for family days out from London ideas. You'll embark on a long adventure in the arable farmland to the south of the village and you'll also visit the Cromer Windmill, Hertfordshires last remaining windmill. It is made up of mostly newly planted forest but also has ancient woodland and meadowland areas. The extension first takes you on an adventure through lovely open Hertfordshire countryside with great views before strolling you along a pretty stretch of the Grand Union Canal. The Heath at Ascot Racecourse is a flat walk with a coffee stop and fantastic views of the racecourse and Grandstand. We have 5 Chipperfield Common walks on the Hertfordshire Walks app ranging from 1.25 miles to 6.25 miles. There is a steep climb when you walk past the Church, but that will burn off some calories for those of you that want to visit the pub on the High Street towards the end of the walk. Refreshments: The Boot, Kimpton The Bright Star, Peter's Green, Kimpton9.5 milesThis final route option is basically a grand and epic adventure in the Hertfordshire countryside around the village of Kimpton. "Hardwick Park in County Durham is a Visit England accredited attraction and perfect for a stroll at any time of the year. There are a couple of free car parks at Broxbourne Woods. Weston-super-Mare Seafront. Length: 4.6 mi Est. The 8.6 km walk includes Woldingham School, Godstone Vineyards, sections of the North Downs Way trail and the Great Church Wood nature reserve. Some of them are perfect for cycling too lots of flat wide paths which children will enjoy pedalling along. Wiltshire came in at number six with 50 accessible walks, with 17 walks suitable for wheelchairs and 33 for buggies. To see all routes on one map, try our online map or printable PDF (6mb). You'll walk through the open arable farmlands between the villages of Therfield and Kelshall and you'll visit the pretty church when you're in Kelshall itself. In this article Ive detailed nearby pubs for most of these walks but for more choice, check out my article on the best pubs for families in Hertfordshire. . Refreshments: Rose & Crown, Essendon, Hertfordshire, Essendon3.25 milesThis second short route option is similar to the first route in that you will walk through the Essendon Golf course a couple of times, so you have to be careful for golfers playing around you. Its a pleasant walk into Datchworth from here or (my preference) head for the Horns pub at Bulls Green before taking a more open return route along a footpath through wide fields with far reaching views over the countryside. Family walks make great family days out. Digswell3 milesThis is a lovely short walk from the car park near the impressive Digswell Viaduct. Refreshments: The Boot, Kimpton The Cross Keys, Blackmore End, Hertfordshire, Kimpton5.75 milesThis third route option is basically an extension of the first walk that heads up the hill to the north of the village. See rights of way for all public footpaths, bridleways and byways. If this is full, you can also park at Westminster Lodge on the other side of the park with the first 2 hours being free. In essence, it joins together the second and third routes to create one big long walk for those of you that really want to stretch your legs before enjoying a pub lunch in one of the village's pubs. You still climb up into the beautiful Ashridge Estate, but this option takes you deeper into the majestic woodlands here and you'll enjoy a walk along the impressive Prince's Riding avenue of trees. The walk is a very pretty and varied walk that takes you through sections of beautiful open countryside where you'll often see birds of prey hunting above you, and at other times through winding woodland paths. Finally, there's a lovely pub in the village making this a great walk for all the family on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Theres a play area at Canal Fields. Toilets: none on route use the ones at Hartham before starting out. The total area of the park is 18.3 acres. The rest of the walk is mainly made up of sweeping undulating open countryside, so it's really a walk for those of you that really want to stretch your legs. You'll enjoy a stroll alongside the winding River Ash, lots of open countryside with sweeping views, a walk through the impressive Easneye Wood and a walk around the village of Warerside with it's two lovely pubs. Accessible Walks. Find out more about the Hertford to Ware riverside walk. It includes elements of the third and fourth walks as it visits the small village of Peter's Green and the larger village of Whitwell on the way around. Alexandra Park, Oldham. The Nickey Line from Harpenden to Hemel Hempstead (not that we have managed to walk that far with the kids yet) is one of the best footpath walks in Hertfordshire. The effort is then rewarded with some lovely views before walking back towards Digswell. It is quite an open walk without a lot of shade, so please be aware of this on days when you will be exposed to the weather. Wimpole has a huge country pile surrounded by miles of woods, fields and parkland. Refreshments: Rose & Crown, Essendon Five Horseshoes, Little Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, Flamstead2.75 milesThis is a nice and simple family-friendly short pub walk in the countryside to the south of Flamstead. Refreshments: The Fox & Duck, Therfield. 170+ dog walks. Given its proximity to the . On the edge of the reserve is a brilliant sculpture trail with carved wood art works depicting elements from local history a Roman soldier, a herdsman, a majestic stag. Perfect for a dry day! Ideal for family cycling. It should be fairly easy to plot using the Ordnance survey website or equivalent map. Ive linked up with Bookshop.org to encourage people to support independent UK bookshops, if youd like to buy a book about Hertfordshire walks (or anything else for that matter), heres a link to their website (Ill receive a small commission if you decide to make a purchase). It is one of the loveliest woodland walks in Hertfordshire with so much variety. Heartwood Forest is one of the best places for Hertfordshire walks for families. There are not a lot of surprises on this one as you will be mainly strolling around open arable farmland footpaths, but you will enjoy a dose of fresh air, peace, quiet and a lovely village pub towards the end of the route. Ive just detailed a couple of walks here which we have enjoyed. It will still visit the church and pub in the pretty village of Barley, but it also takes you on a ramble out into the sweeping open Hertfordshire countryside to the south of the village and then back through the pretty Newsells Park. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you want to see the sculpture trail, then you need to park in the Broxbourne Wood East Car Park, Pembridge Ln, Broxbourne EN10 7QP. Buggy Friendly Walks in Ireland: 25 of the Best - outsider.ie It's more of an exercise option really as it takes you on a long walk through sweeping open countryside that descends down a long hill towards Welwyn-Garden-City. Thameslink and Great Northern, in partnership with AllTrails, have pulled together this fun list of family-friendly walks in Hertfordshire - all within a mile of our stations. After that, you'll then descend back down to the village for your reward at the wonderful country pub in the village. If its a hot day, theres a great little spot for a wild swim where the River Beane meets the Lea (you can find out more about wild swimming in Hertfordshire here), its quite deep there and better for older children, shallow water for paddling can be found further up stream near the tennis courts. It hosts a mosaic of habitats including reedbeds, grassland and woodland, although Great Hardmead Lake is arguably the most striking feature" "The reserve has solid, steady paths when dry and accessed from Hollycross Road or along the towpath from Stanstead Abbotts (south) or Ware (north). Where to park: Watton high street, railway station (SG14 2RJ) or the community centre (SG14 3SF), Buggy friendly: mostly yes (you will need to lift the buggy through one muddy section if there has been rain), Toilets: public toilets at Water Lane car park. Also in the area is the Lee Valley Boat Centre where you can hire boats for the day or longer, Lee Valley Country Park and the Lee Valley White Water Centre. If you are visiting in the Spring, you will see bluebells in the ancient woodlands. PMVs - our single-seater scooters and one two-seater golf buggies are available to borrow. For family friendly bike ride ideas, check out my article about the best cycle routes for families across the UK. The estate is brilliant for walking, cycling and horse riding. We love walking the circular three kilometre trail through Waterford Heath. 3-Aldenham Country Park. This walk / cycle route has something for everyone great views of St Albans cathedral, a spot of retail therapy at the Galleria shopping centre and lots of history at Hatfield House. Below we . There isn't a pub actually on the route, but there is one on the Colney Heath high street.