Area: Hertfordshire

'Although the Abbey Flyer links two major population centres in South-West Hertfordshire, there are parts of the line that can still be described as truly rural, and when the sun is sunshine you may be pleasantly surprised just how nice this part of Hertfordshire can be!'

Hertfordshire Countryside Management Service

Abbey Line Trails [Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership]

Local Footpath Walks 'Eight walks around the Parish. Of varying lengths, the walks take in many of the local points of interest. Easy maps and directions, along with historical background make this an ideal guide for newcomers to the area, or for those that want to know more about the local area and its history.'

'For cyclists and walkers along the former railway line between St Albans and Hatfield. It is an important link in the local sustainable transport network and forms part of Route 61 of the National Cycle Network.'

St Albans City & District Council

'Once in the park you may explore our lakeside walks, nature trails, outdoor play areas, picnic areas and visit 100 Aker Wood. Aldenham is a haven for a wide diversity of flora and fauna and is a great place for photography and wildlife watching. The walks are self guided but take a look at our Wildlife page to see the animals and plants you might find here so you can learn as you explore.'

Aldenham Renaissance

'With 2,000 acres of mature woodland to explore you can while away the hours amongst our magnificent beeches and mighty oaks.'

National Trust

Ashridge Boundary Trail [GPS Cycle & Walking Routes]

'Rail trail which extends from Ayot St. Peter, just west of Welwyn Garden City and the A1(M) Motorway to Wheathampstead in Hertfordshire.'

Wikipedia

'Berkhamsted lies on the western edge of Hertfordshire, bordering the Chiltern Hills ... Together with the adjoining village of Northchurch it is separated from other towns and villages by lovely countryside, all of it in the Metropolitan Green Belt and much of it classified as being an area of outstanding natural beauty.'

'We have published several booklets recommending walks on circular and linear routes, and are currently working on a project to produce more of these walks in a widening circle of up to an 8-mile radius around town.  We also publish monthly walks on our website.'

'This is a linear walk along the scenic River Stort from Bishop’s Stortford to Harlow and returning by bus.'

Bishop's Stortford & District Footpaths Association

'Formed in 2004 with the encouragement of the Parish Council Committee to promote the enjoyment of the Public Rights of Way in the Parish and to monitor their maintenance. There are 37 Rights of Way in the Parish totalling over 21 miles ... In 2007, using a grant from the Parish Paths Partnership and a donation from Glaxo Smith Kline, the Paths Group produced a map leaflet showing the public rights of way in the parish and four suggested walks.'

'A strenuous walk through the Spital Brook valley into Broxbourne Woods National Nature Reserve and an assortment of ancient and wild woods and diverse woodland setting.'

Saturday Walkers Club

Broxbourne Woods North / South Walks (Nos 26 and 27) [Hertfordshire Walker]]

Member of the U3A - Hertfordshire Grouping

'Charming ancient woodland, diverse wildlife and rich history make Broxbourne Woods National Nature Reserve (NNR) a truly magnificent place to be. As Hertfordshire’s only NNR, Broxbourne Woods is a very large area of sessile oak and hornbeam woodland at the northern most part of its natural range.'

Hertfordshire County Council and Woodland Trust

'With the incorporation of the Watford Fieldpath Association, the BADFA area greatly increased. It now is roughly bounded by Borehamwood, Harrow, Rickmansworth, Chenies, Chesham, Berkhamsted, Hemel Hempstead, St Albans, Radlett; but focuses mainly on Bushey, Aldenham, Watford, and Watford Rural "parishes".'

'Over 30 walks from Cassiobury Park, Watford, UK, including Whippendell Wood, Chandlers Cross and Croxley Moor; also the Grand Union Canal North to Kings Langley (and including The Grove) and South past Rickmansworth; from a ten minute walk around the park to a three hour walk across country.'

Raffi Katz

Friends of Cassiobury Park

'This large Green Flag accredited park is the green heart of the Borough with a large part of the 235 acres covered by a wildflower meadow with hay cut once a year.'

Borough of Broxbourne

'Linear walk through the Chilterns following the River Chess from Rickmansworth to Chesham ...'

Chilterns AONB

'It is a wandering, varied and mostly rural way stretching around the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Ordnance Survey are adding it to their maps ...'

Chiltern Society

'Disused railway line that runs from Welwyn to Hertford. The pleasant off-road route is suitable for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. The link through Hertford connects to the tow path along the River Lea, taking you to Ware and beyond.'

East Herts Council

'Starts at Rickmansworth and follows the River Colne southwards ending at Colnbrook. There is a link path to Langley from Cowley Lock. Plans are in hand to extend the Colne Valley Trail further south. Originally listed as two separate routes and now combined to form a 14 mile route from Rickmansworth to Colnbrook.' Two free leaflets cover the route and are available from the Colne Valley Regional Park Visitor Centre.

The Long Distance Walkers Association

Colne Valley Trail [GPS Cycle & Walking Routes]

'Croxley Green has eighteen designated public footpaths and a number of others which have yet to be formalised. The footpaths vary markedly in nature from short "cut through" urban footpaths between local roads to ambling rural footpaths.'

Croxley Green Boundary Walk [Croxley Green Residents Association]

'Circular pub walk from the Duke of York in Barnet, Hertfordshire. A former coaching inn, built on the Great North Road, the Duke of York continues to serve the needs of many a weary traveller ... The walk also passes by Potters Bar rail station, so if you are travelling by train you can adjust the walk to start at the station and visit the pub on-route.'

AllTrails

'The small towns and villages stand in an area of natural beauty, with winding country lanes, nestling in shallow valleys of many rivers and streams that criss-cross the District ...'

'An independent walking and campaigning group with a membership of 300+ households, mostly living in East Hertfordshire.'

Member of the Ramblers - Hertfordshire & North Middlesex Area Grouping

'Watford disused railway walk: Ebury Way and the Croxley Green branch (and Cassiobury Park)'

Karen's Walks

ALERT The description originally cited here seems to have disappeared from the Three Rivers District Council Website. So I have replaced the Link with one to a more reflective version from Karen.

'Enjoy a cycle or walk through this popular park in Stevenage. There are several pretty lakes with waterside cycling and walking paths to enjoy.'

Stevenage Borough Council

'Hatfield House is the centre of a large agricultural estate with an extensive parkland. There are three walks of varying lengths marked in the Park: [1] The Blue Walk (2 miles / 3.2 kilometres / 50 minutes) - - - : [2] The Red Walk (3.2 miles / 5.2 kilometres / 90 minutes) - - - : [3] The Green Walk (1.1 mile / 1.8 kilometres / 30 minutes).'

The Largest New Native Forest In England  'Heartwood Forest is located either side of the B651 between Sandridge and Wheathampstead Village and 2.5 miles north of St Albans City Centre in Hertfordshire. There are currently 12 different entrance points into the forest which are well linked to existing footpaths and bridleways.'

Woodland Trust

'We've prepared the Hemel Green Walk map to help promote walking and cycling in the town and encourage healthy living and lifestyles. The Hemel Green Walk map links together the very best aspects of the town - its beautiful green spaces and outstanding assets.'

Dacorum Borough Council

'A set of walks around the village, a number of which are suitable for pushchairs, etc.'

Hertford Heath Parish Council

'The Countryside Management Service works with communities in Hertfordshire to help them care for and enjoy the environment. We do this by ... promoting outdoor recreation through organising events such as guided walks, and working with groups to develop walk and cycle routes to link towns and villages to their surrounding countryside.'

'The Hertfordshire Group walks on the 2nd Saturday of each month. The Group covers all of Hertfordshire and sometimes organises invasion parties into neighbouring counties.'

'Hertfordshire has an extensive Rights of Way network of over 5200 paths totalling more than 3000km. These paths are shown on a map and have a written description in a legal record called the Definitive Map & Statement, which is looked after by the County Council's Rights of Way Service at County Hall, Hertford. They also form part of Hertfordshire's Gazetteer.'

Hertfordshire County Council

The Hertfordshire Countryside Management Service 'has developed a series of self-guided walks following way-marked paths throughout the county. These are described in a series of leaflets that can be downloaded and printed ... at home or at your local library. Alternatively your local CMS office or library may have paper copies'.

Hertfordshire Countryside Management Service

'Offers you a mix of short walks and longer rambles in the local countryside. All featuring country pubs. The first in the collection are about three to four miles long and fairly easy. Allow two hours for most. The later additions, from walk 16 onwards are longer.'

David and Ellie Brewer

'Circular route along public rights-of-way within the County of Hertfordshire ... The route has been chosen to pass through a variety of Hertfordshire scenery, mostly in open countryside but also passing through some of our more interesting and attractive villages.  Hertford and St Albans, as the County Town and main historic centre respectively, are the only large towns on the route.'

The Friends of The Hertfordshire Way

Hertfordshire Border Walk [WildþingUK]

Member of the Ramblers - Hertfordshire & North Middlesex Area Grouping

'Highfield Park Trust was created in 1996 following the closure of Hill End and Cell Barnes hospitals to provide a diverse rural park for the benefit of the local community. The park has many interesting features including parkland with many mature specimen trees, sports pitches, woodland, a Mediterranean Garden with two petanque courts, a maze, rose gardens, ponds and orchards, all accessible by a network of footpaths and cycle ways ...'

'The HOOP follows public rights of way,countryside paths and some pavements to form a 12 mile (19.3km) route around Hitchin town centre and surrounding countryside.'

North Herts Ramblers Group

'Exploring the beautiful setting for Howards End in Hertfordshire, a patch of peace on the edge of the urban world.'

BBC Countryfile Magazine

'This is a delightful walk along the River Ivel from Baldock to Roxton. You start off at the source of the river at Ivel springs, Baldock, and follow the river north through Stotfold, Henlow, Langford, Biggleswade, Sandy and Blunham.'

GPS Cycle and Walking Routes

'The Gardens at Knebworth are delightful throughout the season. The 28 acre formal gardens include a maze, colourful borders, fine trees and a wilderness area with an exciting Dinosaur Trail ...'

'The Greenway is a circular route that surrounds the Garden City estate allowing you to discover the countryside without ever straying far from the town; it truly is "where town and country meet" ... If you are looking for a smaller trail in Letchworth Garden City, look no further. Here you can find a series of circular walks, all linking to the Greenway. All starting points can be identified on the Greenway Map.'

Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation

'20 acres of peaceful parkland located in the heart of Potters Bar.'

National Trust

'The New River is neither new nor a river. It is a water supply aqueduct, completed in 1613, to bring drinking water from Hertfordshire to North London ...'

ALERT I could no longer find a description of the Path on the Thames Water Website; so I have replaced the Link.

'Former railway line that links Harpenden, Redbourn and Hemel Hempstead. It is approximately 8.5 miles long and suits both walkers and cyclers. The route forms part of route 57 of the National Cycle Network.'

Friends of the Nickey Line

'The North Chiltern Trail is designed to encourage people to explore this lovely area on foot and is being created by combining the original and extended routes of The Chiltern Way footpath in the North Chilterns. This will provide a 67km/42 mile circular walking route through some of the most delightful Chiltern countryside of Bedfordshire and north Hertfordshire, including parts of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.'

Chiltern Society

'Explore North Herts using walks and cycle routes.'

Member of the Ramblers - Hertfordshire & North Middlesex Area Grouping

'Oxhey Woods Local Nature Reserve in South Oxhey, Watford, consists of approximately 100 hectares of principally, ancient semi-natural woodland, much of which has been wooded since the last ice age some 10,000 years ago. The woods contain a number of walking routes ranging in difficulty, but the highlight is a one kilometre easy access trail ...'

Creative Hertfordshire

'A series of walks looking at local countryside and making use of local footpaths. If you are interested in furthering your knowledge and understanding of the local environment in and around Potters Bar, then these walks should appeal.'

The Potters Bar Society

'Enjoy good companionship in the beautiful, calming countryside of Hertfordshire and North Middlesex.'

Member of the Ramblers - Hertfordshire & North Middlesex Area Grouping

'Although Samuel Ryder is best remembered as the founder of the Ryder Cup, he was also one of St.Albans' most notable citizens as a successful businessman, churchman and local politician ... This Trail seeks to give a short introduction to Samuel Ryder – the businessman, the churchman and the politician – also to the person that gave the world one of its greatest sporting events ... The Ryder Cup is a magnificent gold trophy made by Mappin & Webb, the famous London silversmiths. Commissioned and paid for by Samuel Ryder, he presented it to The Professional Golfers' Association of Great Britain to be used for an international competition between the USA and GB & Ireland.'

Samuel Ryder Foundation

'We are indebted to the Sarratt WI for allowing ... walks to be featured each month from their delightful booklet containing 12 walks around Sarratt entitled "New Walks on Old Paths". The booklet is on sale at the Village Post Office for just £3.00.'

'An independent self financing rural Park in Hertfordshire that is free to use. Once a private Estate known as Porters Park, then a site of a Mental Hospital, Shenley Park is now a unique self-funding Park for all. The Park is steeped in history and hosts an Orchard, Meadow, Woodland walks, Historic buildings and an amazing 2 acre landscaped Walled Garden with an amphitheatre ... Shenley Park is also situated at a mid way point on the Timberland Trail. This is a 10.5 mile trail between Borehamwood and St.Albans.'

Shenley Park Trust

'Walks within reach of St Albans with photos that show you exactly which way to go.' Based on the book The Remarkable Trees of St Albans (Kate Bretherton, 2010): 'This publication tells the fascinating stories behind the wonderful trees of St Albans: how they came to be there, which are our favourites, and what we can do to ensure that future generations have trees as remarkable as the ones we inherited.'

walk-talk

'We are a friendly group of people who enjoy exploring the beautiful countryside surrounding us, led by our own members over their favourite walks ...'

'We provide and maintain around 60 Green Spaces and play areas across the City and District of St Albans. Our green assets, including parks, play areas and nature conservation sites are a great place to relax and unwind.'

Member of the Ramblers - Hertfordshire & North Middlesex Area Grouping

'Stagenhoe is a Grade II listed stately home and surrounding gardens located in the village of St Paul's Walden in Hertfordshire. It is approximately 5 miles (8 km) south of Hitchin. It is one of two large manors with fine grounds in the village, the other being the historic home of the Bowes-Lyon family St Paul's Walden Bury.'

Christopher Sommerville Walks

'In celebration of Stevenage’s 75th anniversary [2022], we created the Stevenage Town Centre Tour.'

Stevenage Museum

Usually held Mid May.

'Town and country walk circling Stevenage. Using established rights of way where it can, STOOP has been devised ... to provide an informal, active recreational leisure amenity readily available to the residents of Stevenage and the surrounding villages.'

North Herts Ramblers Group

'There is excellent public access to the Stort Navigation. A public footpath runs all the way along the Navigation from Bishops Stortford to the confluence with the Lea. For much of this stretch the path is part of the Stort Valley Way, a 28-mile circular walk around Harlow and Sawbridgeworth.'

River Lea Catchment Partnership

'The general area around the reservoirs benefits from an extensive network of public footpaths and canal towpaths.'

Herts Bird Club

'A steady climb of a little more than 300 feet (100 metres) in the first part of the walk, a couple of short sections of it quite steep. One steep descent (with easier alternative routes).'

Simon’s Walks

ALERT The original posted here no longer seems easily accessible online, so I have Linked instead to a blog posting covering an alternative route.

'Contains a number of walks in and around Tring. Each walk has a leaflet which you can download and print out.'

'Explore the beautiful rolling countryside of the Ver Valley through a new series of eight circular walks and the linear trail ... a 17 mile (27km) linear walking route starting from the source of the River Ver at Kensworth Lynch, Bedfordshire and ending at the confluence with the River Colne in Bricket Wood, Hertfordshire.'

Ver Valley Society

'A pleasant 2½ hour figure of eight walk between Ware & Hertford along the route of the River Lea. The route is flat and mainly along surfaced paths ... The River Lee Navigation runs a distance of 28 miles from Hertford, through Ware and south to the Thames at Limehouse.'

Member of the Ramblers - Hertfordshire & North Middlesex Area Grouping

Celebrating 100 Years of Welwyn Garden City in 2020 'The circular walk takes in some beautiful locations around Welwyn Garden City, including Stanborough Lakes, Mill Green, The Commons Nature Reserve, the site of the Panshanger Aerodrome, Tewin Bury, Digswell, Sherrardspark Woods, Brocket Hall and Lemsford. There is a one mile accessible circular trail around The Commons and part of the Nature Reserve.'  ALERT  The Welwyn  Garden City Centenary Foundation - who organized the creation of this Walk - has now been disbanded.

Welwyn Garden City Centenary Foundation

Member of the U3A - Hertfordshire Grouping

Member of the Ramblers - Hertfordshire & North Middlesex Area Grouping

'There are six countryside walks and one village centre trail taking you to numerous heritage sites in the parish of Wheathampstead.'

Wheathampstead History Society

'Whippendell Wood is situated on the outskirts of Watford, and, although owned and managed by Watford Borough Council, it is geographically in the local authority of Three Rivers.'

GPS Cycle and Walking Routes