We’re a Ramblers group aimed mainly at people in their 20s, 30s and slightly older, offering led walks and social events across Herts, Beds and south Cambs.
This walk is for up to 25 people, including the leader.
This rural walk explores the northeast corner of the Chiltern Hills, visiting Hexton village and chalk pit, Pegsdon Hills Nature Reserve and Telegraph Hill, the highest point in the district of North Hertfordshire.
If you’d like to join this walk please ensure you have suitable footwear, ability and experience of country walking as the route includes a number of strong inclines (leading to wonderful views!).
Please also note that parking is limited so we recommend car-sharing or use of public transport.
From the village of Lilley (between Luton and Hitchin) we begin by heading uphill along a bridleway past Ward’s Wood, then turn north towards Hexton, passing Mortgrove Farm where we might see some lambs. We’ll climb up to Hexton Chalk Pit, a small chalk grassland nature reserve, and have a snack or early lunch. Here we can enjoy views over Bedfordshire, including to our west the wooded hilltop site of Ravenburgh Castle, said to be the biggest Iron Age hill fort in south east England.
We then continue into Hexton, where we can pop into the Country Matters shop inside the village hall to buy a snack or drink and use the facilities if needed.
After this, we’ll walk round to the village of Pegsdon and have an excellent view of the Pegsdon Hills in front of us. We’ll pick up the Chiltern Way trail to Knocking Hoe then pass Tingley Field Plantation. A steep ascent to Deacon Hill will be rewarded with a snack stop and a chance to enjoy further wide-ranging views.
We’ll progress across the open landscape of Pegsdon Hills, recently one of the final ten contenders in a Ramblers competition to find Britain’s Favourite Path. We’ll dip in and out of the narrow valleys then leave the reserve and come to Telegraph Hill, at 184m the highest point in North Herts, and the site of a signal post during the Napoleonic Wars.
Finally we turn along the John Bunyan Trail towards Lilley, where at the end of our walk we have the option of a well-earned drink at The Lilley Arms pub.
Please note this walk is not suitable for dogs, as they are not allowed in the Hexton Chalk Pit nature reserve.
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.
This is a circular walk.
The start time is when we aim to start walking and the finish time is an estimate.
Walks are graded Easy, Leisurely, Moderate or Strenuous in increasing order of difficulty. Please read the walk description to check it is within your abilities and contact the group if you are unsure.
Please:
We are a Ramblers group, non-members are welcome to try us out for three free walks before joining Ramblers as a full member.
As a charity we ask that non-members consider making a voluntary donation to Ramblers until they purchase membership. We suggest £3-4 per walk. You can donate in person or online.
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: First Floor, 10 Queen Street Place, London EC4R 1BE.
Cassel Memorial Hall, West Street, Lilley LU2 8LH. We have space for 10 cars to use the car park at the hall (next to the recreation ground). Alternative parking may be found on West Street near St Peter’s Church and in front of The Lilley Arms but please park with consideration for local residents. Due to limited parking, we recommend car-sharing or travelling by bus; Arriva service 101 calls at Lilley from Hitchin and Luton, stopping at the junction of West Street and Lilley Bottom a few minutes’ walk from the start point.
