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.
Hosted by Stag Walkers for Hitchin Festival, an all-day walk along the Hitchin Outer Orbital Path (HOOP), with a detour to see the famous Hitchin Lavender.
Originally devised by North Herts Ramblers, the HOOP is a circular route along the perimeter of Hitchin and through its surrounding countryside. The terrain is a mix of surfaced paths and rural tracks, with a number of gentle slopes.
Along the trail we will walk through the nearby settlements of Charlton and Ickleford, both of which have village pubs; through the award-winning nature reserve at Oughtonhead Common, grazed by longhorned cattle; alongside two chalk streams, Ippollitts Brook and the River Oughton, going through the woods at Oughtonhead; and through farmland growing a variety of crops, including the famous lavender at Cadwell Farm. We’ll deviate from the waymarked HOOP route to walk by the lavender field which should be in full bloom at this time of year.
Our route will include an additional detour through the old Priory Park on the south-west corner of Hitchin, with a great view from the top of the hill overlooking Priory Fields.
We’ll also walk briefly through Letchworth, where the HOOP overlaps with the Garden City Greenway, taking us past a Bronze Age burial mound and beside post-war prefab houses which may soon be lost to redevelopment.
We will have a packed lunch stop partway round and also a pub stop (drinks only). Optional pub visit after the walk.
Dogs are welcome on a lead.
For information about walking with the group, including our dog policy, please visit the Stag Walkers website.
There is no limit on group size for this walk and booking is not essential; however, we do find it helpful to know who's coming, so:
* if you plan to come along, please book a place for yourself and any guests you are bringing
* if you have to cancel please update your RSVP so we know not to wait for you
* you can RSVP via our Meetup group or e-mail stagwalkers at gmail dot com
Please 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.
This is a circular walk.
Please be aware of the walk grade: walks are graded Easy, Leisurely, Moderate or Strenuous
Use our Meetup group to book your place on the walk: https://www.meetup.com/StagWalkers/
Book your place via the Stag Walkers Meetup group by clicking the ‘Attend’ button on the event page.
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 and/or cancel after the booking closing deadline three times, without extenuating circumstances, we will decline further bookings from you for a period of six weeks.*
Bring a packed lunch/snacks and drinks, appropriate clothing for the conditions and optionally a basic first aid kit.
Please follow NHS guidelines and do not attend the walk if you are unwell.
We are a Ramblers group, non members are welcome to try us out for two or 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 become a full member. 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.
Meet by Queen Mother Theatre, Woodside car park, Walsworth Road, Hitchin, SG4 9SP. Free parking on Sundays. Accessible by public transport: start point is 10 minutes' walk from Hitchin railway station and close to Hitchin town centre.
