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.
Sarah F/Elise
This walk is for up to 30 people, including the leader.
Join us for the second in a series of short walks along the HOOP!
Today’s walk of around 5 miles / 8km will cover the southwest of the HOOP (Hitchin Outer Orbital Path), a waymarked route around the edge of Hitchin and through the surrounding countryside, which has its 15th anniversary this year. For those who are new to country walking or might prefer short routes, we’ve split the HOOP into four leisurely walks of around 5 to 7 miles. Each of these walks starts near Hitchin town centre and includes a variety of green space around the town and nearby.
If you're new to Stag Walkers and want a taster of our group walks then this route might be especially suitable for you. Existing members are of course welcome too.
This particular route is a mixture of town and countryside scenery and includes one or two moderate hills.
The walk ties in with International Women’s Day which takes place this weekend. At the top of Windmill Hill we will pass the grounds of Hitchin Girl’s School (founded in 1889), followed by a detour to Benslow House, the former location of Girton College (the first women’s college at Cambridge University) from 1869 to 1873 when it relocated to Cambridge.
We will join the HOOP alongside Ippollitts Brook on the south of the town and follow the trail into the village of Charlton. Here there will be an opportunity to pause for a short refreshment stop. We then pass the River Hiz and leave the official route of the HOOP to walk through Priory Fields, where we can enjoy a view from the top of the hill.
Towards the end of the walk we will take a wander through Hitchin town square before making our way back to the start point at the Queen Mother Theatre.
The walk will finish at around 1pm with the chance of an optional social drink at The Bricklayers Arms nearby.
The route is a mixture of pavement and rural footpaths which are likely to be muddy at this time of year so please wear appropriate footwear. Although this walk is graded Leisurely, please expect a couple of steep inclines along the way. This route also includes crossing some busy roads therefore we advise to take care and cross in small groups for safety purposes.
For more information about the HOOP please see https://nhrg.org.uk/hoop-hitchin-outer-orbital-path
Dogs are welcome on a lead.
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.
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.
