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.
A varied route along woodland trails, field paths and country lanes, and the first walk in an occasional series visiting countryside tearooms and taprooms.
Highlights of the walk include Hitch Wood (said by The Chiltern Society to be one of the finest woods in the North Chilterns), snowdrops at St Paul’s Walden Bury (childhood home of the Queen Mother) and optional refreshments at Emily’s Tea Shop in Whitwell.
There are a few ups and downs on the walk, hence the ‘Moderate’ grade, beginning by going down to the Mimram chalk stream then climbing back out of the river valley - passing our endpoint tearoom along the way. We then walk alongside the outdoor performance space of The Living Theatre, followed by a spell through woodland and a stretch past Stagenhoe, a country house which is now a care centre.
We’ll head into Hitch Wood, a large ancient woodland and mature plantation of oaks, beech, hornbeam and fir trees, then come to Hill End Chalk Pit, a small nature reserve of geological importance. We can pause here for a tea break and read about the many fossils found at this site.
After this, we’ll make our way along quiet country lanes overlooking Langley Bottom, then approach the hamlet of Rustling End via a cross-field path. Reaching an impressive avenue of trees, we’ll have a great view ahead of St Paul’s Walden Bury. We’ll have a packed lunch break then continue towards this historic country house, where we should see a lot of snowdrops.
Finally, near the end of our walk we can visit Emily’s Tea Shop, a rustic farmyard cafe, for tea or coffee and homemade cake. If you don’t wish to break for cake, it’s just 5 minutes’ walk from here back to our start point.
Some parts of this walk are likely to be muddy, so please bring walking boots and something to sit on at lunch (e.g. a sit mat).
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, click 'join waitlist' to get a place if one becomes available and please check back regularly in case you do 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.
Whitwell Recreation Ground, Bradway, Whitwell, Herts SG4 8AP (accessed off Horn Hill and Bradway); free parking available in recreation ground car park or on street. Accessible by public transport via Centrebus 304 from St Albans and Hitchin.
