Hertfordshire has so many possibilities for outdoor adventures! Now we're getting close to warmer weather, it's important that everyone get some fresh air and to see some glorious flowers and plants, nature and our beautiful rolling countryside! Here are some of the classic trails for you to tackle right now...
Gracing the west edge of Hertfordshire are one of the country's most beautiful AONBs, the Chilterns. With its hills and wooded areas and of course the views (oh, the views!), the area is popular with walkers wanting to discover more of the great outdoors. Amble the Chilterns
Why not head to Ashridge Estate, an area of the Chilterns with over 80 miles of footpaths to do some woodland wandering? As it’s an area of the Chilterns, the Estate is sprinkled with woodland and pretty villages. There are plenty of routes to follow – but a favourite is the circular trail that starts in Aldbury village and follows the Ridgeway National Trail to Ivinghoe Beacon and back along the Ashridge boundary. Walking on the Estate
Photo: PDunnell
Walking gently through a shaded woodland, on a warm springtime day sounds quite ideal no? Not all walks you venture on need to be tough, over 10 miles or time limited, and Tring Park is perfect for a mellow wander. In the 264-acre park you can discover the history of what was once a Rothschild estate, and explore the natural features such as wildflowers to the viewpoint ‘rond point’, with views stretching to the Chilterns and the man-made ones such as the Rothschild gamekeepers summer house. All walks of life in Tring
Between St Albans and Hatfield there was once a branch railway line that connected the Great Northern Railway that closed in 1969. Today, the six-and-a-half-mile route is open to cyclists and walkers to enjoy traffic free. Start your walk off in Cottonmill Lane in St Albans and spot sights such as the Blackberry Arch and the River Ver, through to Wrestlers Bridge in Hatfield. You could even extend the jaunt to Hatfield House. Get on your way
Chess Valley is a 10 mile walk through the Chilterns. This walk offers fantastic views along the River Chess and many of the surrounding villages. The walk promises a look at some of its local wildlife and maybe you'll learn something new as you pass the 13th century Chenies manor.
For those who enjoy hiking in woodlands, Aldbury is perfect for you. Aldbury's 100 acres of land has a little bit of everything with its mature woods, fields of flowers and stunning views of the Vale of Aylesbury.
Colney Heath's beautiful lake is an excellent place to visit for a walk as you can loop around the entirety of the lake. You're bound to spot some of its local wildlife from fish to birds to just about everything else. This route is sure to be loved by hikers, fishers and runners.
Ware's a great place for a stroll if you want a shorter route. The old village is a perfect place for sight-seeing especially if you want to see some quaint British architecture and views of wildlife in the river.
Broxbourne woods is sure to be an excellent choice for walking if you love woodlands, especially as it has over 239 hectares! These woods are fun to explore if you have children, or if you just want to take the dog for a walk. We're sure they'll thank you later!
To coincide with May’s National Walking Month, Dacorum Borough Council are proud to launch the new Hemel Green Walk map, a walking route around Hemel Hempstead. The map shows off some of the best places of the town, from the vibrant town centre to idyllic green spaces in Two Waters and Gadebridge Park.
The map can be followed using the LoyalFree app - which can be downloaded free of charge from the App Store or Google Play.
For more information and to download the map, visit our Hemel Green Walk page. https://www.dacorum.gov.uk/home/leisure-culture/the-hemel-green-walk
