The Pegsdon Hills & Hitchin Gap – Long Hilly Country Hike

Walk length 16miles/26km (approx) Circular.

A very scenic hike from the small town of Hitchin past historic villages and nature reserves to the Pegsdon Hills and Hoo Bit Nature Reserve on the border between Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. The town of Hitchin has a wealth of ancient buildings and church dating back to the 13th century.

Hitchin marks the northeast edge of the Chiltern Hills and complements one of our recent walks at Goring-on-Thames that marks the southwest edge some 50 miles away. Both edges are often referred to as the Goring and Hitchin gaps.

The Chiltern Hills form a chalk escarpment north and west from London across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, and Bedfordshire and are designated officially as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Lunch and Finish

Please bring a packed snack lunch and water for the hike, the walk should finish before 5.00pm, however the time may be earlier or later than this depending on the weather and pace (this is a complete day event and you are advised not to have definite events planned in the evening).

We will probably have an early lunch close to the small village of Pirton.
THIS IS A DEMANDING HIKE BOTH IN LENGTH AND WITH NUMEROUS HILLS, PLEASE ENSURE YOU ARE HAPPY WITH THIS.

Transport & meeting

Meet Outside Hitchin Station for the hike to start at 10.14am (after the train from London). Car parking at the station or free roadside parking maybe available.

If traveling from London meet outside the entrance to London St Pancras station (Midland Road Entrance) from 9.15am to give time to get tickets and groupsaves (see photo below). The 9.41am (platform B, St Pancras) gets to Hitchin for 10.14am (are other London station stops on this line) please check before travel. Discounts available with a groupsave or network railcard.

The organizer is not taking the train from London but will meet the group at Hitchin station

Train £18.40, ask for super off-peak. Could also be a third off with a group save or network railcard.

Walk Cost: £7 cash on the day organizer fee (For paypal it is 'colin45@hotmail.co.uk' Please send as friends and family to avoid charges. For bank transfer message organizer.

Please make a note of the organizers numbers - Colin 07709305681.

Walking Safety

Walking is a great way to keep fit and generally very safe; however it does contain an element of risk. Before going on any of these walks you need to be reasonably fit and be prepared to be responsible for your own safety. You should wear appropriate clothing such as proper walking shoes, warm and wet weather clothing and carry sufficient food and water. Please see our Terms and Conditions (https://www.meetup.com/Chiltern-Explorers/pages/Terms_and_Conditions/)

COULD EVERYONE PLEASE AVOID COMMENTS BELOW THAT ARE NOT SPECIFIC TO THE EVENT AS THIS GENERATES SPAM, JUST CHANGE YOUR RSVP IF YOU CAN'T GO. YOU CAN MESSAGE THE ORGANIZER, MANY THANKS.