FREE HIKE 22 Km | Ancient Oaks and Chalk Rivers | Hertford Circular

📈 Grade: 🥾🥾🥾 Level 3/5 (not strenuous)
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A relaxed but full-day countryside hike with parkland, villages, chalk rivers, and a social lunch stop, starting and finishing in Hertford. This is a moderate-paced hike with plenty of opportunity to chat and get to know your fellow hikers along the way.
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📍 MEETING POINT:
10:10 - Hertford North railway station entrance
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🚶 WALK STARTS:
10:20 - Hertford North railway station entrance

🏁 WALK FINISHES:
Between 16:30 and 17:00 - Hertford town centre
20 minutes walk to Hertford North railway station
20 minutes walk to Hertford East railway station
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⚠️ DIFFICULTY:

• Distance: Approximately 22 km (13.7 miles)
• Difficulty: MODERATE
• Ascent and descent: 207 m up, 206 m down
• Elevation: High point 90 m, low point 39 m
• Average pace: About 4.5 km/h, up to 5.5 km/h
• Walking time: Around 5 hours
• Total duration: Approximately 6 hours including breaks and stops

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🗻 TERRAIN: Mostly flat walking along woodland trails and through a nature reserve, with grassy paths, some muddy sections beside fields, and occasional pastureland where ponies may be grazing. There are a few gentle inclines, but nothing strenuous. There are also short stretches along quiet country lanes, so please be mindful of passing traffic.
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📜 ABOUT: Join us for a relaxed and scenic circular walk through the heart of the Hertfordshire countryside, starting and finishing in the historic county town of Hertford. From the town, we head into Panshanger Park, a vast 1,000-acre landscape of open parkland, ancient woodland, farmland, and chalk river habitats. This beautiful estate is home to the famous Great Oak and many veteran trees that have stood for centuries, along with rich wildlife including birds, bats, deer, and seasonal wildflowers.

From Panshanger, we continue toward the village of Tewin, a classic English village known for its historic cottages, village green, and peaceful atmosphere that feels largely untouched by modern development.

We pause here for a relaxed and sociable lunch stop. There is a post office offering indoor seating for hot drinks and snacks, as well as a welcoming local pub with both indoor and outdoor seating for food and drinks, making this an ideal place to rest, refuel, and chat.

After lunch, we return toward Hertford along the Cole Green Way, a traffic-free route following a former railway line. With gentle gradients, a reliable surface, and a leafy green-corridor feel, this stretch is perfect for easy walking and relaxed conversation, rounding off the day in an unhurried way.

We finish back in Hertford town centre, where there is the option to visit a pub or cafe to continue socialising with fellow hikers before heading home.
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🍔 LUNCH:
Bring a packed lunch. We will stop after around 11 km, approximately 2.5 hours into the walk. There is a post office offering indoor seating for hot drinks and snacks, as well as a welcoming local pub with both indoor and outdoor seating for food and drinks. With a large group, there will not be enough time to order and eat a full meal.
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🚂 BY TRAIN:
From Finsbury Park:

• Take the 09:30 service from Finsbury Park
• Arriving at Hertford North at 10:07
• Return fare is £8.80 with a Network Railcard

From Stevenage:

• Take the 10:02 service from Stevenage
• Arriving at Hertford North at 10:14
• Return fare is £5.40 with a Network Railcard

From London Liverpool Street:

• Take the 08:48 service from London Liverpool Street
• Arriving at Hertford East at 09:39
• Walk approximately 20 minutes from Hertford East to Hertford North station
• Return fare is £12.80 with a Network Railcard

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🚗 BY CAR:
Car park at Hertford North railway station | APCOA
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🚻 TOILETS:

• Lunchtime pub or café stop in Tewin
• Natural facilities available during the walk

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🎒 WHAT TO BRING

• Packed lunch, snacks, and at least 2 litres of water
• Sturdy hiking boots
• Layers and waterproofs
• A warm layer such as a fleece or insulating jacket
• Sun protection
• Personal medication
• Basic first aid and blister plasters
• Optional walking poles (recommended for some descents)
• Fully charged phone
• Head torch
• Portable phone charger or power bank
• Dry bags or a waterproof cover for your backpack
• Whistle for emergencies
• Offline maps or GPS
• Some cash or a bank card

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📅 RSVP POLICY: RSVP only if you plan to attend. Please cancel as early as possible if you can no longer make it so others can join. A no-show means you RSVPed but did not attend, or cancelled just before or after the start time. Repeated no-shows or late cancellations without a valid reason may lead to removal. Reliable regulars who end up on a waitlist may message the host for priority consideration.
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👣 STAYING TOGETHER: A dedicated back marker is not always present, so please keep others in sight and avoid moving too far ahead or falling too far behind. Faster walkers should wait at junctions. The hike leader will pause at key points to regroup and reduce the chance of anyone becoming separated from the group. If you are unable to keep up with the group, you may be asked to navigate your own way back to safety, as it would be unreasonable to hold up a large number of people who have signed up for an event above your current fitness level.
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📞 CONTACT: Please message the event host AdrianB directly via Meetup with any questions.
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⚠️ DISCLAIMER: By joining, you confirm that you have read and accepted the group policy on the About page. You are responsible for your own safety, and neither the host nor the group can be held liable for injury, loss, or damage.
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🍃 We look forward to welcoming you on the trail.