Sculpture Gardens, Rivers & Woodlands | Free Hike 26km (16mi)

📈 GRADE 🥾🥾🥾🥾 Level 3.5/5 (mostly flat, long distance, steady pace)
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🧠 How it will feel
Regular hikers → comfortable but long
Casual walkers → challenging by the end
Newcomers → this will feel tough
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🛑 IMPORTANT: THIS HIKE IS NOT SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS.
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Join us for a 26 km moderate+ spring hike from Roydon to Bishop’s Stortford, featuring riverside trails, bluebell woodlands, and a unique sculpture stop.

Expect a steady pace (5.5 km/h) and a rewarding mix of open countryside, ancient woodland, and a relaxed pub finish.

Starting in Roydon, we follow grassy, gravel, and occasionally muddy tracks through open fields and rolling pastures, with plenty of big sky views along the way. Early on, we walk alongside the peaceful River Ash before joining sections of the Hertfordshire Way and the Harcamlow Way.

The route then takes us along quiet country lanes and into ancient woodlands, where we may catch the bluebells in bloom.

A highlight of the day is Perry Green, home to the Henry Moore Studios, with an optional opportunity to enter and view the sculptures (entry fee may be required).

Extended lunch break of approximately 1 to 1.5 hour to allow participants to optionaly enter the centre and view the sculptures.

🛑 TICKET ENTRY PRICE: https://tickets.henry-moore.org/category/70435

We continue through the charming village of Much Hadham before finishing in Bishop's Stortford, where we’ll stop at Wetherspoons for an optional social. It’s then just a short 10-minute walk to the station.

A great mix of countryside, woodland, history, and a relaxed social finish. Perfect for a spring Sunday 🌼
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OVERVIEW
📏 Distance: 26 km (≈16 miles)
💪 Difficulty: Moderate+
⛰️ Ascent / Descent: 150 m ↑ / 121 m ↓
⏱️ Walking time: approx. 6 hrs
🕒 Total time: approx. 7 hours including breaks
🚶 Pace: Not a slow Sunday stroll. Expect steady, continuous walking at around 5.5 km/h (approx. 11 min/km on easier sections).

You should be comfortable walking 25 km+ at a steady pace without struggling. If you are unsure about your ability to maintain this pace over the full distance, please choose a shorter or easier event.
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MEETING POINT AND TIMINGS
📍 Meeting point: 09:20 at the entrance to Roydon train station
🚶 Hike start: 09:30 sharp
🏁 Finish: approx. 18:00 in Bishop’s Stortford

Note: Please arrive on time. We won’t be able to hold up the whole group for late arrivals.
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🚂 TRAINS

From London (Liverpool Street)
Take the 08:40 train, arriving in Roydon at 09:23.

💚 Suggested ticket (cheap hack):
Departing from: London Liverpool Street
Going to: Cambridge
Via: Bishops Stortford
With Network Rail Card
Cost £12:55
See attached Image1 and Image2
(thank you Anne for suggesting it)

From Bishops Stortford
Take the 08:57 train, arriving in Roydon at 09:12.
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↩️ RETURN JOURNEY
Regular trains run from Bishop's Stortford to Roydon, London Liverpool Street, and Stansted Airport.
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🅿️ CAR PARKING
Bishop's Stortford
Station Road, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 3BL
what3words location: [///faced.edit.pads](https://what3words.com/faced.edit.pads)

Roydon
Limited parking at Roydon railway station
what3words location: ///status.onions.slips
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🍔🚻 LUNCH AND FACILITIES
Lunch: Bring a packed lunch
Facilities: Henry Moore Visitor Centre (approx. 13 km in, ~3.5 hours)

Extended lunch break of approximately 1 to 1.5 hour to allow participants to enter the centre and view the sculptures.
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🎒 WHAT TO BRING
Packed lunch, snacks, and sufficient water
Proper hiking boots with grips. No trainers
Weather-appropriate layers and proper waterproofs
Fully charged phone
Personal medication and basic first aid
Sun protection
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📅 RSVP & ATTENDANCE
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, did not cancel before the start time, or cancelled just before or after the start time.

Repeated no-shows or late cancellations without a valid reason may lead to removal.

Members on the waitlist may message the host, but spaces will be allocated at the host’s discretion.
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✅ WHO CAN JOIN
Adults aged 21 and over
No children
No pets
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👣 GROUP PACE & PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES
This is a friendly, social hike where we walk together and enjoy the experience as a group.

Please stay with the group rather than hiking ahead independently, as the aim is to connect and share the journey.

Participants should choose events suited to their fitness level and be able to maintain the advertised pace. The overall pace will not be adjusted for individuals.

A back marker may not always be present, so please keep others in sight and remain within a reasonable distance of the group.

To help keep the group together: Faster walkers should wait at junctions. If someone ahead is moving significantly slower, feel free to pass and stay with the main group. Organisers may pause at suitable points to regroup

While we make reasonable efforts to keep everyone together, it is not practical or safe to stop frequently for individuals who are unable to maintain the pace. In such cases, participants may need to continue at their own pace.

If you choose to move ahead of the group or leave the group structure, you will be considered to be continuing independently and responsible for your own route and safety. If you do so without informing an organiser, it will be assumed that you are managing independently.

By attending, you agree to follow these guidelines.
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EXIT POINTS
Taxis can be arranged from Perry Green and Much Hadham
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CONTACT
📞 For pre-event questions, please message the event host via Meetup. On the day of the walk, if required, you may contact AdrianB via WhatsApp on +44 (0) 7438 812 663.
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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. Neither the host nor the group can be held liable for injury, loss, or damage.