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This Week's Walks - Archive

Please see the Saturday Walker's Club This Week's Walks page.

This is an archive of walks done by the Saturday Walker's Club. You should only need to use this page if the SWC website is down.

Sunday 21 February 2016

Sunday Second Walk - Hertfordshire woodlands

Extra Walk 168a Broxbourne to Bayford
Length: 18.8km (11.7 miles) Toughness: 5/10

09:58 Cambridge train from Liverpool Street (Tottenham Hale 10:10) arriving at Broxbourne at 10:23.
Or 09:45 Hertford East train from Stratford arriving Broxbourne at 10:15.
Return trains from Bayford to Moorgate, calling at numerous stations in north London are at xx22 and xx:52 (journey time 45 minutes).

The outward and return journeys are on separate, non-intersecting, lines operated by different train companies, so you’ll probably need two single tickets. If you plan to do the full circular walk back to Broxbourne the ticketing issue won’t be a problem. The easiest option is to use an Oyster card, since both stations are within the Oyster zone.

This walk follows a circuitous route that explores age old trails, paths and green lanes through a diverse woodland setting. As always when walking in woods, following the written directions carefully is essential, and a map and compass are recommended. Today is the first posting of the alternative ending at Bayford, though those with sufficient energy could choose to complete the 15-mile main walk back to Broxbourne. Most of the walk is done before lunch, hence the relatively early start.

The recommended lunch stop is The Woodman & Olive (01992 463719) in Wormley West End. As always on a Sunday, reserving a table is advisable.

You will need to download the Walk Directions.

15 comments:

Kelda said...

Could be tempted...anyone else contemplating a Sunday outing?

Thomas G said...

Intend going

Anonymous said...

Are you sure you can use Oyster from Bayford? tfl.gov.uk doesn't seem to know about it...

Kelda's neighbour said...

Well if you two are coming out on Sunday, it would be a shame to stay at home; and indeed you can travel with an Oyster card to Broxbourne but it seems not from Bayford.

Kelda said...

Excellent news! Has a table been reserved for lunch?

Chris L said...

It is true that Bayford, on the Hertford North line, is just outside the Oyster zone, though all stations to Hertford East are within the zone - just one of the curious Oyster anomalies. Apologies for the misinformation.
A table for 6 has been reserved at The Woodman & Olive in the name of the SWC, but please phone the pub as you set out from Broxbourne to confirm numbers and expected arrival time.

Anonymous said...

Hi, interested in this walk but wondering about the mud levels if it's been raining ?

Pamela Harling said...

Plan to come and have pub lunch. Pamela H

Marc Ricketts said...

I might intend to go. But I can't Guarantee I will. If I do. I would take the Bus instead of the train and probably meet up at Broxbourne station. That's my convenience.

Marc Ricketts said...

If you have a London Freedom pass. And if you take the Train from Bayford. Including a Railcard or not. Ask for a Single to Crews Hill.

Kelda said...

Thanks Chris. What time is the table booked for?

Chris L said...

Kelda, I told them probably around 1:00pm, but Thomas will be with you and it's his walk, so he should be able to advise you.

Chris L said...

Advice from Sean on best rail ticket to buy: "Although Broxbourne and Bayford are on different lines you can get quite cheap super off-peak tickets to "Hertford Stations" and both lines go there (H North & H East). That ought to be valid out and back."

Thomas G said...

n=15 w=overcast-all-day
14 off the train, 1 on an earlier train, who we caught & overtook in the woods, but later surprisingly re-encountered at the lunch pub, as she had tsubsequently gotten lost in the woods and had to ask locals for the most direct route to the pub.
High levels of mud, even compared to the winter that the original research to this walk had taken place: several 'ponds' in places where I had never encountered any before. The conditions slowed our pace quite a bit, so that we only got to the pub at 13.40. The Woodman & Olive is a very pleasant place, with tasty East Med cuisine, but possibly could do w/o the piped music in an already noise-filled, packed pub.
Two walkers then took the ultimate shortcut, following roads back to Broxbourne, the sandwichers had moved on already, which left 8 of the lunchers to embark on the Bayford ending, 4 of which halted at The Farmer's Boy for a bevvie (or hot chocolate).
Quite a rebellious group all-in, repeatedly questioning the 'leaders' choice of right/left turn, perplexing when it was well known that said 'leader' was the walk's author, but hey: that's the SWC spirit, we love it for that!

friendly neighbour said...

Rebellious? Who are you talking about? Meek, and following orders (B=B and all that) at the bar was much more like it. And a leader, whose vocab does not cotain the word shortcut, suddenly announced he was going to Bayford. The rest of, 3 of whom were being exceptionally brave initially and ready for another 10k of deep mud, were told that said leader called it a day at 4pm. Disappointment all around! We followed suit, not wanting to outdo said excellent leader. We had a lot of fun despite the knee-deep mud (10/10 for organising that) and the pub food was delicious (we missed Greek dancing somehow). So good, I forgot my map :(
got home in time to check in at teatime on future co-hols/walkers that did urban park walk! (they survived)