Circular 19.5km. (12.1 miles) ..
..or .. 9.1 miles to Ashwell-and-Morden station.
Difficulty 2/10
An amble through Hertfordshire countryside to the ancient settlement of Ashwell. There are usually good displays of cow parsley in the morning. Today is “Ashwell at Home” day, a village-wide event that raises funds for local groups. To visit the event proper, you should buy a ticket ( £8 advance, £10 on the day) but you'll still catch glimpses (morris dancers etc.) if you’re just passing through.
The 14th C church there contains medieval graffiti, some referring to the Great Plague. It should be free to visit.
A shorter 9.1 mile walk, finishing at Ashwell and Morden station is also possible.
Trains: 09:40 Cambridge train from St Pancras (platform B) arriving Baldock at 10:24.
Trains back from Baldock at xx:24 (to Kings Cross) and xx:49 (to St Pancras)
Trains from Ashwell-and-Morden at xx:19 and xx:44.
(A return to Ashwell-and-Morden, one stop further, is the same price as one to Baldock).
Lunch: There are three pubs in Ashwell: the Rose and Crown (01462 742420), the Bushel and Strike (01462742394), and the Three Tuns (01462 742107). The last is probably best suited.
Tea The George and the The Old White Horse are both near Baldock station.
No tea stop near Ashwell & Morden station.
Walk directions here
! Note that at point 26, the full walk, back to Baldock, incorporates a stretch of path that is not an official right of way. We have used it for quite a few years, but if you’d rather avoid it, take the shorter ending from Ashwell to Ashwell-and-Morden station.
T=swc.91
2 comments:
I did this walk in late November. At Point 26 there was nothing to suggest a path and at the far end not only was there a sign saying 'keep out' or similar, but there was a chain across the exit. It was easy to get over or under, but the messaging was clear!
N=3 and a dog set off on a w=cloudy-chilly-windy day. A pleasant morning walk the paths adorned with cow parsley and hoary cress.
The festival was in progress when we reached Ashwell. The medieval dancers were just setting up, Morris dancers were rattling through the streets. We looked at the graffiti in the church . Then, on my advice , we retired to the Three Tuns. What a change. I was expecting a garden full of festival buzz, a stage with music and morris dancers etc. etc. there was nothing - as dead as a door nail. The pub was friendly enough though. One had cheesy chips.
My walking companions had opted for the Ashwell ending, so we never went back through the village. I decided to accompany them. A first for me.
In our defence, we did take an L-shaped detour along bridle ways, which added a bit of length and broke up the trek along the road. So we probably done about 10 miles.
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