11.6 miles, difficulty 4/10.
This walk, a variant of the Knebworth Circular, goes through Knebworth Park, glimpses Knebworth House and, later, passes near the ancestral home of the Queen Mother. You also pass a church associated with the family, that’s worth a look. But today’s big stars are the bluebells in Graffidge Wood. “Arguably the best bluebell walk in the SWC repertoire” said one admirer. “Could eat Dockey Woods for breakfast” said another (me).
Trains:
Get the 10:02 (possibly Royston) train from Kings Cross, Platform 9 (Finsbury Park 10:08) arriving Knebworth 10:39.
Return from Hitchin at xx:00 and xx:30, with a slower train at xx:34. Get a return to Hitchin.
Lunch
The recommended choice, after you’ve turned onto the Hitchin walk, is the community-owned, CAMRA-recognised, Red Lion in Preston 01462 459585. You should reach this about 1:30. Booking advised.
An earlier possibility would be a short diversion to the village of Whitwell, using the main (circular) directions (page 9), to find Emily's Teashop 01438 871928. (The Bull Inn there 01438 871513 also does food.
Tea The directions recommend Halsey's Deli in Hitchin - near St Mary's Church - open till 5.
If it's beer you're after, try the Half Moon, 57 Queen Street (01462 452 448), winner of several CAMRA awards You'll find this on the right hand side where you would turn left into Bridge Street (para 25).
Walk Directions here
If you like to use a printout, the pages needed are 6-9, then 21-25. When you get to point 17 in the main walk, skip forward to page 21 where the walk to Hitchin continues. (If, perchance, you finish in Knebworth, trains back from there are at xx:44). t=swc.353
2 comments:
I am doing the Walk Tomorrow. But i am taking the Train from Potters Bar as its sort of nearer Home and Convenient for me.
N=8 Another w=sunny day. Another long way to lunch. More bluebells. Lots more bluebells. Graffridge Wood didn’t disappoint. Nor did the many other bluebell woods we passed. By the time we reached Preston we were all bluebelled out.
100% cohesion today. No boy racers, no laggards. This possibly due to able shepherding by the walk’s author.
The field with the scary bullocks was empty -almost a disappointment, but hey ho.
Most picnicked in Preston. In the Red Lion, one ordered a crab linguini that took ages to come. (We were beginning to wonder if it had an escape claws).
All reconvened for a drink. Mr Tiger started with cider (provided by kindly benefactor) and rounded it off with a tasty dark mild. (Well, it was a long wait).
Then on, at what felt like a cracking pace, but still 100% cohesion. We paused briefly at Charlton piggery to coo over the baby piggies. Then into Hitchin, where some headed straight for the station . Others for Halseys, where a kindly benefactor provided tea and cakes. Mr Tiger looked longingly at the Half Moon but it sounded as bit noisy in there.
Back on the 17:30. Another grand day out.
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