[from Pegsdon follow the Bunyan Trail for an obvious link to
Hexton, and on to Harlington, see route map linked below]
Length:
25.6 km (16.0 mi) [with shortcuts: 20.7 km (13.0 mi)] or 28.9 km (17.9 mi) to
Harlington
Ascent/descent:
414 m or 476m to Harlington
Toughness:
7/10, or 8/10 to Harlington
9.22 Peterborough train from Kings Cross (9.28 Finsbury Park), arriving Hitchin at 9.52.
Return trains: from Hitchin - four per hour until very
late, the fast ones are departing on xx.00 and xx.30;
from
Harlington (to St. Pancras and all
other Thameslink stations) – also four per hour on xx.08, xx.25, xx.41 and
xx.55.
Note: you will need two
separate singles for the Harlington Ending (both Off-Peak tickets cost £12.70 each
at full price).
This
Hertfordshire walk covers the hilly area west of Hitchin. The morning route
leads along farm tracks, field boundaries, shaded grassy lanes and through a
few woods across the most north easterly ridge of The Chilterns, in Great
Offley, to the steep chalk downlands of Pegsdon Hills and Knocking Hoe,
dissected by quiet flat bottomed valleys, which form the scenery around the
lunch stop in Pegsdon, where the terraced pub garden provides stunning views
overlooking the hills.
From
Knocking Hoe the ancient Icknield Way leads to the pretty village of Pirton,
with its impressive remains of a motte-and-double bailey and traces of an
abandoned medieval village.
On
the outskirts of Hitchin, Oughtonhead Common is a mature alder and willow fen
woodland, whose diversity of habitats is surprisingly large. From there the
route follows the high quality chalk river Oughton all the way to its wellhead.
The final stretch leads past a very charming farm gate café to Hitchin’s old
town, which has kept its medieval market town feel and has many fine Tudor and
Georgian buildings. Pass
St. Mary’s Church, the largest parish church in Hertfordshire and evidence of
how Hitchin prospered from the wool trade, and brave a final steep ascent
through a park to then re-trace part of the morning route back to the train
station at the easterly end of town.
This
is a stile-free walk.
Hexton to Harlington: the amazing Barton
Hills, possibly the most scenic Downs
north of the Thames (close to London) with their hillside springs, then
rolling fields to Harlington.
Lunch: The Live and Let Live
Country Inn in Pegsdon
(13.7 km/8.5 mi, food to ) or The Motte & Bailey
(food all day) or The Fox (food to 15.00), both
in Pirton (17.0 km/10.6 mi into the
main walk, 14.4 km if taking Shortcut I). If
finishing in Harlington, there is also The Raven of Hexton (15.9 km/9.9 mi, food all day).
Tea:
Oughtonhead Farm Garden Gate Tea Room, one of the finest tea stops on any walk (3.8 km/2.4 mi from the end, open
to 16.00 usually, call ahead if running late), and plenty of options in Hitchin
(see pdf). If finishing in
Harlington,
there is also The Olde Watermill (5.4 km from the end) and two pubs in
Harlington.
For
walk directions, a route map,
photos or gpx/kml files: click here.t=swc.234
For
the Harlington Ending you’ll find
all necessary stuff here.
2 comments:
I should be there - let's hope the sun is still shining!
n=13 w=overcast_clearing_to_sunny_and_hot
The weather turned out much better than forecast (resulting in sun burn for some) and 13 enjoyed a fine day out in the countryside near Hitchin. This a particularly lovely walk just 30 minutes from Kings Cross and with a sub £9 return ticket if you have a railcard.
About 9 picknicked up on Pegsdon Hills (a particularly fine picnic spot) looking down a steep slope over the Bedforshire plain. The rest took lunch at The Live and Let Live. After lunch, the walk writer explored the link to another walk finishing in Harlington, but everyone else continued on the circular walk back to Hitchin. Anyone who had done the walk before couldn't resist the route back as it meant a chance to stop at Oughtonhead Farm Garden Gate Tea Room. A delightful place to stop for tea: homemade lovely cakes, tea served in vintage china, with seating outside in a lovely garden.
The walk is simply lovely, maybe especially so at this time of the year. Fields of crops in various shades of green, some beginning to turn golden, gentle hills, footpaths through fields clearly marked, dramatic views from up on the Pegsdon Hills, a pleasant nature reserve on the outskirts of the town and a fine tea stop. Hitchin itself offers plenty of watering holes and 3 of us enjoyed a drink or two at the CAMRA-endorsed Half Moon pub. Back to London on the 18:30 train.
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