[with shortcuts down to 20.8 km/12.9 mi, also has one
bus dropout]
Net Walking Time: ca. 6 hours, Toughness: 7 out of
10
Take the 09.35 Ely train from King’s
Cross (Finsbury Park [Piccadilly and Victoria Lines] 09.42, Stevenage 10.03),
arrives Hitchin 10.08.
Return trains: xx.11, xx.41, xx.55.
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
Local Nature Reserve 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.
Lunch: The Live and Let
Live in Pegsdon (13.7 km/8.5
mi, food all day);
or The Motte & Bailey
in Pirton on the short walk (14.4
km/8.9 mi, food to 15.00).
Tea: plenty of options, see the pdf.
For walk directions, map, photos, height profile and gpx/kml
files click here. T=swc.234
1 comment:
After seeing growing amounts of snow cover on the train journey, n=7 eagerly emerged on the platform in Hitchin under w=bright-mostly-sunny-skies. As a Hitchin virgin, I was somewhat apprehensive about tackling this long walk in early February -- but it was a winter delight with good snow cover, particularly on the hills....Two opted for the short version, leaving 5 on the long-haul who had a rather leisurely (but educational) lunch or drinks at the quirky pub just below the escarpment with fine views back to the snow-capped hills. Once finished with lunch, we headed back up the hill with some nice afternoon views. The afternoon route is varied, including a nice section along a very clear chalk stream. Back in Hitchin at dusk, we did a circuit of the charming old town and church before enjoying some bevies in an old style pub with a wide selection of real ales and ultimately catching the 18:11... So, all in all, a really good winter outing....
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