Walk 5 - Hertingfordbury to Marden Hill

Publicity around the church produced a record number of walkers - 22 for the round trip from Hertingfordbury - including Jackie Fowler's weekend campers...

Just as we left Hertingfordbury a heavy shower descended but spirits were not dampened and we trusted the sunshine to follow that the weather men had promised. The route started along the old Hertford to Welwyn railway line again and then cut through Birch Green and across the old Panshanger Estate - now minus its stately home which was demolished after the war but having gained the inevitable gravel workings. By now the sun was out...and the walkers were spreading out too!

The route then crossed the Mimram - now full of water again - and up past Marden Hill House which had escaped Panshanger's fate and still sits in its own grounds - before looping back across farmland and through woodland back to Hertingfordbury.

Walk 4 - Little Berkhamsted to Letty Green

Another late afternoon walk - ending with a meal at the local hostelry. The walk started along the local road - beware of the traffic said the guide book as cars hurtled past at 5o along the narrow 30 mph lane! It was a relief to cut off across country. A different terrain again today along country lanes to start and finish - but through extensive land scarring gravel workings in the middle section.

It also included a stretch along the old Hertford to Welwyn railway line - long converted into a footpath -but with alpacas (we think!) as the local animals.

Different weather too - a very windy day for August with rain threatening -but brightening into a clear and sunny evening.

Walk 3 - Bayford to Little Berkhamstead

A shorter walk this time - 5.5 miles - so ideal for an early evening and finishing up with a meal!

The start of the walk was the least interesting along cinder tracks and roads - but we passed the ventilation shafts for the Ponsbourne railway tunnel - Jean was convinced that a much grander structure on the other side of the track was another shaft but I pointed out that it was about 400 m from the tunnel - but it turned out to be the Brookmans Park navigation aid....

As we began to turn for home we walked through fields largely bordered by mature oaks with acorns beginning to swell. Most of the fields are now harvested with huge bales of straw left behind. Plenty of wildlife as we walked along - lots of woodpeckers and some very impressive fungi.

The pattern of sunlight through the trees was particularly attractive with the sun low in the sky. After sunshine all the way as we walked past the mansions of Bayford the clouds began to gather and our intention to eat outside at the Bakers Arms was curtailed by a heavy shower.

Goffs Oak to Newgate Street village

It was a glorious day today so we headed straight off from church with a picnic to Goffs Oak to do what is officially the longest link of the chain walk - 9 miles up and down either side of the railway line north to Hertford.

Goffs Oak proved to have been named after an ancient oak - sadly this had met its doom in 1950 but a new tree stood in the spot to mark it for posterity.

The walk starting by cutting through open fields, the wheat just about ripe now, and then under the railway line before climbing steeply into Cuffley. We appeared from the bushes in the expensive end of town, his, hers and theirs matching black Range Rovers - definitely 'new money'.

Then through an area of mature oak and hornbeam woodland past the scout camp and up to Newgate Street for a half time orange juice at the Coach and Horses (honestly).

Up the bridleway from there past Ponsbourne Park and the Tesco Training Centre (good place for weekend stays...). The railway had disappeared into a tunnel and was only evident by the ventilation shafts. A sharp turn right after the kennels (audible from a mile away!) and back largely through Wormley Woods, a woodland trust reserve with superb old trees before emerging on the back road to Goffs Oak where we found a gospel hall - both gates locked and phone or write to the trustees if you want to know when the services are.. - and thence home.