3.8 miles (6.1 km) with 31m total ascent
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Directions
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| Map for Walk 30: Colney Heath South Loop Click here or on image for larger version Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors There is an interactive map at the bottom of this page |
Please keep to the public rights of way on this walk. We have included a map at the foot of this page showing the public rights of way around Willows Lakes in green and the paths reserved for those fishing the lakes in red.
1: Park in the lane adjacent to Colney Heath Common (location - https://w3w.co/cove.dimes.front) which is just off Coursers Road (Grid Reference: TL 20496 05654. Take the footpath which heads left and SW across the common (location - https://w3w.co/makes.mull.risks). This is Colney Heath footpath 36. Follow the path SW then W for 280m until you come to a stile on your left with a footpath heading S (location - https://w3w.co/care.quarrel.search).
2: Head SW across the field, still on Colney Heath footpath 36 and cross a footbridge with a gate either side. At this point the path becomes Ridge footpath 4 and continues across the next field heading for the gap in the hedge (https://w3w.co/awards.dome.taker).
3: Turn right once through the hedge and ignore the footpath straight ahead but instead head NW, the SW and then SSE skirting the field and stables on your left until you reach the end of the field (location - https://w3w.co/notes.brass.rang).
4: Turn right on Ridge footpath 4 and follow the path SW for 250m walking between two lakes until you come to a bridleway T-junction (location - https://w3w.co/mats.helps.palace).
5: Cross Ridge bridleway 6 and continue SW, still on Ridge footpath 4, through the woods for 560m until you reach a track (location - https://w3w.co/gift.share.noble).
6: Cross the track and go into the field directly opposite heading SW for 360m heading to the right of the car park on the far side (location - https://w3w.co/chop.panic.choice). This is Willows Farm Village, an open farm which has an admission charge for those visiting the farm but walkers using the right of ways across the property don't have to pay.
7: Continue until you reach a right turn (location - https://w3w.co/relate.woven.habit) where you head WNW for 200m to a gate (location - https://w3w.co/marked.beside.bucks) where you turn left just before the lake then head SW for 190m until you reach a track (location - https://w3w.co/issued.closed.verbs). Turn right here and head NW, NNW, then NW for 90m looking out for a path on your right (location - https://w3w.co/moth.sticky.enhancement).
8: Turn right on this path, Ridge footpath 1, then follow it NNE, NE, for 660m ignoring the first footpath on the right (location - https://w3w.co/towns.expect.faced) and continuing until you reach a second footpath on the right (location - https://w3w.co/smooth.vase.sulk).
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| Keep left at the fork on Ridge footpath 1 |
10: Keep walking past the offices of the Willows Lakes Fishery, look out for a bridleway straight ahead (location - https://w3w.co/part.name.best). Take this path, which is Ridge bridleway 6, and follow it SE for 80m crossing a wooden footbridge before reaching Ridge bridleway 2 on the left (location - https://w3w.co/shack.truly.tooth). Turn left on Ridge bridleway 2 then follow it NE for 730m to Church Lane. Along the way you will pass a model railway on the right run by the North London Society of Model Engineers (location - https://w3w.co/ruler.hips.loving). When you reach Church Lane turn left and head N for 90m until you cross the River Colne again.
11: Turn right after the river (location - https://w3w.co/pint.speeds.unrealistic), and follow Colney Heath footpath 35 for 840m E and SE across the common and back to your car.
There are a few refreshments options in Colney Heath where you will find local shops and a pub, The Crooked Billet (location - https://w3w.co/exit.humble.soaks).
Rights of way and private paths
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| Public rights of way in green, private fishing paths in red The green markers show two land-bridge across the lakes Click here or on image for larger version Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors |
Am planning to do this on Friday but the link to the pub doesn't work - should be https://www.thecrookedbilletpub.com/ ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat, thanks for letting me know. I have fixed the link. Enjoy the walk.
DeleteDid it!! Lovely walk - a friend and I did it - we started at point 7 and enjoyed reminiscing about taking our children to willows farm when they were small at the end! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the walk. We often revisit this route and also have memories of taking our children to the farm.
DeleteHi. Can you walk this with a buggy? Thx
ReplyDeleteHi, the route between points 1 & 2 is across grass and along paths that can be rutted and muddy after rain. At point 2 there is a stile. The path between 3 & 4 is often muddy when wet and rutted when dry. This might be a difficult section for pushing a buggy. There are steep steps at point 5 as well as several gates along the way. The section from 11 back to the starting point is across grassy tracks and there are sections that can be muddy after rain. I have put together a page of 'flat walks' to help those who want to walk with buggies (https://www.hertfordshirewalker.uk/p/flat-routes.html). I hope this helps. David
DeleteWe had a lovely walk. the instructions on here are so clear. Thanks for all the work the volunteers have put in.
ReplyDeleteHi Alin, so glad you enjoyed the walk. We love sharing them and hearing how people get on. Thanks. David
DeleteAnother good little route, thank you. Good variation too. I found the path between 11 and 1 quite indistinct from the point where you cross the stream and across the overgrown meadow where there was no visible footpath. Thanks again, Andy B
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback, Andy, I will nip out there and take some more photos when I get the time. Dave
DeleteAnother lovely walk on a beautiful morning. A bit muddy in places but that was not surprising - most of the route was easy going and the scenery was fantastic
ReplyDeleteHi Susie, glad you enjoyed the walk and the mud didn't spoil it. If you haven't already done so please consider joining our friendly Facebook group where fellow walkers are sharing their walking experiences and photographs. David
Deletehttps://www.facebook.com/groups/hertfordshirewalker
At point 6 you cannot cross the fields.There is rapeseed to head height, partially fallen to trip you up. You have to go round the edge of both fields
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing that. IRape seed crop is problem on many rights of way this time of the year. Glad you found a way round.
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