Walk 48: Kimpton Loop

5.2 miles (8.3 km) with 123m total ascent

The bridleway between points 2 and 3

Rolling hills, secluded footpaths, bridleways and byways cutting through woodland and crossing farmland with open views. There is a pub at the start and finish point and one close to the halfway point. See if you can spot the wood carvings along the footpath between points 2 and 3. And if you need a rest there are a couple of well-placed benches between points 7 and 8 offering great views to the south.

Directions

Map for Walk 48: Kimpton Loop
Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker
Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors
There is an interactive map embedded at the end of these directions

Those with GPS devices can download GPX or KML files for this walk. We've added What3Words location references for those who use that system. If you print these walks you might want to use the green PrintFriendly icon at the bottom of these directions to delete elements such as photographs.

1: Park in the lane outside The Brocket Arms and, facing the pub, turn left and head E until you reach the bend (location - https://w3w.co/influencing.comb.churn). Take a left turn and head N down a track, which is also Ayot St Lawrence bridleway 10, and continue for 600m.

2: When you reach a T-junction (location - https://w3w.co/drums.being.jumped) turn right and head NE for 140m before taking a track on your left. This is Codicote bridleway 38 (location - https://w3w.co/noisy.fresh.pulled) which you follow N and then NE for 970m. As you walk this route look out for wood carvings in the hedgerow, see images below.

Wood carvings between points 2 and 3

See if you can spot the carvings in the hedgerow

Continue downhill along this bridleway until you reach Kimpton Road (location - https://w3w.co/focus.starts.brave).

3: Cross the road heading slightly to your right and then take the lane almost opposite which continues N with the River Mimram on the left.

4: After 170m take the track on the left, Knebworth bridleway 30 (location - https://w3w.co/live.quiz.lost) and head N.

5: At Rye End cottages (location - https://w3w.co/often.hood.thus) continue to N walking to the right of the cottages and follow the path round until you reach Codicote Road (location - https://w3w.co/jabs.foster.movie).

6: Turn left then head NW for 25m before turning left down a drive which is also St Paul's Walden footpath 40 (location - https://w3w.co/pulled.vibe.larger). Continue SW along this drive, passing over an ornamental bridge which crosses the River Mimram. Continue for 110m until you reach a gate on the left (location - https://w3w.co/olive.tame.priced), see image below.

The gate mentioned in point 6 above

7: Go through this gate and continue heading W uphill now on Kimpton footpath 26 for 180m until you reach a gate at the top of the hill. Keep walking W, with the woodland on your right and the field on the left. There are two perfectly positioned benches along this route offering excellent views to the south. The first is at (location - https://w3w.co/warm.uses.spine), and the second at (location - https://w3w.co/froze.stem.worm). Follow Kimpton footpath 26 for 860m until you reach a footpath junction (location - https://w3w.co/buck.song.bought).

8: Turn left then follow the farm road, which is also Kimpton footpath 25, for 1km SW down to Kimpton (location - https://w3w.co/dozen.maps.hops).

9: When you reach Hitchin Road go straight across then take Kimpton footpath 30 (location - https://w3w.co/summer.serve.steep). After 160m you will come to a footpath junction (location - https://w3w.co/cling.summer.mile).

10: Turn left then take Kimpton footpath 21 head S for 15m before turning left through an alleyway (location - https://w3w.co/headed.effort.yards). Follow the path round to the right and head S past cottages and along Church Lane for 220m until you reach High Street, the B651 (location - https://w3w.co/buck.parts.busy).

* At this point you could head W along High Street for 270m to visit The Boot pub/restaurant (location - https://w3w.co/shall.copy.bath).

11: Turn right on High Street. After 40m take the footpath on your left, Kimpton footpath 1 (location - https://w3w.co/glove.awake.vouch) and follow it S and uphill past the rugby pitch on your left.

At the top, the track bends round to the changing rooms, ignore this and head straight on and up some steps before reaching a field (location - https://w3w.co/loved.prices.serves).

12: Turn left and head W, SW and then S, still on Kimpton footpath 1 and follow the path for 550m with the hedgerow on the left and a field on the right until the path reaches the B651, Ballslough Hill (location - https://w3w.co/mobile.blows.decide). The final part of this path will be along a permissive path to avoid walking on the road.

13: When you reach Ballslough Hill cross and take the track opposite, Kimpton footpath 11 (location - https://w3w.co/good.volunteered.maps), and head ESE for 300m until the path veers to the right (location - https://w3w.co/jump.stared.ties) and heads SE crosses over a field heading downhill for 370m before reaching Claggbottom Wood (location - https://w3w.co/lobby.posed.sailor).

The path across this field is usually well-defined. It can be slippy after rain and the clay sticks to your boots. But don't worry, you can clean them up in the woodland. Walk through Claggbottom Wood and follow the path for 540m until you reach a gate leading to a field (location - https://w3w.co/commented.human.tags). Continue heading SE for 300m until you reach a gate into the churchyard at the new St Lawrence Church (location - https://w3w.co/beans.given.orbit).

14: Go through the gate, turn left, go through another gate, and head SE along Ayot St Lawrence footpath 5 for 310m until you reach Hill Farm Lane (location - https://w3w.co/mull.cave.boring). Turn left and head E back to the starting point.

Interactive map