Walk 61: Danesbury Park Loop

2.4 miles (3.9 km) with 26m total ascent

The route between points 4 & 5

This circular walk explores the northern outskirts of old Welwyn. The first part, as the route climbs up to Danesbury Park close to the A1(M), can be noisy. Once through Danesbury Park the route passes some WWII anti-tank obstacles before dropping down to Singlers Marsh Nature Reserve. It then follows the course of the River Mimram, which is one of only 200 chalk bed rivers in the world.

Singlers Marsh and surrounding area can be flooded after heavy rain so it is best to walk this route in dry weather. If you walk this route in wet weather and come across flooding on Fulling Mill Lane there is an option to head SSE from point 5 in the walk following the pedestrian pavement alongside Codicote Road (B656) for 770m to rejoin the route at point 7.

There are several opportunities for refreshments in Welwyn including The White Horse and The Wellington.

Getting there

There are many bus stops in Welwyn close to the start of the walk. For those wanting to travel to the start of the walk by bus please go to the Intalink site then enter "Welwyn" to see the options.

Fly through preview of walk

If you want to check what sort of landscape you will be crossing before you set off on this walk you can view a short 3D video of the route below. It's created using the free version of Relive.

Directions

Map for Walk 61: Danesbury Park Loop
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Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker
Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors
There is an interactive map below the 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.

Park in old Welwyn. There are a number of car parks in the town. We parked in the local authority car park mentioned below.

1: From the car park off Lockleys Drive (location - https://w3w.co/duke.tuck.birds) head NE on Wendover Drive for 290m until you reach Church Road. Cross Church Road then make your way along Roman Road (location - https://w3w.co/valid.hugs.rift) which is just behind Clock House Gardens. Head NE for 180m to the point where you reach a footpath on the left (location - https://w3w.co/rare.rope.appeal).

2: Go through a gate then take Welwyn footpath 39. This next section can be noisy because the A1(M) will be on your right. Head NNE then N uphill for 916m until you reach Danesbury Park Road (location - https://w3w.co/clever.bands.buddy).

3: Turn left on Danesbury Park Road then follow it SW for 360m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/rare.plans.oppose).

4: Turn right then follow the road first WNW and then SW. As you walk along this road, look in the verge to your left where you will spot more than a dozen anti-tank obstacles left over from WWII.

Along the route, and also on your left, you will see a set of stairs through the trees. At this point you can turn left towards the stairs then take a right turn on a footpath just before you meet them then follow a footpath that runs parallel to the lane you were on and meets it at a gate. Alternatively, continue down the lane until you reach Codicote Road (location - https://w3w.co/outer.neck.looks).

 

5: Cross Codicote Road then take the footpath opposite side, Codicote footpath 44 (location - https://w3w.co/woes.tooth.cowboy).

Head SW for 130m until you reach Fulling Mill Lane and Fulling Mill (location - https://w3w.co/moods.rock.bits).

Turn left then head S along Fulling Mill Lane for 70m looking out for a footpath on your left as you approach a ford (location - https://w3w.co/orders.sugar.wiping).

Follow the path left into Singlers Marsh Nature Reserve.

 

6: Head SSE on Codicote footpath 46 for 140m to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/gently.nets.themes). Here you have two options.

If Singles Marsh isn't flooded you can turn left on Welwyn footpath 57 then head E then SSE for 320 before continuing on Welwyn footpath 56 for 210m heading SSE with the River Mimram on your left.

If Singles Marsh is flooded and Welwyn Footpath 57 is underwater you can head SE on Welwyn footpath 56 to avoid the flooded section.

 

7: Rejoin Fulling Mill Lane at its junction with Codicote Road (location - https://w3w.co/miss.keeps.tunnel), turn right then head SSE on Codicote Road for 180m until you reach the junction with Church Street with the church of St Mary the Virgin on your left and The Wellington on your right (location - https://w3w.co/asking.amused.scuba).

8: Turn left then head ENE along Church Street for 150m until you reach Lockleys Drive (location - https://w3w.co/lanes.salon.votes) where you turn right back to the car park.

Interactive map

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