Walk 111: Gustard Wood East Loop

4.3 miles (7 km) with 45m of total ascent

The bridleway between points 1 and 2

A figure-of-eight walk from Ayot St Lawrence to Gustard Wood and back crossing parkland, farmland and woodland. The route is mainly flat with good paths along the way. There is a pub at the start and finish and one at the halfway point. The route passes two historic churches and Shaw's Corner, the home of the late George Bernard Shaw.

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 111: Gustard Wood East Loop
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Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker
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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 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.

The Brocket Arms

1: As you face The Brocket Arms on Hill Farm Lane (location - https://w3w.co/shock.organ.emerge) turn left then head NE along the lane until you reach the bend (location - https://w3w.co/influencing.comb.churn).

Turn left on Ayot St Lawrence bridleway 10

Turn left then walk down a metalled track and through two brick pillars. This is Ayot St Lawrence bridleway 10 which you follow N for 570m. You will pass through some metal gates and a sign reading 'Manor House' before continuing down a gravel track with Ayot House on your left. Continue until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/serve.tried.urgent).

Turn left on Codicote footpath 37

2: Turn left on Codicote footpath 37 then head SW for 410m, with the hedgerow on the left and the field on your right. Continue until you reach a gate in the corner of the field (location - https://w3w.co/zips.pill.meant), see image below.

Go through the gate then head S

3: Go through the gate then head SSW and diagonally across the field on Ayot St Lawrence footpath 5. Continue for 300m until you reach a gate leading to the new Ayot St Lawrence Church (location - https://w3w.co/beans.given.orbit).

Take the footpath on the left Kimpton footpath 11

4: Don't go through the gate into the churchyard, but instead keep right on Kimpton footpath 11 heading NW for 70m, with the hedgerow on the left and field on the right.

Continue until you reach a footpath on the left (location - https://w3w.co/such.send.spit). Take this path, Kimpton footpath 14, then head W for 410m until you reach Bibbs Hall Lane (location - https://w3w.co/tooth.paths.robots).

5: Turn left on Bibbs Hall Lane then head SSE for 260m until you reach a track on the right at the point where the lane bends to the left (location - https://w3w.co/pace.shack.looks).

6: Turn right on the track then head SSW for 130m until you reach a footpath crossing (location - https://w3w.co/leader.trials.stand).

7: Turn right on Wheathampstead footpath 36 then head W for 775m until you reach a gate (location - https://w3w.co/still.solar.salads).

8: Continue heading W, now on Kimpton footpath 12, for 315m to a gate (location - https://w3w.co/serves.oasis.intervals).

Wheathampstead footpath 36 heading W - point 7

9: Go through the gate then head SW for 150m across a livestock field. Continue until you reach a gate (location - https://w3w.co/waddle.minus.herb).

10: Go through the gate then continue on Kimpton footpath 12 now heading W for 195m until you reach the B651 Ballslough Hill (location - https://w3w.co/flap.coffee.always).

11: Turn left walk past the Cross Keys pub on your right (location - https://w3w.co/alien.smooth.paint). Head SW along Ballslough Hill for 70m until you reach a bridleway on the left.

12: Turn left on Wheathampstead bridleway 101 (location - https://w3w.co/memory.topped.spin) then head SSE through woodland for 155m until you cross a track (location - https://w3w.co/fruit.cared.rats).

13: Cross the track then continue on Wheathampstead bridleway 101, now heading SSE for 450m until you reach the B651 Lamer Lane (location - https://w3w.co/fishery.snail.sobs).

14: Turn left and then turn left again down a lane (location - https://w3w.co/hill.badge.toxic) which, after the last house on your right joins up with Wheathampstead footpath 37 then heads ENE and uphill along a metalled lane for 600m until the track bends to the left. (location - https://w3w.co/lanes.month.theme).

15: Follow the metalled lane (which is still Wheathampstead footpath 37) as it bend turn left, hen head N for 180m on Wheathampstead footpath 41 until you reach the gates of Lamer Park Farm (location - https://w3w.co/critic.harsh.pills), see image below.

Take the footpath to the right of the wooden gate - point 10

16: Turn right before the gates on Wheathampstead footpath 37 then head NE for 830m to the junction you crossed at point 7 in the walk (location - https://w3w.co/pouch.flute.closes).

17: Turn right on Kimpton footpath 13 then head ENE for 210m before reaching a footpath junction (location - https://w3w.co/bricks.powder.filed).

18: Continue straight taking Wheathampstead footpath 99. Head ESE for 350m until you reach Bride Hall Lane (location - https://w3w.co/trying.tile.reef).

19: Turn left on the lane then head NNE for 280m passing Shaw's Corner on the left (location - https://w3w.co/gent.going.bars) before the lane bends to the right (location - https://w3w.co/rival.copy.transit).

20: Keep right then walk past Ayot St Lawrence old church (location - https://w3w.co/grapes.basket.flips), see image below, then continues for 120m heading NE back to the start point.

Ayot St Lawrence old church - point 11

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Interactive map

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