Shady walks

  

A regular user of Hertfordshire Walker asked me to suggest some shady walks for the hot weather. It's hard to find walks that are completely in the shade; almost all involve sections exposed to the sun. However there are a few, and I have suggested adaptations to others. If you are looking for a shady walk you might want to browse through the five suggestions below.

If you are going to try some of the adaptations please take a map or download the map we have provided for the walk so you don't get lost. And it might be worth reading our walking tips page before you set off.

And as always, all our walks are absolutely free to download and enjoy on any device. We have free directions, maps, photographs, and GPS navigation files. You don't need a paid-for subscription app to explore any of our walks. They will always be free.

Walk 81: Wormley Wood Loop

The coal tax marker at point 7 along the Wormley Wood Loop

This walk is mostly through deep woodland. Wormley Wood is part of Broxbourne Wood, Hertfordshire's only National Nature Reserve. There are a number of free parking areas (at the time of writing). Look out for the coal tax marker at point 7 on the walk. Walk 81: Wormley Wood Loop

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Walk 83: North Mymms S Long Loop

Mymmshall Wood between points 5 & 6

About half of this walk is in woodland. There is partial shade for other sections, and you will walk through sections in open sunlight. To reduce walking along open stretches consider parking alongside the road at point 5 then, when you reach point 8, turn left alongside Cangsley Grove in order to rejoin the route at point 3. This adaptation to the route is 3 miles (4.8 km). Walk 83: North Mymms S Long Loop

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Walk 56: The Great Wood, Northaw

The yellow route through The Great Wood Northaw

The Great Wood has three official routes, all are mostly through thick woodland. The blue route is less than a mile, the red route is one and a half miles, and the yellow route is almost three miles. There is a car park with an honesty box and a toilet block. Walk 56: The Great Wood, Northaw

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Walk 175: Hertford to Cole Green

The Cole Green Way

For maximum shade I suggest you do this linear walk in reverse, starting at point four and turning back at point three. The adaptation to the walk is 4.4 miles (7.1 km) return. You can park at the former Cole Green station, then head east to point three before turning back to the start point. The Cole Green station car park is free of charge at the time of writing. Walk 175: Hertford to Cole Green

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Walk 38: Ayot Greenway South Loop

The Ayot Greenway

This is another walk that can be adapted to avoid too much sun. Park at point 7 where, at the time of writing there is a free car park, then head west along the Ayot Greenway to point 6 before returning to the start point. This adaptation to the route is 2.9 miles (4.6 km) return. Most of the way is in shade or partial shade. Walk 38: Ayot Greenway South Loop

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