Walk 284: Rabley Heath North Loop

2.5 miles (4 km) with 21m of total ascent

The view from Codicote bridleway 25 at point 7

This is our second walk from Rabley Heath and is one of the shortest in the Hertfordshire Walker collection. It follows well-defined footpaths, bridleways, and quiet country lanes across some lovely countryside. The walk starts and finishes at The Robin Hood & Little John pub at Rabley Heath then passes close to The Lytton Arms which involves a 525m detour at point 6 in the walk.

The route includes a 680m section of narrow country lane between points 10 and 11. The lane, although quiet when we tested the route, doesn't have a pedestrian pavement or grass verge. So we don't recommend this route for large walking groups or those walking with small children and dogs.

You will cross some meadows. When we tested this route we didn't come across any livestock. There are some arable fields along the route that get ploughed over at certain times of the year but which are quickly reinstated by walkers.

Getting there

The closest bus stop to the route is 'Old Knebworth Park Lane Lytton Arms' (location - https://w3w.co/notion.term.themes), which is 550m from point 6 in the route. The stop is served by the numbers 44 and 45 buses. You can check bus times at Intalink.

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 284: Rabley Heath North Loop
Click on the map above for a larger version
Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker
Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors
There is an interactive map below 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.

The Robin Hood & Little John at Rabley Heath

1: With your back to The Robin Hood & Little John at Rabley Heath (location - https://w3w.co/rare.adopt.doors), turn left then head NE along a lane for 65m until you reach a footpath on the right (location - https://w3w.co/tuck.idea.stuck).

2: Turn right on Codicote footpath 29 then head NE diagonally across a meadow for 160m until you reach a gate in the hedgerow and a footpath junction (location - https://w3w.co/over.stages.gaps), see image below.

Turn left on Knebworth footpath 10

3: Turn left on Knebworth footpath 10 then head NW for 220m, with the hedgerow on the left and field on the right. Continue until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/fault.inner.likes), see image below.

Turn right on Knebworth footpath 11

4: Turn right on Knebworth footpath 11 then head NNE for 720m.

Continue on Knebworth footpath 11 until you reach a footpath on the left

Continue until you reach a footpath on the left (location - https://w3w.co/crush.nodded.gold), see image below.

Turn left on Knebworth footpath 12

5: Turn left on Knebworth footpath 12. You will now head WSW across an arable field which is ploughed over after harvest but quickly reinstated by walkers.

Continue across the arable fields on Knebworth footpath 12

Continue across the arable field on Knebworth footpath 12 heading WSW for 520m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/hers.intervals.spark), see image below.

At this point if you want refreshments you could turn right on Knebworth footpath 13 then head N for 180m until you reach a footpath on the left (location - https://w3w.co/tuck.bricks.send) where you turn left on Knebworth footpath 14 then head NW for 345m to visit The Lytton Arms (location - https://w3w.co/values.atom.puff).

Continue heading WSW on Knebworth footpath 12

6: If you don't take the detour to the pub continue heading WSW on Knebworth footpath 12 for 170m until the path bends left (location - https://w3w.co/upgrading.free.post), see image below.

Follow the path round to the left then head SW

Follow the path round to the left then head SW for 40m, with the hedgerow on the right and field on the left until the footpath bends right to reach Slip Lane (location - https://w3w.co/lungs.chief.strong).

Turn right to reach Slip Lane

7: Turn right on Slip Lane then head NW for 40m until you reach a bridleway on the left (location - https://w3w.co/themes.judge.crate), see image below.

Turn left on Codicote bridleway 25

Turn left on Codicote bridleway 25 then head WSW for 230m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/taking.trash.steps), see image below.

Bear left at the junction still on Codicote bridleway 25

8: Bear left at the junction still on Codicote bridleway 25 then head SW for 110m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/twigs.pinch.books) see image below. Along this stretch Codicote bridleway 25 changes to become Codicote UCR3 (unclassified unmetalled county road).

Continue heading SW on Codicote URC3

9: Continue heading SW on Codicote URC3 for 180m until you reach Sally Deards Lane (location - https://w3w.co/stars.snail.supper), see image below.

Turn left on Sally Deards Lane

10: Turn left on Sally Deards Lane. The next 680m of the walk are along Sally Deards Lane which is a quiet and narrow country lane without any pavement for pedestrians or grass verges. So this walk is not recommended for large walking groups or families with children and dogs.

Continue along Sally Deards Lane as it weaves SE, S, then E for 680m until you reach a footpath on the left (location - https://w3w.co/casino.storms.scars), see image below.

Turn left on Codicote footpath 27

11: Turn left on Codicote footpath 27 then head NE across a field for 210m until you reach a fence (location - https://w3w.co/refers.format.lamps), see image below.

Continue across the next field, still on Codicote footpath 27

Continue across the next field, still on Codicote footpath 27 and still heading NE for 260m until you reach Slip Lane (location - https://w3w.co/punk.focus.shed).

12: Turn right on Slip Lane then head SE for 250m then SW for 70m back to the start of the walk.

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Interactive map

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