Walk 285: Preston North Loop

6.6 miles (10.7 km) with 134m of total ascent

Preston bridleway 11 between points 23 & 24

This is a wonderful walk over high rolling countryside with magnificent views. It follows well-defined rights of way including some lovely old tree-lined byways and holloways. The walk starts and finishes at The Red Lion in Preston.

The route crosses one meadow where there was a sign asking dog owners to keep their pets on a lead. There is a pub in the hamlet of Charlton close to the halfway point.

Getting there

There are two bus stop close to the starting point. Both are called 'The Red Lion PH - Preston'. One is across the village green from the pub of the same name (location - https://w3w.co/pillow.fonts.plan). The other is 150m north of the pub (location - https://w3w.co/truly.smart.boot). Both stops are served by the number 88 bus. 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 285: Preston North Loop
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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 Red Lion at Preston

1: With your back to The Red Lion in Preston (location - https://w3w.co/basin.varieties.fakes), turn right to reach School Lane then turn left on School Lane heading NE for 110m as School Lane becomes Hitchin Road. Continue until you reach Chequers Lane on the left (location - https://w3w.co/plenty.librarian.agree), see image below.

Turn left on Chequers Lane

2: Turn left on Chequers Lane then head NW for 270m until you reach a footpath on the right soon after the last house on the right (location - https://w3w.co/ankle.care.ears), see image below.

Turn right on Preston footpath 13

3: Turn right on Preston footpath 13 then head in a northerly direction for 200m until you reach a footpath junction (location - https://w3w.co/common.weds.prime), see image below.

Head NW still on Preston footpath 13

4: Ignore the footpath on the right which leads into woodland. Continue heading NW, still on Preston footpath 13 and with the woodland on the right and the field on the left. After 145m you will reach a gap in the hedgerow (location - https://w3w.co/sheep.person.middle), see image below.

Go through the gap then head NW across a field

5: Go through the gap then head NW across a field, still on Preston footpath 13. Continue for 220m until you reach a gate (location - https://w3w.co/amuse.bounty.stay), see image below.

Go through the gate then continue heading NNW

6: Go through the gate then head N, still on Preston footpath 13. Continue for 110m until you reach a gate leading into woodland (location - https://w3w.co/assure.wiped.mock), see image below.

Go through the gate still on Preston footpath 13

7: Go through the gate then head NNE still on Preston footpath 13. Follow the footpath through woodland, see image below.

Continue for 160m until you leave the woodland at a gate

Continue for 160m until Preston footpath 13 leaves the woodland at a gate (location - https://w3w.co/regime.bolt.point), see image below.

Leave the woodland at the gate

8: Leave the woodland at the gate then head NNE still on Preston footpath 13. Continue for 120m until the path you are on crosses a parish boundary and becomes Ippollitts footpath 6 (location - https://w3w.co/amuse.mint.aside). Follow Ippollitts footpath 6 NNE for 560m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/ships.feast.chips), see image below.

Keep right at the junction on Ippollitts bridleway 5

9: Keep right at the junction on Ippollitts bridleway 5. Head N for 120m until you leave the woodland at which point the bridleway you are on becomes Ippollitts UCR1 (unclassified unmetalled county road). Continue head N on Ippollitts UCR1 for 920m until you reach Maydencroft Lane (location - https://w3w.co/lodge.head.gained), see image below.

Cross Maydencroft Lane then head NNE

10: Cross Maydencroft Lane then head NNE on Hitchin restricted byway 41.

There is a short muddy section along this byway between (location - https://w3w.co/activism.lamps.force) and (location - https://w3w.co/teach.refuse.friend). Walkers have trodden a helpful detour on the right side to help avoid the worst bit. It might be worth looking out for if it has been raining recently.

Continue for 570m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/earth.gives.hush), see image below.

Turn left on Brick Kiln Lane, which is also Hitchin restricted byway 96

11: Ignore a footpath on the left just before the junction. After passing the footpath turn left on Brick Kiln Lane, which is also Hitchin restricted byway 96. Follow Brick Kiln Lane downhill for 165m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/swaps.uses.motels), see image below.

* At this point if you need refreshments you could take a short detour by turning right then heading NW for 100m crossing the River Hiz to visit The Windmill pub/restaurant (location - https://w3w.co/pumps.alive.take). Check opening times to avoid disappointment.

Turn left then head SW

12: If you don't want to visit The Windmill pub/restaurant, turn left then head SW along a lane for 105m until you reach a bend (location - https://w3w.co/dizzy.goad.outer) see image below.

Local history: You are now in the conservation area of Charlton Mill, click here to download a PDF about the area. The mill is believed to have been established in the 12th century. It was initially owned by the Knights Templar and later by the Knights Hospitaller. The mill was likely used to grind grain for the local population. In the 19th century, the mill was owned by the Bessemer family, including inventor Henry Bessemer. The mill-wheel was adapted by Henry Bessemer's grandfather to power a small foundry. The foundry was used to produce type for printing, which was a significant industry in the area at the time. The mill continued to operate as a flour mill until the 20th century. It eventually fell into disrepair and was demolished in the 1970s. Today, there are no physical remains of Charlton Mill. The mill's connection to the Bessemer family and its role in the local economy make it an important part of the history of Hitchin and the surrounding area. (source - Gemini AI)

Turn right at the bend

13: Turn right at the bend then follow the lane WNW for 50m crossing the River Hiz at site of the old mill at Charlton before reaching Charlton Road (location - https://w3w.co/globe.tower.fields), see image below.

Turn left on Charlton Road 

14: Turn left on Charlton Road then head SW for 85m until you reach a bridleway on the right (location - https://w3w.co/trains.kind.storms), see image below.

Turn right on Hitchin bridleway 33

15: Turn right on Hitchin bridleway 33 (which is also known as Windmill Lane) then head in a westerly direction for 1.25 km until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/tasks.gladiators.risks), see image below.

Turn left at the junction on Hitchin BOAT 28

16: Turn left at the junction on Hitchin BOAT 28 then head SSE for 380m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/witty.autumn.chitchat).

Cross the junction then continue heading SSE

17: Cross the junction heading SSE.

* There is some confusion about the name of this right of way (ROW). The Hertfordshire County Council ROW map has it marked as Preston BOAT 17, but the Hertfordshire County Council Google ROW map has it marked as Preston UCR 2.

Continue heading in a southerly direction for 800m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/cage.lightbulb.shorts), see image below.

Turn right on Preston bridleway 6

18: Turn right on Preston bridleway 6 then go through a gate to enter a livestock field. We didn't meet any livestock in this field but there is a sign asking dog owners to put their pets on a lead.

'Dogs to be kept on lead' sign on Preston bridleway 6

Head SW on Preston bridleway 6 for 280m until you reach a gate leading to woodland (location - https://w3w.co/asset.escalates.producing), see image below.

Go through the gate still on Preston bridleway 6

19: Go through the gate then follow Preston bridleway 6 SSW for 420m until you reach another gate at the end of a field (location - https://w3w.co/since.tightest.nerves), see image below.

Go through the gate, still on Preston bridleway 6

20: Go through the gate, still on Preston bridleway 6, then head SSW for 365m, with the woodland on the right and field on the left, until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/arose.reservoir.coasted), see image below.

Keep straight at the junction now on Preston footpath 7

21: Keep straight at the junction now on Preston footpath 7. Continue heading SSW with the woodland on the right and field on the left for 230m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/grief.wobbles.martini), see image below.

Turn left on Preston footpath 11

22: Turn left on Preston footpath 11 then head E with the hedgerow on the right and field on the left. Continue for 90m at which point Preston footpath 11 becomes Preston bridleway 11. Continue for 340m until the bridleway goes through a gap (location - https://w3w.co/tractor.reported.differ), see image below.

Go through the gap still on Preston bridleway 11

23: Go through the gap then follow Preston bridleway 11 as it heads E keeping to the left of a line of trees, see image below.

Continue heading E on Preston bridleway 11

Continue heading E on Preston bridleway 11 for 530m until you reach Charlton Road (location - https://w3w.co/lungs.feelers.joints), see image below.

Turn right on Charlton Road

24: Turn right on Charlton Road then head S for 50m until you reach a byway on the right (location - https://w3w.co/order.sulked.poses), see image below.

Turn right on Kings Walden BOAT 48

25: Turn right on Kings Walden BOAT 48 then head SSW for 260m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/louder.along.jazzy), see image below.

Keep straight still on Kings Walden BOAT 48

26: Keep straight head SSW, still on Kings Walden BOAT 48, for 500m until you reach a footpath on the left (location - https://w3w.co/trips.finds.bolsters), see image below

Turn left on Preston footpath 5

27: Turn left on Preston footpath 5 then head in an easterly direction for 215m until you reach a gap in the hedgerow (location - https://w3w.co/bouncing.treetop.suave), see image below.

Go through the gap then continue on Preston footpath 5

28: Go through the gap then continue on Preston footpath 5 for 360m until you reach Back Lane (location - https://w3w.co/knee.slam.grades).

29: Turn left on Back Lane then head N for 30m until you reach a footpath on the right (location - https://w3w.co/sorry.purple.wakes), see image below.

 Turn right on Preston footpath 4

30: Turn right on Preston footpath 4 then head ENE for 130m until you reach a play area (location - https://w3w.co/apply.resist.crops), see image below.

Keep left at the play area still on Preston footpath 4

31: Keep left at the play area still on Preston footpath 4. Continue heading ENE for 100m until you reach Chequers Lane (location - https://w3w.co/given.taps.locker).

32: Turn right on Chequers Lane then head SE for 150m until you reach Hitchin Road (location - https://w3w.co/coherent.rail.pose).

33: Turn right on Hitchin Road then head SSE for 110m back to the start of the walk.

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Local history

The origins of Preston trace back to the pre-Norman era. Its name 'Prestune' suggests it was a settlement associated with priests, likely serving a nearby church or monastery. While not explicitly mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, the manor of Dinsley, close to Preston, is recorded, indicating a significant population in the area at the time. A notable historical event was the establishment of a religious house and estate at Dinsley by the Knights Templar. This powerful monastic and military order arrived in England in the 12th century and played a significant role in the local landscape. The Templar presence likely influenced Preston's development and may have contributed to its growth. Throughout the medieval and Tudor periods, Preston continued to evolve as a rural settlement. Agriculture and farming were central to the local economy. (source - Gemini AI)

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Interactive map

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