Walk 286: Willian South Loop

4.2 miles (6.8 km) with 53m of total ascent

The Hertfordshire Way between points 4 & 5

This walk explores an area south of and including Letchworth Greenway following many permissive paths which are not marked on the Ordnance Survey map. It's an area of open countryside with some great views. The paths from point 12 to the end are popular with walkers and joggers.

You will be conscious of the noise of the A1(M) between points 2 & 4, and you will also hear traffic noise as you walk along a footpath close to Willian Road between points 13 & 15. There is a muddy/slippy section between points 9 & 10. If you are interested in birds take your binoculars because the route passes Purwell Ninesprings Nature Reserve where an elevated walkway crosses wetland. If you are lucky, as we were, you might spot a Kingfisher.

There are two pubs close to the start/finish point, The Fox (location - https://w3w.co/agent.post.happy) and The Three Horseshoes (location - https://w3w.co/cheat.fence.given).

Getting there

There isn't a bus stop close to the starting point, but there are two 50m NNW of point 12 in the walk (location - https://w3w.co/notes.down.sides). That stop is called 'Hitchin Kingswood Ave opposite Thatchers End' and is served by the number 97 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 286: Willian South 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.

Manor Wood Car Park off Roxley Court Lane

For those travelling by car you can park in the Manor Wood Car Park off Roxley Court Lane (location - https://w3w.co/soak.mining.invent). This car park was free-of-charge when we tested the route in October 2024 but please check this has not changed before leaving your car.

Exit the car park at the vehicular exit then turn right

1: Exit the Manor Wood Car Park at the vehicular exit then turn right. Head in a southerly direction and uphill for 665m until the lane ends and Letchworth Garden City bridleway 1 (location - https://w3w.co/catch.nuns.finely) starts, see image below.

Head S on Letchworth Garden City bridleway 1

2: Head S on Letchworth Garden City bridleway 1. You will notice the sound of the A1(M) which is about half a kilometre to your left as you walk the length of this bridleway. Continue for 325m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/tall.finest.tunnel), see image below.

Continue heading S, still on Letchworth Garden City bridleway 1

3: Head S at the junction, still on Letchworth Garden City bridleway 1. Continue for 300m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/sank.thin.copy), see image below.

Turn right on The Hertfordshire Way

4: Turn right on a permissive path which is also The Hertfordshire Way. Continue along this lovely track following it as it heads in a westerly direction for 1km until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/crowd.clues.door), see image below.

Turn right at the junction then cut through the hedgerow

5: Turn right at the junction then cut through the hedgerow to reach a field.

Follow the path round to the left then head NNE

Follow the permissive path round to the left then head NNE with the hedgerow (and beyond it Willian Road) on your left. Continue for 125m until you reach a gap in the hedgerow on your left (location - https://w3w.co/lush.amuse.pens) see image below.

Turn left then cross Willian Road

6: Turn left then cross Willian Road to reach a footpath on the other side (location - https://w3w.co/locked.flesh.monkey), see image below

Turn right immediately after taking the footpath

Turn right immediately after taking the footpath then turn left (location - https://w3w.co/tree.cups.dangerously), see image below.

Turn left to follow the path WNW

Head WNW along this permissive path for 155m until you reach a junction. You will see a pylon on the right (location - https://w3w.co/shapes.vanish.hugs), see image below.

Cross the junction then head W

7: Cross the junction (see line of the orange arrow on the image above) then head W, with the hedgerow on the right and field on the left, for 340m to a junction. (location - https://w3w.co/lists.flying.oasis), see image below.

Turn left at the junction then head S

8: Turn left at the junction then head S, with the hedgerow on the left and field on the right. Continue for 255m until you reach a junction and a right-hand bend (location - https://w3w.co/range.shapes.actor), see image below.

Turn right then head W along the Stevenage Outer Orbital Path

9: Turn right then head W along the Stevenage Outer Orbital Path. Continue with the hedgerow on the left and field on the right. This section can be muddy and slippy after rain. After 475m you will reach a gap in the hedgerow. On your right will be the site of a former Roman villa.

Continue through the gap in the hedgerow

Continue through the gap in the hedgerow to reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/pile.over.owls).

10: Turn right on Hitchin restricted byway 94 then head N. This section of the byway is also the Hitchin Outer Orbital Path (HOOP).

After 125m you will reach a gate on the left leading to the Purswell Ninesprings Nature Reserve (location - https://w3w.co/life.point.below), see image below.

The entrance to the Purswell Ninesprings Nature Reserve

11: We continued past the main entrance then took a short detour at the second entrance, 25m further N on the left, to visit the elevated walkway and viewing area (location - https://w3w.co/audit.snap.native), see images below.

The second entrance leading to the elevated viewing area

This is where we saw a Kingfisher flash past

This is a great spot for birdwatchers. We saw a Kingfisher flash by when we tested the walk in October 2024.

After returning to Hitchin restricted byway 94 continue heading N for 180m until you reach a junction by a parking area (location - https://w3w.co/lift.slurs.bounty), see image below.

This is also the point where those travelling by bus could join the walk. There is a bus stop just beyond the parking area served by the number 97 bus.

Turn right at the junction to join The Letchworth Greenway

12: Turn right at the junction on the Letchworth Greenway then head NNE for 1km. This section is fairly busy with walkers and joggers, even on a weekday. Continue, with the hedgerow on the right and fields on the left, until you reach a bend (location - https://w3w.co/stow.among.rally), see image below.

Follow the Letchworth Greenway to the right

13: Follow Letchworth Greenway to the right at the bend then head ENE. You will be aware of the noise of traffic from Willian Road on the other side of the hedgerow on your left. Continue for 420m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/slips.tones.silks), see image below.

Keep heading ENE at the junction

14: Keep heading ENE at the junction, with the hedgerow on the left and field on the right. Continue for 115m until you reach a right-hand bend (location - https://w3w.co/pushed.adding.juices).

15: Follow Letchworth Greenway as it bends right then heads SE. Continue for 565m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/races.lows.posts), see image below.

Turn left, still on Letchworth Greenway

16: Turn left, still on Letchworth Greenway.

At this point have a look at an information board on the right which tells the story of the first servicemen to lose their lives on active service in a military aircraft. Captain Patrick Hamilton and Lieutenant Athole Wyness-Stuart died on Sept 6 1912 when their monoplane crashed near this spot.

The information board at the crash site
Click on the image for a larger version

Head NE for 190m with the hedgerow on the right. Continue until you reach a footbridge (location - https://w3w.co/soaks.snap.grant), see image below.

Cross the footbridge then continue heading NE

17: Cross the footbridge then continue heading NE for 45m until you reach a footpath on the right (location - https://w3w.co/export.accent.tribune),see image below.

Turn right then cross Wymondley Road

18: Turn right then cross Wymondley Road to reach a footpath on the other side (location - https://w3w.co/flap.stages.occurs), see image below.

Follow the footpath until you reach a statue of Telford Morton

19: Follow the footpath SE for 135m until you reach a statue of Telford Morton on the left (location - https://w3w.co/sports.tags.wooden), see image below. All I can find out about Morton (1916–2001) is that he was a keen gardener and allotment holder and active member of the Letchworth Garden City community.

The statue of Telford Morton in Manor Wood

Continue heading SE for 100m back to the car park.

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Local history

The village's earliest recorded mention can be traced to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was listed as a property of the powerful family of the de Veres, Earls of Oxford. Throughout the Middle Ages, Willian remained a predominantly agricultural community, its residents engaged in farming and livestock rearing. The All Saints Church, a prominent landmark in the village, is believed to have been constructed around the time of the Norman Conquest. While much of its original architecture has been altered over the centuries, the Norman chancel arch remains a testament to its early history. (source - Gemini AI)

Interactive map

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