Walk 291: Stapleford West Loop

2.8 miles (4.5 km) with 38m of total ascent

Stapleford footpath 4 between points 7 & 8

This short walk south and west of Stapleford includes public rights of way that have not featured in our collection before. The wide open views to the west of the River Beane are excellent. There is also a lovely stretch of the route alongside the River Beane which those who are working through our collection of walks might recognise.

There are a couple of stretches of the route that cross arable fields where you might get muddy after rain, but apart from that the going is good underfoot. There is a 290m section alongside the A119, but there is a pedestrian pavement the entire length.

Getting there

There are bus stops close to the start of the walk (location - https://w3w.co/before.lasts.super), which are served by the number 390 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 291: Stapleford Short 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.

Head east along Church Lane

1: With your back to High Road, Stapleford (location - https://w3w.co/reason.spin.notice) head E along Church Lane. Continue for 205m until you cross the River Beane then reach a footpath on the right at the entrance to St Mary's Church (location - https://w3w.co/proud.stared.marker), see image below.

Cross the River Beane then turn right on Stapleford footpath 3

2: Turn right on Stapleford footpath 3 then enter the churchyard of St Mary's Church, Stapleford. The church, which is a Grade II* listed building, dates back to the mid-12th century. Stapleford footpath 3 goes to the right of the church, see image below.

Follow Stapleford footpath 3 to the right of the church

This next stretch alongside the River Beane is one of our favourite riverside walks, which is why we have added it again by creating this new loop to the west of Stapleford.

Stapleford Church from the south

Head SSE on Stapleford footpath 3 with the River Beane on the right.

Stapleford footpath 3 heading SSE with the River Beane on the right

Continue on Stapleford footpath 3 for 1km until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/habit.guards.cafe), see image below.

Turn right at the junction, still on Stapleford footpath 3

3: Turn right at the junction, still on Stapleford footpath 3. Head SSW for 150m until you reach a gate (location - https://w3w.co/stroke.horses.crest), see image below.

Go round the gate then continue heading straight

4: Go round the gate then continue heading straight and SSW for 210m until you reach Bush Mills Lane (location - https://w3w.co/volume.pits.detect), see image below.

Turn right on Bush Mills Lane

5: Turn right on Bush Mills Lane then head W crossing the River Beane then going under the railway.

* There isn't a pedestrian pavement along this stretch of Bush Mills Lane, but there are opportunities to stand to one side if traffic approaches.

Continue along Bush Mills Lane for 340m until you reach the A119 (location - https://w3w.co/coins.kicks.apple), see image below.

Turn right then walk along a pedestrian pavement

6: Turn right then head N then NNW along the pedestrian pavement on the east side of the A119. Continue for 300m until you reach a footpath on the left (location - https://w3w.co/agreed.author.fires), see image below.

Turn left on Stapleford footpath 4

7: Turn left on Stapleford footpath 4 then head W. Continue for 290m until you reach a gate crossing the track.

8: Continue on Stapleford footpath 4 for 520m until the footpath bends to the right (location - https://w3w.co/shift.digit.boot), see image below.

Head NNW on Stapleford footpath 4

9: Continue on Stapleford footpath 4 but now heading NNW for 280m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/seated.speeds.crust), see image below.

Turn right on Stapleford bridleway 5

10: Turn right on Stapleford bridleway 5 then follow the bridleway through the hedgerow (see the line of the orange arrow on the image above) to reach an arable field (location - https://w3w.co/animal.talked.plank), see image below.

Head ENE and slightly uphill across the arable field

Head ENE and slightly uphill on Stapleford bridleway 5 crossing the arable field. Continue for 335m until you reach a gap in the hedgerow (location - https://w3w.co/carbon.levels.full), see image below.

Go through the gap to reach a second arable field

11: Go through the gap to reach a second arable field, still on Stapleford bridleway 5, see image below.

Cross the arable field, still on Stapleford bridleway 5

Cross the arable field heading to the right of the last tree on the left (see orange arrow on the image above). After 145m you will reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/pines.export.lobby), see image below.

Turn left on Stapleford footpath 6

12: Turn left on Stapleford footpath 6 then follow it NNW for 115m until you reach a gap (location - https://w3w.co/crass.gravel.brings), see image below.

Turn right after the hedgerow on the right

13: Turn right after the hedgerow on the right. Head ENE, still on Stapleford footpath 6, with the hedgerow on the right and field on the left. Continue for 150m until you reach woodland (location - https://w3w.co/bids.today.upper), see image below.

Turn left when you reach the woodland

14: Turn left when you reach the woodland, still on Stapleford footpath 6. Head NNW and downhill for 60m until you reach the end of the woodland (location - https://w3w.co/hurry.fully.duke), see image below.

Follow Stapleford footpath 6 as it bends right

15: Follow Stapleford footpath 6 as it bends right then heads ENE with the woodland on the right. Continue for 180m until you reach a junction just before a railway bridge (location - https://w3w.co/formal.drips.mining), see image below.

Continue under the railway bridge

16: Continue under the railway bridge, still on Stapleford footpath 6, heading ESE for 105m until you reach the A119 (location - https://w3w.co/shiny.bring.switch), see image below.

Cross the A119 then turn right to return to the start of the walk

17: Cross the A119 then turn right on the pedestrian pavement then head S for 50m back to the start of the walk.

Interactive map

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