Walk 293: Hexton Long Loop

7.9 miles (12.7 km) with 153m of total ascent

The Icknield Way soon after point 19 in the walk

This is a lovely walk which criss-crosses the border between Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire four times as we explore parts of the Barton Hills and Pegsdon Hills which were not visited on our two previous route in the area. The new route combines parts of the two shorter walks but follows different paths and the previously walked paths are walked in reverse. If you are planning to try this route make sure you pick a dry and clear day, preferably with sunny skies because the views are wonderful.

Getting there

There are bus stops on Barton Road (location - https://w3w.co/polices.mermaids.doormat) 370m south of the start of the walk which are served by the number FL7, FL10, W12, and W12B 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 293: Hexton Long 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.

This walk starts in the village of Hexton. The following is a potted history of the village.

Hexton's historical roots delve deep into ancient times, marked significantly by the presence of Ravensburgh Castle, an Iron Age hill fort. This site stands as a reminder of the area's occupation during pre-Roman periods, indicating its strategic importance. The Icknield Way, a prehistoric track, runs along the nearby Chiltern Hills to the south, placing Hexton within a network of ancient routes. The village's recorded history continues into Saxon times, with its early name "Heckstanstun" revealing its Anglo-Saxon origins. This foundation of ancient settlements and early medieval records within the Domesday book, solidifies Hexton's position as a location with deep historical roots.

The Raven in Hexton at the start of the walk

1: With your back to The Raven restaurant/pub (location - https://w3w.co/backup.camera.nooks), turn left then head N for 55m until you reach a lane on the left (location - https://w3w.co/fatigued.recline.allergy), see image below.

Turn left then follow the lane W

2: Turn left then follow the lane first W then NNW for 150m until you reach a footpath on the left (location - https://w3w.co/robots.roost.traps). You are now on The John Bunyan Trail.

Turn left on Hexton footpath 5

3: Turn left on Hexton footpath 5, then head diagonally NW across an arable field for 300m until you reach a footbridge in the hedgerow (location - https://w3w.co/fattening.records.clues), see image below.

Cross the footbridge then follow the footpath as it heads W

4: Cross the footbridge then follow the footpath as it heads W. You are now in Bedfordshire. Continue heading W for 380m until you reach hedgerow straight ahead (location - https://w3w.co/sounding.torso.surveyors). See image below.

Head W along the right-hand side of the hedgerow

5: Head W keeping to the right-hand side (N side) of the hedgerow. See orange arrow on the image above. After 500m the path bends left (location - https://w3w.co/galloping.glad.exposing), then 40m later, bends right (location - https://w3w.co/indicates.gent.absorbs) continuing to head W but to the left of the hedgerow, see orange arrow on image below.

Keep to the left of the hedgerow

6: Head W for 500m until you reach a split in the path (location - https://w3w.co/touches.repair.retrieves), you take the path to the left of the hedgerow, see image below.

Continue heading W with the hedgerow on the right

7: Continue heading W with the hedgerow on the right and the field on the left for 270m until the path bends left (location - https://w3w.co/caked.states.paid) then heads SSW for 90m before reaching a footbridge on the right (location - https://w3w.co/imposes.scarecrow.crowned), see image below.

Turn left on Manor Road

Cross the footbridge then follow the footpath to Manor Road

8: Cross the footbridge then follow the footpath in a westerly direction for 90m until you reach Manor Road in Barton-le-Clay (location - https://w3w.co/juggles.remotest.surely), see image below.

9: Turn left on Manor Road, which you will follow for 530m until you reach Hexton Road (location - https://w3w.co/searching.battling.slacker).

Barton-le-Clay's history stretches back to at least the Domesday Book of 1086. Its name reflects the clay soil in the area. The parish church of St. Nicholas holds significant historical importance, showing architectural changes from the 13th to 15th centuries. The area was primarily agricultural, but also saw periods of industrial activity, such as the 19th-century coprolite mining.

Turn right when you reach Hexton Road

10: Turn right when you reach Hexton Road then head SW for 60m before crossing Hexton Road and turning left into Church Road (location - https://w3w.co/collected.pots.piglets).  Head S along Church Road for 220m until you reach a gate (location - https://w3w.co/keepers.unsigned.spoil), see image below.

 Go through the gate then continue heading S

11: Go through the gate then continue heading S with the hedgerow on the right. After 410m you will reach a footpath on the right leading to Barton Hills National Nature Reserve (location - https://w3w.co/fortified.sparkles.wink), see image below.

Keep heading in a southerly direction

12: Ignore the path on the right leading to the reserve; you will enter it at another gate shortly. Instead, keep heading in a southerly direction, with the hedgerow on the right and the field on the left (see orange arrow on the image above). On your left you will see Barton Hills, which we cross on Walk 240: Hexton South-West Loop. Continue for 350m until you reach a gate (location - https://w3w.co/else.moral.remote), see image below.

Go through the gate then turn right at the sign

13: Go through the gate then turn right as soon as you reach the sign, see image below.

This path takes you down to a babbling stream

This path takes you down to a babbling stream (location - https://w3w.co/from.cliff.spill) which you cross on stepping stones - great fun for the kids, dogs, and those of us who are still young-at-heart despite our age, see images below.

The stepping stones across the stream

The stepping stones across the stream

Once across the stream keep left then head S for 30m until you reach a junction (location -https://w3w.co/fight.slower.aims), see image below.

Turn right off the main path then climb the hill

Turn right off the main path (see orange arrow on the image above), go through a gate, then follow the path as it winds its way uphill heading SSE. This is a lovely path with some great views.

Continue climbing along this path for 365m

Continue along this path heading SSE and uphill for 365m to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/barks.point.slams), see image below.

Keep left at the junction - image courtesy of Zoe Thorley

Keep left at the junction then continue heading uphill for 50m until you reach a junction with a marker post and a sign on the left (location - https://w3w.co/smiled.amused.lined), see image below.

Turn right at the junction at the top of the hlll

14: Turn right at the junction at the top of the hill then head SW for 10m to a gate (location - https://w3w.co/cakes.copper.pushy), see image below.

Go through the gate then turn left

Go through the gate then turn left. You are now on The Chiltern Way.

Turn left after the gate then head for the horizon

You now head in a southerly direction over a vast expanse of high ground with amazing views. When we tested this route in early April 2025 the sound of skylarks was wonderful. Continue for 850m until you reach a road, which can be busy at times (location - https://w3w.co/loud.energetic.work), see image below.

Turn left when you reach the road

15: Turn left when you reach the road, still on The Chiltern Way, then head E for 130m. Luckily there is a grass verge on the north side of the road which walkers use, but be careful, the ground is uneven with a few drainage dips along the way. Continue until you see a track on the right opposite a layby (location - https://w3w.co/incomes.punks.skirt), see image below.

Turn right on the track then head S

16: Turn right on the track, which is now both The Chiltern Way and The John Bunyan Trail, then head S and SSE for 1km until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/fast.poetic.lists), see image below.

Turn left then head ENE along The Icknield Way

17: Turn left then head ENE along The Icknield Way.

The Icknield Way

After 260m you will re-enter Hertfordshire. Continue heading ENE for another 740m until you reach Hexton Road (location - https://w3w.co/above.lives.basis), see image below.

The Icknield Way continues alongside Hexton Road

18: The Icknield Way (and The John Bunyan Trail) continues alongside Hexton Road on a path along the grass verge on the north side of the road, see image below.

Continue along the path on the grass verge until Hexton Road bends left

Continue along the path on the grass verge for 490m until Hexton Road bends left (location - https://w3w.co/shins.delay.sharp), see image below. We recommend you walk as far as the bend so you can see round the corner before crossing. If you cross earlier you will be crossing a blind bend.

Cross Hexton Road then take the track on the other side

19: Cross Hexton Road then take the track on the other side. This is also The Icknield Way.

Continue heading ENE along The Icknield Way

Continue heading ENE along The Icknield Way for 940m until you reach a three-way junction (location - https://w3w.co/frost.cling.shunts), see image below.

Turn left at the junction

20: Turn left at the junction (see orange arrow on the image above) then head N for 380m along Hexton bridleway 3.

Continue until you reach a gate

Continue until you reach a gate (location - https://w3w.co/broken.inch.cloth). At this point you leave Hertfordshire and enter Bedfordshire again.

Take the path to the left of the gate

21: Don't go through the gate but instead take the path to the left of the gate then follow it downhill.

Continue heading N for 940m

Continue heading N for 940m. On your right are the Pegsdon Hills, which we crossed on Walk 237: Hexton South-East Loop. Continue until you reach a gate leading to a layby off a road (location - https://w3w.co/gift.arrive.until), see image below.

Go through the gate then turn right

22: Go through the gate and then, once in the layby, turn immediately to the right to find a path that runs parallel to the main road (location - https://w3w.co/idea.plan.wiring), see image below.

Follow the path as it heads ENE

Follow the path as it heads ENE for 110m before reaching a junction (location - https://w3w.co/plantings.coolest.responses), see image below.

Turn left at the junction

23: Turn left at the junction then cross the B655 (location - https://w3w.co/manifests.subsets.libraries).

Follow the lane on the other side of the road

Once across the road follow the lane on the other side. Head NE along the lane for 110m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/treatable.sooner.warm), see image below.

Turn left at the junction

24: Turn left at the junction then head NNE along Apsley End Road for 380m, ignoring a road on the right and continuing until you reach a lane on the left (location - https://w3w.co/arranges.essay.stable), see image below.

Turn left on the lane then head NNW

25: Turn left on the lane then head NNW for 260m until the road ends at a gate (location - https://w3w.co/cookbooks.kickbacks.plodded), see image below.

Go through the gate then follow a bridleway

26: Go through the gate then follow Shillington bridleway 4 NW, with the hedgerow on the left and field on the right, for 375m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/tasty.shoelaces.hems), see image below.

Turn left at the junction

27: Turn left at the junction where you rejoin The John Bunyan Trail. Head W, still on Shillington bridleway 4. Continue heading W for 170m until you reach a gate leading to a lane (location - https://w3w.co/gratuity.delays.arrives), see image below.

Go through the gate then turn right

28: Go through the gate then turn right following Mill Lane W for 30m to the point where Hexton Mill once stood (location - https://w3w.co/clogging.career.clef). It's believed the mill dates back to at least the 16th century. Once you pass the site of the old Mill you are back in Hertfordshire.

Continue along Mill Lane as it winds its way W then SW for 1km back to the start of the walk.

Interactive map

---