Walk 295: Ware East Loop

5.7 miles (9.1 km) with 94m of total ascent

The River Ash close to point 28 in the walk

This is a lovely route which crosses the River Ash six times as it weaves its way north-east from Ware. The first part explores open countryside overlooking the beautiful Ash valley before dropping down to follow the course of the river along well-defined public rights of way. It's another route where you will escape the noise of cars and will be able to enjoy birdsong and the sound of running water. The wildflowers are amazing in April.

When we mapped and tested this walk in April 2025 the paths were dry and firm, but there are stretches which look like they could be muddy after rain, so if you are walking this way in the rainy season be prepared for mud.

Along the way there are several old gates. Hertfordshire County Council's Rights of Way team is currently replacing gates across the county so some photographs in the directions below might differ from what you see when you walk the route.

You will cross several livestock fields along the way. We met two herds of cattle - one was docile and paid no attention to us, the other was curious but not troublesome.

Getting there

The walk starts at a bridleway (location - https://w3w.co/charm.frogs.soils) that heads E from Cozens Road in a residential housing estate in Ware. The bridleway is 65m NE of the junction with Cozens Road and Woodley Road (location - https://w3w.co/milk.film.blues). We found plenty of parking opportunities along local residential roads but please check in case restrictions have been imposed since we tested the route.

For those travelling by bus there are bus stops at the junction of Cromwell Road and Cobham Road (location - https://w3w.co/moving.smiles.fleet) which are served by the number M2 bus. Those stops are 325m SW of the start of the walk. There are also bus stops close to point 33 in the walk (location - https://w3w.co/colleague.chart.fines) which are served by the number M4. 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 295: Ware East 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.

From Cozens Road in Ware take Ware Town bridleway 7

1: From Cozens Road in Ware take Ware Town bridleway 7 (location - https://w3w.co/direct.diary.proven), see image above. Follow the bridleway as it heads E to the left of garages in a private car park (location - https://w3w.co/office.maker.transfers) then continues into open countryside.

Continue along Ware Town bridleway 7 heading SE

Continue along Ware Town bridleway 7 heading SE for 235m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/trim.canny.acid) see image below.

Turn left at the junction still on Ware Town bridleway 7

2: Turn left at the junction then head NE for 65m, still on Ware Town bridleway 7. Continue until you cross a parish boundary (location - https://w3w.co/mason.dull.ears) where the footpath you are on becomes Wareside bridleway 26, see image below.

Continue heading NE, now on Wareside bridleway 26, for 120m to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/healthier.king.junior), see image below.

Keep right at the junction still on Wareside bridleway 26

3: Keep right at the junction, still on Wareside bridleway 26. Continue heading in an easterly direction across lovely open countryside for 810m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/tips.claims.roses) and a restricted byway, see image below.

Turn left at the junction

4: Turn left at the junction then follow Wareside restricted byway 24 N for 20m as it cuts between two properties (location - https://w3w.co/engage.method.vague), see image below.

Follow Wareside restricted byway 24 between the properties

Continue heading NE, still on Wareside restricted byway 24, for 160m until you come to a footbridge (location - https://w3w.co/edgy.pine.burn) to the right of a ford (the stream was dry when we tested this route).

Cross the footbridge then continue heading N

5: Cross the footbridge then keep right at a junction to head N, still on Wareside restricted byway 24. Continue for 75m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/minute.vent.bits), see image below.

Keep right at the fork, still on Wareside restricted byway 24

6: Keep right at the fork, still on Wareside restricted byway 24. Continue along a lovely tree-lined byway for 590m until you reach a pond on the left where the byway bends right (location - https://w3w.co/mouth.limit.transfers), see image below.

Follow the byway as it bends right past the pond

7: Follow the byway as it bends right then heads E for 180m until it reaches a lane (location - https://w3w.co/theme.sofa.factories), see image below.

Turn left on the lane

8: Turn left on the lane. This is a quiet lane but it's narrow. We didn't meet any traffic when we tested the route. Continue along the lane heading W for 350m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/table.total.pulse), see image below.

Turn left at the junction

9: Turn left at the junction then head NNE for 60m until you reach a footpath on the right (location - https://w3w.co/spins.hardly.comic), see image below.

Turn right on Wareside footpath 57

10: Turn right on Wareside footpath 57 then head E. This footpath has a small stream on the right which was dry when we tested the route. On your left you will pass an unusual bench-without-a-view.

The bench on Wareside footpath 57

Continue for 210m until you reach a lane in Wareside (location - https://w3w.co/parks.return.trace), see image below.

Turn right then left

11: Turn right on the lane then turn left on the B1004 (see orange arrow on the image above). Head NE for 45m until you reach The Chequers Inn on the left (location - https://w3w.co/reap.mint.brick), see image below.

The Chequers Inn, Wareside

When you reach The Chequers Inn, cross the B1004 then turn left to head E along the right side of the road. There isn't a pedestrian pavement but there is space to step aside if traffic approaches. Continue for 75m passing the first footpath on the right (location - https://w3w.co/tent.strict.rear) but taking the second (location - https://w3w.co/wisdom.sheets.lodge), see image below.

Turn right on Wareside footpath 32

12: Turn right on Wareside footpath 32 then head in an easterly direction for 340m until you reach a bridge over the River Ash (location - https://w3w.co/factor.slang.spirit), see image below.

Cross the River Ash then head SE

13: Cross the River Ash then head SE, still on Wareside footpath 32. Continue for 170m until you reach the route of the former Buntingford branch line.

The Buntingford branch line was a 13¾ mile single-track railway line that branched off the Hertford East line at St Margarets. It opened in 1863 and grew in importance for both passenger and goods traffic, particularly at the turn of the 20th century. Despite its initial success, the line's usage declined in the latter half of the 20th century as the area didn't develop significantly for commuters, ultimately falling victim to the Beeching cuts and closing to passengers in 1964 and completely by 1965. There are some great photos of the old line at The Buntingford Railway and Local History Society site.

The two photos below were taken looking up and down the former line from the footpath crossing what was the track.

Looking north along what was the Buntingford branch line

Looking south along what was the Buntingford branch line

14: Cross the former Buntingford branch line then take the footpath on the other side (location - https://w3w.co/body.moves.retire), see image below.

Head SE with the River Ash on your right

Head SE for 40m, still on Wareside footpath 32, with the River Ash on your right. Continue until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/jelly.wing.claims), see image below.

Keep right at the junction then head SW

15: Keep right at the junction then head SW with the River Ash on your right. You are now on Wareside bridleway 18. Head in a southwesterly direction for 1.2km, keeping the River Ash on your right all the way.

This is a field often used to graze livestock so you might meet some cattle.

Curious but friendly cattle

The cattle we met were curious but friendly, and the whole herd came to a collective decision to walk with us.

Hertfordshire Walker's first guided walk

At the end of the field you will reach a gate (location - https://w3w.co/milky.upper.uses), see image below.

Go through the gate then turn right

16: Go through the gate, turn right on Wareside bridleway 20, then cross a bridge over the River Ash (location - https://w3w.co/kings.cheer.bits), see image below.

Cross the bridge then follow a farm track

Cross the bridge then head NW up a farm track for 180m to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/magma.noting.words), see image below.

Turn left at the junction on Wareside bridleway 23

17: Turn left at the junction then head SW on Wareside bridleway 23 for 85m until the bridleway turns left (location - https://w3w.co/farms.salads.twin).

Follow Wareside bridleway 23 as it bends left across an arable field

18: Follow Wareside bridleway 23 as it bends left across an arable field. Continue to a bridge over the River Ash (location - https://w3w.co/cheat.pipe.skin) see image below.

Cross the River Ash then head S

19: Cross the River Ash then head S for 50m to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/cubs.lime.fades), see image below.

Continue heading in a southerly direction and uphill

Continue heading in a southerly direction and uphill, still on Wareside bridleway 23, for 175m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/mute.crunch.silks), see image below.

Turn right at the junction

20: Turn right at the junction on Wareside footpath 36 then head W for 320m until you reach the former route of the Buntingford branch line (location - https://w3w.co/clips.held.lofts), see image below.

Wareside footpath 36 approaching the old branch line

21: Cross the former track then take the footpath on the other side (location - https://w3w.co/become.dull.broad), see image below.

Go through the gate then follow Wareside footpath 34

Go through the gate then follow Wareside footpath 34 diagonally left across an arable field.

Head WSW across the field until you reach a footbridge

Head WSW across the field for 125m until you reach a footbridge over the River Ash (location - https://w3w.co/transmitted.army.quit), see image below.

Cross the footbridge then turn left on Wareside footpath 28

22: Cross the footbridge, turn left, then head SW on Wareside footpath 28 for 125m until you reach a junction at the end of a large black farm building (location - https://w3w.co/bikes.varieties.repair), see image below.

Turn left after the building

23: Turn left after the building on Wareside footpath 35 then head SE for 110m until you reach the River Ash and a footbridge and a ford (location - https://w3w.co/spout.snake.remote), see image below.

Cross the footbridge then head SE

24: Cross the footbridge then continue heading SE, still on Wareside footpath 35, for 130m until you reach a junction (location - https://w3w.co/noise.ideas.agenda), see image below.

Turn right at the junction on Wareside footpath 75

25: Turn right at the junction on Wareside footpath 75 then head WSW for 120m until you reach Oak Tree Cottages (location - https://w3w.co/chat.water.churn). At this point you cross a parish boundary and the path you are on becomes Stanstead Abbots footpath 1.

26: Continue heading WSW on Stanstead Abbots footpath 1 until you reach a left-hand bend and a gate leading to a footpath straight ahead (location - https://w3w.co/slips.towers.backs), see image below.

Go through the gate then continue on Stanstead Abbots footpath 1

27: Go through the gate then continue heading WSW on Stanstead Abbots footpath 1 with the River Ash on your right. Continue for 410m until the footpath bends to the right (location - https://w3w.co/transit.quest.deal), then heads W for 220m to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/leave.traps.cloth), see image below.

Turn left after crossing the former branch line

28: Cross what was the former Buntingford branch line then turn left, still on Stanstead Abbots footpath 1. Head SW for 225m until you reach a footbridge over the River Ash (location - https://w3w.co/raced.invite.bunny), see image below.

Cross the footbridge then turn right

29: Cross the footbridge, turn right then head NW on Wareside footpath 39 with the River Ash on your right. Follow the path as it bends left then heads SW and uphill for 245m to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/pays.toxic.yappy), see image below.

Turn right at the junction then climb uphill

30: Turn right at the junction then climb uphill on Ware Town footpath 22. Continue for 365m, ignoring a track on your right (location - https://w3w.co/logic.probe.basic) and continuing until the footpath bends right (location - https://w3w.co/await.purely.skirt).

31: Follow the path as it bends right then heads NNE for 80m to a junction (location - https://w3w.co/snack.bids.trend), see image below.

Keep heading straight ignoring the path on the left

32: Keep heading straight, ignoring the path on the left. Continue for 135m, now heading N and still following Ware Town footpath 22. Follow the footpath as it cuts through a farmyard before reaching the B1004 (location - https://w3w.co/helps.photo.drove), see image below.

Cross the B1004 diagonally to your left

33: Cross the B1004 diagonally to your left to reach a bridleway (location - https://w3w.co/blaze.rails.dined). Turn right on Ware Town bridleway 11 then head N for 680m until you reach the junction you passed at point 2 in the walk (location - https://w3w.co/combining.bother.spring), see image below.

Turn left on Ware Town bridleway 7

34: Turn left then head NW for 250m along Ware Town bridleway 7 back to the starting point.

Interactive map

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