Mud, floods, nettles, brambles, and crops

Rights of way can become muddy at certain times of the year

The Hertfordshire countryside changes season by season. And each season can present different challenges for walkers.

We are lucky to have an excellent network of well-signposted public rights of way that are maintained by Hertfordshire's Countryside Management Service so that they are accessible for all to enjoy.

But, despite groups of volunteers working on our rights of way almost every day of the week, the vast extent of our public rights of way network means that there will be many paths that might be impassable at certain times of the year.

And, with hundreds of free walks on Hertfordshire Walker, we can't update each walk season-by-season with regular condition checks.

So below are a few tips on how to deal with the various challenges the changing seasons bring.

Mud and floods

Muddy public rights of way are a common challenge during the autumn, winter, and spring. We have put together some tips to you navigate slippery conditions:

• Ankle support: Opt for boots that cover your ankles for better protection and stability.
• Grip: Look for footwear with deep lugs to provide traction on muddy surfaces. A slight heel can also improve grip on downhill slopes.
• Waterproofness: Waterproof boots are essential to keep your feet dry. Leather boots often perform well in muddy conditions.
• Avoid the muddiest parts: If possible, walk around the muddiest sections of the path. Be careful not to trespass or damage vegetation.
• Steady pace: Maintain a steady pace and avoid any sudden movements. Relax your legs to absorb any unexpected slips.
• Use a hiking pole: A hiking pole can provide extra support and help you test the depth of the mud. If you don't have a pole, a sturdy stick will do.
• Step carefully: Place your feet carefully, toe-first, to minimise suction. Lift your heel first to break the suction in order to move your foot more easily.
• Take your time: Don't rush. Slow, deliberate steps will help you maintain balance and avoid getting stuck.

Nettles and brambles

In the spring and summer those same rights of way can be obscured by stinging nettles.

Again, hiking poles to push the nettles back, gloves if you need to handle them, and antihistamine cream in case you get stung are advisable.

And, although it's always nice to wear shorts in the summer months, it might be kinder on your legs to wear long trousers that are nettle-proof.

A good first aid kit is useful.

In the late summer and autumn brambles flourish across Hertfordshire.

Many public rights of way will be totally blocked as the brambles converge from each side of the path to make passage almost impossible.

You can also trip over them; they have a habit of lying low across the path.

A set of secateurs (and gloves) are useful for cutting your way through. And hiking poles are useful for pushing the brambles to one side.

Overgrown crops

In the spring and summer new crops can be an issue. Rapeseed, when fully grown, can totally obliterate a right of way.

Landowners are obliged to reinstate any public right of way within 14 days of cultivating the land, but this doesn't always happen.

And even if a landowner has reinstated the path, rapeseed, when fully grown, can still make walking difficult.

After the harvest has been taken in, the same fields will be ploughed over and sometimes rights of way disappear.

That is why we usually add orange arrove to our photogrpahs of arable fields to indicate the direction of travel.

Detours, comments and suggestions

On many walks we suggest detours at points where there are regular issues as the seasons change.

These detours might be because of nettles, brambles, mud, flooding, livestock etc.

Please read the directions for the walk you are planning before setting off so that you are prepared.

You might find it helpful to scroll down to the bottom of the walk directions which are published on Hertfordshire Walker in order to read any comments left by walkers who take the time to update fellow-walkers about any possible issues.

If you have any information about the route that might help other walkers please consider using the comment box, too.

And don't forget to share the same update on our Hertfordshire Walker Facebook group.

Reporting faults

Hertfordshire County Council has an excellent online service for reporting rights of way faults including blockages (fly-tipping obscuring paths or landowners blocking the way), encroachment (nettles and brambles etc), structural damage (gates footbridges etc), and flooding.

But most importantly, don't let any of these issues put you off.

Just go with the flow, equipped and aware, and enjoy our wonderful Hertfordshire countryside as the seasons change.

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