Local Walks Home

Hertfordshire Walks

Hitch Wood Walks & Route Maps

Hitch Wood walk, Hertfordshire
Hitch Wood · Photo: Anthony Foster

Hitch Wood is a great place to explore throughout the year, with peaceful woodland, open countryside and one of Hertfordshire's best bluebell displays in spring.

From short woodland strolls to full-day countryside adventures linking nearby villages and welcoming pubs, these walks offer plenty of choice. Along the way you'll also have the chance to visit Hill End Chalk Pit, enjoy wide rural views, and discover some of the quieter corners of this attractive part of Hertfordshire.

Download the Hertfordshire Walks App to follow these routes with real-time GPS navigation.

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

Walk information

Hitch Wood Walk 1

Walk distance
1½ miles
Time
1 hour
Route type
Circular

This first route option is a simple short stroll around the wonderful and well maintained woodlands of Hitch Wood.

The woods is well known for it's delightful Bluebells display so it is a great time to visit this walk in the April and May months when they are in bloom.

There is also a little short detour in the other direction to visit the Hill End Chalk Pit which is a wildlife area with a wide range of habitats to enjoy.

Hitch Wood Walk 1 4.6 Ratings and reviews 12 ratings · 5 reviews

Based on 12 user ratings

Community feedback

Overall rating4.6

An outstanding walk

Dog friendly3.9 / 5
Path condition4.1 / 5
Buggy friendly2.0 / 5
Wheelchair friendly1.6 / 5
Toilet facilities1.0 / 5
Pub or café1.8 / 5
Route accuracy5.0 / 5
ClimbingGentle slopes
LivestockNo livestock
StilesNo stiles
Mud levelBoots recommended

Real feedback from people who have completed this walk using the Hertfordshire Walks app.

First-hand experiences

User reviews

Walker review

Great short walk if you haven’t much time. Dogs would love it. The paths through the wood are clearly marked out. Would think it would be very muddy during wet weather but the autum leaves made a perfect blanket over the mud for our walk.

Walker review

We would have done the longer walk, but bailed due to mud.Too early for bluebells, although there were a few. The wood anenomes were lovely

Walker review

Parking was very busy on the side of a narrow road, resulting in traffic unable to pass at times. No dog bins that we could find. Best display of bluebells i’ve ever seen.

Walker review

Wonderful bluebells. Car parking very busy......

Walker review

Bluebells in May as far as the eye can see! Wonderful well kept woods.

Walk information

Hitch Wood Walk 2

Walk distance
3½ miles
Time
2 hours
Route type
Circular

This second route option is a longer walk for those of you that want to stretch your legs a bit more and also want to add a pub to your walking route!

It still explores the Hitch Wood with it's wonderful Bluebell display in the spring, but the route then heads further south through open countryside and visits the village of St Paul's Walden where you'll find a nice pub for refreshments.

Refreshments:

The Strathmore Arms, St Paul's Walden

Hitch Wood Walk 2 4.6 Ratings and reviews 28 ratings · 12 reviews

Based on 28 user ratings

Community feedback

Overall rating4.6

An outstanding walk

Dog friendly4.0 / 5
Path condition3.9 / 5
Buggy friendly1.5 / 5
Wheelchair friendly1.2 / 5
Toilet facilities1.5 / 5
Pub or café2.7 / 5
Route accuracy4.4 / 5
ClimbingSome climbing
LivestockRarely any livestock
StilesNo stiles
Mud levelMay be muddy after wet weather

Real feedback from people who have completed this walk using the Hertfordshire Walks app.

First-hand experiences

User reviews

Walker review

Wonderdul walk with different terrain.

Walker review

Lovely walk, the Bluebells were stunning, but the whole route was really pretty. We popped in to The Strathmore Arms for a drink halfway round.

Walker review

Beautiful walk on clear paths. Fabulous in bluebell season.

Walker review

As in previous comments, if it has been raining, paths in the woods are muddy. The diversion around the field when leaving Hitch Wood is still in place, but well sign posted. Overall, it was a lovely walk on a great sunny day.

Walker review

Perfect dog walk. Easy diversion as you leave Hitch Wood. Farmer politly asking walkers not to go across the field. Look forward to returning for the other walks, hopefully in the Spring/Summer

Walker review

Lovely walk. Mid May and still extremely muddy in places. Wouldnt attempt this walk in the winter. Lots of woods which the dog loved. Parking easy.

Walker review

Extremely muddy in most parts after a day of rain. The road leading to the pub was also flooded with no obvious route around. Wellies or walkling boots are a MUST.

Walker review

Really enjoyed this walk. Took our 2 dogs and we were able to let them off lead for parts of the route. Stopped off at the pub for a drink and to use the loo. Didn’t look like they were seeking food. Definitely do this again as gorgeous countryside

Walker review

The pub was a throw back to how pubs used to be, but friendly and welcoming.

Walker review

The Strathmore Arms would have made a good mid/walk refreshment stop but is only open 12:00 - 14:30.

Walker review

Excellent walk, we really enjoyed it.

Walker review

Fantastic walk, perfect for dogs and some great paths we had never been on before. Shame we were too early for the pub and the chalk pit is worth the small detour especially if you like fossils!

Walk information

Hitch Wood Walk 3

Walk distance
4¾ miles
Time
2.5 hours
Route type
Circular

The third route option is another woodland and pub walk from the car park of Hitch Wood.

This route heads in the opposite direction though to find the watering hole and there are actually two pubs to enjoy on the route.

It still explores the Hitch Wood woodland, but then it heads north on a countryside loop that visits the village of Preston with it's lovely pub and then heads out east through open countryside to find another pub on the London Road.

Refreshments:

The Red Lion, Preston

The Rusty Gun, St Ippolyts

Hitch Wood Walk 3 4.6 Ratings and reviews 15 ratings · 8 reviews

Based on 15 user ratings

Community feedback

Overall rating4.6

An outstanding walk

Dog friendly3.9 / 5
Path condition3.5 / 5
Buggy friendly1.9 / 5
Wheelchair friendly1.0 / 5
Toilet facilities1.7 / 5
Pub or café3.1 / 5
Route accuracy4.4 / 5
ClimbingSome climbing
LivestockRarely any livestock
StilesNo stiles
Mud levelMay be muddy after wet weather

Real feedback from people who have completed this walk using the Hertfordshire Walks app.

First-hand experiences

User reviews

Walker review

Our third trip back to Hitch Wood using the Hertfordshire Walks App and this route was just as enjoyable. An early start (8am) enabled us to finish the walk before it got unbearably hot (still 30 degrees at the end). You pass the ruins of the ‘haunted’ Minsden Chapel, which we didn’t know existed. The walk is varied and interesting and great for dogs. The only exception is about 50 metres of narrow, grassy path along the busy London Road past the Rusty Gun Inn. Speaking of which, we hopefully will go to, along with the Red Lion in Preston when we return to the area. Both look very inviting.Considering that there are 5 walks from the Hitch Wood car park on the app, it shouldn’t be too long.

Walker review

Small car park area but overall good walk with great views

Walker review

Lovely mixed walk. 2 good pubs enroute

Walker review

On s wet day lots of mud

Walker review

Lovely walk really enjoyed this one

Walker review

Very enjoyable walk.

Walker review

We loved this walk! It was mostly off lead for the dogs, just a couple of sections on quiet roads and one field with cows. A variety of paths and some lovely views. We enjoyed a cup of tea and chips at the Red Lion at Preston. Great walk!

Walker review

Fabulous walk in the countryside. Loved it!

Walk information

Hitch Wood Walk 4

Walk distance
6½ miles
Time
3 hours
Route type
Circular

This fourth route is basically an extension to the second walk for those of you with the extra energy and time for a much longer walk.

The walk still enjoys Hitch Wood and visits the pub in St Paul's Walden, but the route then heads much further south until you reach the village of Whitwell where you'll find another pub and then heads back up via Chalkey's Wood and some more peaceful countryside.

Refreshments:

The Strathmore Arms, St Paul's Walden

The Bull Inn, Whitwell

Emily's Tea Shop, Whitwell

Hitch Wood Walk 4 4.2 Ratings and reviews 9 ratings · 3 reviews

Based on 9 user ratings

Community feedback

Overall rating4.2

A very popular walk

Dog friendly4.2 / 5
Path condition3.4 / 5
Buggy friendly1.8 / 5
Wheelchair friendly1.9 / 5
Toilet facilities2.8 / 5
Pub or café3.7 / 5
Route accuracy5.0 / 5
ClimbingGentle slopes
LivestockRarely any livestock
StilesA stile or two
Mud levelBoots recommended

Real feedback from people who have completed this walk using the Hertfordshire Walks app.

First-hand experiences

User reviews

Walker review

Thoroughly enjoyed it

Walker review

Lots of planes! If you are a plane spotter you will love this route.

Walker review

Lots of fresh growth of cow parsley and nettles made some of the narrower paths less easy. Terrain is generally rough, cinder tracks, flint, narrow trails, roots underfoot. Really nice walk, great tea shop in Whitwell. My only issue was the continuous noise from the planes taking off from Luton. Not a peaceful walk.

Walk information

Hitch Wood Walk 5

Walk distance
9¼ miles
Time
4.5 hours
Route type
Circular

This final route option is basically the ultimate pub walk adventure in the woodlands and countryside surrounding Hitch Wood.

You'll start off in the Hitch Wood itself with it's lovely bluebell display in the spring and then you'll journey to the west through open countryside until you find the first pub pitstop in the tiny village of Ley Green.

You'll then embark on another big open countryside and arable farmland ramble to the north until you reach the village of Preston, where you'll discover the second pub on the route.

Finally, you'll then head east through even more open peaceful countryside until you reach the roadside pub on London Road for your final pit stop before returning to the south and the walk's start point.

Refreshments:

The Red Lion, Preston

The Rusty Gun, St Ippolyts

The Plough, Ley Green

Hitch Wood Walk 5 5.0 Ratings and reviews 5 ratings · 2 reviews

Based on 5 user ratings

Community feedback

Overall rating5.0

An outstanding walk

Dog friendly2.6 / 5
Path condition4.0 / 5
Buggy friendly0.6 / 5
Wheelchair friendly0.6 / 5
Toilet facilities3.4 / 5
Pub or café4.2 / 5
Route accuracy3.8 / 5
ClimbingGentle slopes
LivestockRarely any livestock
StilesA stile or two
Mud levelMay be muddy after wet weather

Real feedback from people who have completed this walk using the Hertfordshire Walks app.

First-hand experiences

User reviews

Walker review

A nice walk with plenty of bluebells to see enroute, get early for parking at start point, and the red lion pub is definitely worth stopping at, although the Rusty gun was a bit of a wait to get served. A very enjoyable walk - highly recommend.

Walker review

Fantastic walk in April as the bluebells were at their best, absolutely stunning! Check pub food serving times.

Navigate the walks

Hertfordshire Walks App

Follow the Hitch Wood walks with GPS guidance

It's like sat-nav, but for footpaths.

Choose a walk and follow the pointer showing your live position on the route map, so you always know you're on the right path.

The app works without a phone signal, so you can keep following the route wherever the walk takes you.

Download the app

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play
Hertfordshire Walks app showing the walker's live position on a route map

Designed to be simple

  • Choose a walk and follow the pointer
  • See your live position on the route map
  • Works without a phone signal
  • Includes 400 Hertfordshire walks
  • Free one-month trial
  • Available for iPhone and Android

Explore the area

Nearby walks

Explore the county

Hertfordshire walks map

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Search Hertfordshire walks

See where the walks start, explore the area and tap a pin to find a route for your next adventure.

Search Hertfordshire walks
Expanded route map for Hitch Wood Walk 1, a 1.5 mile circular walk in Hertfordshire