Ickleford Walks & Route Maps

This first option is a nice short and adventurous little stroll from the pretty village of Ickleford with it's pretty church and two welcoming pubs.

You'll walk out around some fields on the first half of the walk and then on the second half of the walk, you'll stroll back through a lovely meadow that is brimming with the sounds and colours of wildlife.

The meadow can contain ground-nesting birds, so keep a dog on a lead through that section of the walk. There are also some wooden walkways in the meadow that suggest that this area can get flooded after wet weather. Finally as a warning, the walkways are a bit damaged in places, so be careful of your footing.

Refreshments:

The Old George, Ickleford

The Plume of Feathers, Ickleford

This second route is a safer alternative short walk to the first route, with it's flat countryside footpaths and a nice circular loop. It's perfect if you want a more casual pub walk, that is more resistant to wet weather, and has refreshments at the end in one of two lovely pubs.

There is also a point on this route where you visit the really pretty River Purwell.

This third route option is basically the best bits of the first and second routes put together to create one slightly longer pub walk in and around Ickleford.

As with route one, dogs should be on a lead in the meadow section and be careful of your footing on the rather rickety walkways.

If you have a bit more time, then this fourth route option is basically the same as the third route, but with an added extended section that takes you out into the riverside area to the south of Ickleford.

You'll enjoy the two pubs and nice meadows from the other routes, but the extra distance gives you an extra loop of walking alongside the pretty River Hiz, with plenty of swimming spots for your four-legged friends along the way.

You'll also pass Gerry's Hole Pond and Burymead Springs, where rich wildlife flourishes and its vibrant natural chorus sometimes competes with the hum of industry from the nearby railway.

As with the other routes, dogs should be on a lead in the meadow section and be careful of your footing on the rather rickety walkways.

Most people think of the wonderful Hitchin Lavender fields when they travel to Ickleford, so we couldn't have a set of walks here without taking you out to see them if the time of year is right. (Peak summer.)

This route heads out of the village to the east along the Icknield Way trail. It's a long and steady climb to get to the top of Wilbury Hill, but you'll be rewarded along the way with lovely views at times all around you.

At the top, you can detour to a steakhouse restaurant if you require refreshments, but then you'll loop around and walk back down the hill with glorious views as you go, including the sea of purple if the Lavender is in full bloom.

You'll then get back to the village and enjoy the short stroll from walk 2 before getting back to the lovely village pubs.

Warning: As you come back into the village from the farm, you'll have to cross under a short bridge section with a pretty fast road and no footpath. Please be very careful here and if you want to see the Lavender fields, whilst avoiding this section of road, please try the Wilbury Hill walks instead.

Refreshments:

The Old George, Ickleford

The Plume of Feathers, Ickleford

The Wilbury, Letchworth Garden City

Our final route option is basically the same as route 5 above, but before climbing up Wilbury Hill, you'll walk the pretty loop around the nature area alongside the River Riz and visiting Gerry's Hole Pond and Burymead Springs.

Section with fast road and no footpath. Please be careful here and if you want to see the Lavender fields, whilst avoiding this section of road, try the Wilbury Hill walks as an alternative.