HatfieldHertford

Hather two
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By Colin Rice on 22 Feb 2022


Distance

13km/8mi

Ascent

-

Descent

-

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Description

This is a more direct alternative to Hather One ... but a word of warning: there is a 500m stretch of busy road without a pavement on the B158 between Holwell Lane and the road to Letty Green.
Leaving Hatfield Station, cross the Great North Road and go down Arm and Sword Lane which drops into quaint and quiet Old Hatfield, turning left at the bottom onto Park Street. Pass under the arches of the viaduct and follow Park Street north until it joins the Old Hertford Road. Bear right and follow this for 200m, until you come to the new Hertford Road (A1000) where again you bear right. This is a busy road but there's a good footpath alongside it. After about 500m, immediately after the bridge over the A414, take a right turn onto a path that leads down to Mill Green. (Photo 1). Go past the old but operational watermill on your left. Cross the junction with Mill Green Road, and take the tarmac footpath signed for WG City South and QE2 Hospital, running parallel to the very busy A414. This is not the loveliest section and it's nearly 1km till you reach some bollards and a bus stop at the bottom of Gypsy Lane. Thankfully there is a proper crossing point here to cross the A414 with suitable care. Take the road opposite down towards the river, passing the Lewis Tyler timber yard on your right. Follow the road as it curves to the left where it meets a large electric sliding gate. Go round the side of the gate and continue along the road, which soon crosses the River Lea. As the road turns right, carry on along the footpath ahead. (Photo 2). The next section is a lovely walk along the valley bottom, though it can be quite muddy in the winter. (Photo 3). After 2km it comes out at the bottom of Essendon Hill (B158). Carry on in the same direction on the footpath. This stops shortly after Holwell Lane: there is then a 500m section along the B158 without a footpath and only a limited verge, so great care is needed. At the cross roads, turn left up the lane to Letty Green. This road is quieter but care is still needed. From the bridge over the River Lea there are pleasant views in both directions (Photo 4). The road climbs up towards Letty Green, curving round to the right with a hint of houses on the green. (Photo 5). Just before the road reaches the village green, take the footpath on the right signed for Woolmers Lane. At Woolmers Lane, turn right and follow the road (now called Piper's End) to East End Green. This is a lovely stretch - a very quiet lane with a sense of being on a ridge above the Lea Valley with views over peaceful countryside. Go through East End Green. After about 300m the road comes to the Cole Green Way, the former railway line. Turn right onto it and follow it towards Hertford, about 2.5km. (Photo 6). On the outskirts of the town, pass under the viaduct, walk past the football ground and allotments to join West Street and turn left along this to the A414. After crossing the main road, I suggest turning left to walk through the grounds of Hertford Castle. You come out on The Wash with the theatre on your left. Cross over and go down Maidenhead Street, through Salisbury Square and onto Railway Street, which leads to Hertford East station

This is a more direct alternative to Hather One ... but a word of warning: there is a 500m stretch of busy road without a pavement on the B158 between Holwell Lane and the road to Letty Green.
Leaving Hatfield Station, cross the Great North Road and go down Arm and Sword Lane which drops into quaint and quiet Old Hatfield, turning left at the bottom onto Park Street. Pass under the arches of the viaduct and follow Park Street north until it joins the Old Hertford Road. Bear right and follow this for 200m, until you come to the new Hertford Road (A1000) where again you bear right. This is a busy road but there's a good footpath alongside it. After about 500m, immediately after the bridge over the A414, take a right turn onto a path that leads down to Mill Green. (Photo 1). Go past the old but operational watermill on your left. Cross the junction with Mill Green Road, and take the tarmac footpath signed for WG City South and QE2 Hospital, running parallel to the very busy A414. This is not the loveliest section and it's nearly 1km till you reach some bollards and a bus stop at the bottom of Gypsy Lane. Thankfully there is a proper crossing point here to cross the A414 with suitable care. Take the road opposite down towards the river, passing the Lewis Tyler timber yard on your right. Follow the road as it curves to the left where it meets a large electric sliding gate. Go round the side of the gate and continue along the road, which soon crosses the River Lea. As the road turns right, carry on along the footpath ahead. (Photo 2). The next section is a lovely walk along the valley bottom, though it can be quite muddy in the winter. (Photo 3). After 2km it comes out at the bottom of Essendon Hill (B158). Carry on in the same direction on the footpath. This stops shortly after Holwell Lane: there is then a 500m section along the B158 without a footpath and only a limited verge, so great care is needed. At the cross roads, turn left up the lane to Letty Green. This road is quieter but care is still needed. From the bridge over the River Lea there are pleasant views in both directions (Photo 4). The road climbs up towards Letty Green, curving round to the right with a hint of houses on the green. (Photo 5). Just before the road reaches the village green, take the footpath on the right signed for Woolmers Lane. At Woolmers Lane, turn right and follow the road (now called Piper's End) to East End Green. This is a lovely stretch - a very quiet lane with a sense of being on a ridge above the Lea Valley with views over peaceful countryside. Go through East End Green. After about 300m the road comes to the Cole Green Way, the former railway line. Turn right onto it and follow it towards Hertford, about 2.5km. (Photo 6). On the outskirts of the town, pass under the viaduct, walk past the football ground and allotments to join West Street and turn left along this to the A414. After crossing the main road, I suggest turning left to walk through the grounds of Hertford Castle. You come out on The Wash with the theatre on your left. Cross over and go down Maidenhead Street, through Salisbury Square and onto Railway Street, which leads to Hertford East station

Status

This route has been reviewed by 2 people.

This route has been flagged (2 times) for reasons relating to safety.

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Information

Not verified

Route status - Live

Reviews - 2

Average rating -

Is this route good enough? -  No (1) Maybe (1)

Problems reported -  Safety (2)

Downloads - 5

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Geography information system (GIS) data

Total length

Maximum elevation

Minimum elevation

Start and end points

Hatfield
Grid Ref TL2326608757
Lat / Lon 51.76394° / -0.21519°
Easting / Northing 523,266E / 208,757N
What3Words most.play.pinks
Hertford
Grid Ref TL3297012917
Lat / Lon 51.79910° / -0.07306°
Easting / Northing 532,970E / 212,917N
What3Words await.bend.march

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reviews


Hannah

14 Sep 2022 Summer

The 500m section of the B158 was too hairy for me - no pavement, no verge to leap into, and blind bends. We were in a group and decided to go back and invent a longer walk (now Hather three), which was much better, although a few kilometers longer.
Even before the game-over B158, I found the roads spoiled the walk. There's a 1km walk along the A414 early on, and although there's a wide pavement/cycle path so it's not dangerous, it's still walking alongside a fast, busy road. When you cross it to head south it is a bit unnerving, although there is a legitimate crossing there, and good visibility.
The next stretch is much nicer, along fields, but the road noise feels very ever present.


Slow Ways Darren

14 Sep 2022 Summer

In general the route is fine and more direct than Hather three, however I feel the road walking 500m stretch on the B158 is too dangerous. There is no pavement and blind corners (with no way of stepping off the road) on the B158 between Holwell Lane and the road to Letty Green.


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Distance

13km/8mi

Ascent

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Descent

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Distance

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Ascent

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Descent

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