Back on the trail
We are back and walking again, a dozen Trailwalkers met on the 8th March to continue our route around the Hertfordshire way. As reported earlier, we are doing the trail “the wrong way round”, so this day we went from Widford in to Hertford. This stage takes in 3 different rivers, tributaries of the River Lea, the Beane, Rib and Ash to eventually meet-up with the River Lea itself in Hertford.
The day dawned with beautiful crisp and clear early spring sunshine, portents of a great day for country walking. We started at a lay-by, close to Widford church moving in to the beautiful Ash valley towards Wareside. Kites and buzzards were soaring and keening, whilst the hedgerow birds flittered in and out of their hidey holes, carrying nesting material, spring had clearly arrived. The route took in Cold Christmas, Thundridge, Wadesmill, Tonwell, Stapleford and on to Hertford, for a total of close to 14 miles.
The countryside on this stage is mostly river valleys and woodland, it is very pretty and in the spring sunshine looked glorious as snowdrops and daffodils were blooming. The bluebells will be spectacular in another month or so, this walk is well worth a day of anyone’s time. With estate grounds to pass through, most notably the Woodhall Estate and Heath Mount School, we had some minor challenges, climbing the wall (legally) via different stiles and with alternative styles of climbing generated many giggles from the team.
As we approached Hertford, the evidence of agriculture, industrialisation and brewing became more prevalent. Sluice gates, locks, warehouse and oast-house buildings alongside the path, beautiful in their own way. The industrial management of the River Lea became more evident such that the banks are contained with the remnants of wharfs in place for offloading, in their heyday, barley and other cereals, for the brewers in Hertford and all along the river down to London. We had a memorable sit-down “tea-break” in a church-yard, where the ground maintenance volunteer pointed out a sun dial to us on the church door, it was remarkably accurate. 12 quite tired but very happy walkers strolled in to Hertford, for the return journey(s) home, discussion on ensuring that a Pub is available at the end of the next trail was had, we’ll see!
JB
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