93⁄4 OR 43⁄4 MILES51⁄2 OR 21⁄2 HOURS MODERATE

STARTFrom Broxbourne Wood east car parkfollow bridleway down hill, past cycleracks on L. Go over stream and upavenue of firs. Follow bridleway roundto L and R. At bench, bear L oversleepers. Ignore sign to west car parkjust before stream, instead turn R.Atroad turn R and after 60m (66 yards)turn L on to bridleway.After 0.75km(1⁄2 mile), go over road and throughgate into Wormley Wood. Followfootpath over streams, up steps, pastbench on L and over footbridge.

2 MILESAt next post go straight on for 120m(131 yards), past bench, over foot-bridge and, at next post, turn L.Where path bends to L before ditch,bear R over boardwalk. Continue onas path joins from R.After 50m (55yards) bear L to stay on main path.Atsurfaced bridleway, turn L. Continuealong bridleway through wood, pastpond on L to coal post (a ScheduledAncient Monument dating from 1861).

23⁄4 MILES Follow bridleway down to stream,cross 3 footbridges and go up hill.Attop, go through gap in fence pastWormley Wood board. Continue uphill for 140m (153 yards), then turn Rat crossroads. Follow track to road, gothrough Emanuel Pollards car park andhead in easterly direction for 110m(120 yards).

4 MILESTurn L up to road.Turn R, and after170m (186 yards) turn L on tofootpath. Go through gate and acrossplantation to next gate. Continue instraight line to R field edge, passthrough gate and cross paddock tostile to L of barn. Go through gate,cross yard and through farm gate. Forshorter route, turn L and head back tocar park; otherwise, cross road, gothrough 3 gates and over meadow, tobottom R corner. Pass through gateand over footbridge, bearing R up togap in fence. Continue over small ditchand turn L at waymark up hill.

5 MILESGo straight over at crossroads, pastbench on R, cross track with spruceavenue, to gate at wood edge. Pass

through and walk on L side of 2meadows; keep pond to R and go overstile on to lane. Pass house and turn Rby gate. Keep hedge on R, at end crossfield to gate. Cross next field, keepingcopse on L, to footbridge and gate.Follow field edge, cross ditch aheadand aim for oak tree.

6 MILESTurn R on track past farm.Where roadbends to L, cross field ahead tobottom R corner. In wood followboardwalk, go over stile and cross fieldto next stile. Go over third stile to Lof oak tree and head for gate to L ofgas container. Once over concrete andthrough next gate, turn L keepingwoodland on R. Pass through next gateand cross field to road, then turn R.Cross Ermine Street and after 100m(109 yards) turn R through gate intoHoddesdon Park Wood.

7 MILESTake footpath bearing L, cross streamand turn R down main ride. Go overstream, over crossroads and turn R atend. Go over 3 footbridges, ignorewaymarker to R, go over nextfootbridge and through gate.

8 MILESCross sunken lane, L over footbridge,immediately R over next footbridgeand through Danemead NatureReserve. Go over footbridge, keeping

stream on R to gate.Turn left upbridleway, past Bramble’s Wood.Turn Rbefore Broxbourne Common board;where path forks, bear R underpollarded oak tree. Cross stile andbear L into coniferous woodland, crossnext stile and go over footbridge.After80m (87 yards) turn L; footpath joinsfrom L, path then turns uphill.

91⁄4 MILESAfter 100m (109 yards) turn L downfootpath, go over small ditch, throughgap in fence and bear R down tofootbridge. Go through gate and crossmeadow to R of oak tree. Go through3 gates to road.Turn R, go throughbollards on R and follow roadside pathback to car park.

A WA L K I N T H E WO O D S

Broxbourne WoodsNational Nature Reserve

There is certainly a wealth of wildlife in the Broxbourne Woods National Nature

Reserve, Hertfordshire. The impressive oak trees, gnarled and coppiced hornbeam, the

variety of colourful wild flowers and the ancient woodbanks all indicate that the woods

have been here for centuries. Along the ride edges and where the trees have been cut

for coppice you may be lucky enough to see orange-tip, skipper, speckled wood or white

admiral butterflies in spring. For fungi, moss and fern enthusiasts, there are fine examples

in the Woodland Trust’s Wormley Wood, which has an extensive network of streams

and ponds. The old roman road of Ermine Street cuts through directly to the east of the

wood, first mentioned in 6th-century documents. William the Conqueror would almost

certainly have passed this way after his victory at Hastings and Oliver Cromwell is also

said to have ridden through. The solitary coal post in the middle of the wood is a

reminder of the fact that duty once had to be paid on coal and wine from the London

ports to help finance the rebuilding of the capital after the Great Fire of 1666.

The walk can be done as a figure of eight or the shorter loop can be tackled on its

own (the northern loop is 43⁄4 miles; the southern one is 5 miles). The route shown is to

be promoted this summer with a leaflet and waymarking by Hertfordshire Countryside

Management Service (telephone 01279 843067 for further details).

HISTORY, WILDLIFE, BEAUTY AND TRANQUILLITY: WHAT MORE

COULD A PERSON ASK FOR IN ANY ONE PLACE?

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White Stubbs Lane

Pembridge Lane

West End Road

Cock Lane

Baas Hill

Church Lane

Lord Street

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Coal post

Bramble’sWood

MonksGreen

ThunderfieldGrove

WormleyWood

BroxbourneWood

CowheathWood

HighfieldWood

HoddesdonPark Wood

Bencroft Wood

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Other footpath

Bridle route for horse andbike riders & walkers

Public house

Car park

Woodland Trust wood

Other woodland

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Bayfordtrainstation

Brickendon

Hoddesdon

Broxbourne

WormleyWest End

TERRAINMostly woodland paths, short

stretches along quiet roads, field edgesand across meadows. Muddy in places,some undulations.There are 7 stiles.

PARKINGParking is available in Broxbourne

Wood east car park (grid referenceTL328069).

PUBLIC TRANSPORTBayford train station is 11⁄2 miles

from the start. For rail enquiries, call08457 484950. Not on bus route.

REFRESHMENTSThe Woodman,Wormley West End

(grid reference TL337060; telephone01992 463719)The Huntsman, Goose Green(grid reference TL352090; telephone01992 443294)The Farmer’s Boy, Brickendon(grid reference TL323080; telephone01992 511610)

ACCOMMODATION ANDTOURIST INFORMATION

Hertford Tourist Information Centre(telephone 01992 584322 or visitwww.hertford.net)Lee Valley YHA is due to open this year(telephone 0870 241 2314)Epping Forest YHA(telephone 0870 770 5822)

MAPSOrdnance Survey Explorer 174,

Landranger 166, Pathfinder 1120

OTHER WOODS TO VISITSee the Our Woods section on the

Trust’s website at www.woodland-trust.org.uk or the Exploring Woodlandguide for East Anglia and North Thames(page 8 of this issue for details).

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Harlow

CheshuntPotters Bar

Hatfield

WelwynGarden City

Hertford

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M25

A10

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A WA L K I N T H E WO O D S

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Broxbourne Woods National Nature Reserve

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