hertfordshire and north middlesex area logo

Hertfordshire & North Middlesex Area

We support nine Ramblers Groups in Hertfordshire, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey and help protect our local footpaths and countryside for everyone to enjoy.

Join the Ramblers and enjoy

  • unlimited free access to 50,000 Ramblers group walks
  • a library jam-packed with thousands of tried-and-tested routes
  • a welcome pack teeming with top tips plus our Walk magazine
  • exclusive discounts from our partners
  • knowing your support is opening up more places to walk and helping more people discover the joy of walking
1 of 0

Overview

A chance to see some early autumn colour on a day walk through Knebworth Park and nearby woods, on gently undulating terrain.

Please bring a packed lunch, snacks and drinks, and something to sit on at lunchtime e.g. a sitmat.

From Knebworth Village Hall we begin by heading west to Old Knebworth and into Knebworth Park. From the footpath we have a good view of Knebworth House and can pause for photos of the mansion. We then exit the park past a private fishing lake and come to Newton Wood. Around the wood we take a relatively new public footpath created with the involvement of local Ramblers members, which provides a useful link between Knebworth Park and Stevenage.

After crossing Norton Green Common, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, we turn towards the hamlets of Langley and Rustling End, passing Burleighcroft Wood and entering Graffidge Wood, where we might spot an ancient Roman burial mound hidden in the trees. From Rustling End onwards, our route follows part of the 27-mile Stevenage Outer Orbital Path (STOOP), a waymarked trail devised by North Herts Ramblers Group and opened in 2008.

Leaving the woods, we come back into Knebworth Park and walk along its western edge, passing a memorial erected in memory of Elizabeth Bulwer Lytton, who renovated Knebworth House in its Tudor Gothic style in the 1810s. As we walk through the parkland we can look out for its resident deer, and also a dinosaur!

Next, we return to Old Knebworth where we can have our packed lunches on the village green and visit The Lytton Arms for a quick drink. We then follow paths through fields and woods and under the A1(M) to reach the edge of Woolmer Green. Here we leave the STOOP and take a footpath alongside the railway to return to Knebworth.

After our walk, we can join other walkers for cream teas at Knebworth Village Hall.

Dogs are welcome on a lead.

Older children welcome (accompanied by parent / guardian) if accustomed to distance.

Walk Leader: Al M

Saturday, 11 October 2025
Start time:
10:30 am
Estimated finish time:
3:30 pm
Difficulty:
Moderate
Distance:
16.1km / 10.0mi
Ascent:
132.9m / 436ft
Type:
circular

This walk is part of Hertfordshire & North London Walks Fest 2025, organised by Ramblers Hertfordshire & North Middlesex Area.

There are several group walks of various distances to choose from, led by experienced walk leaders from the different Ramblers Groups across the Area.

After the walks, there is the chance to meet other walkers for refreshments and conversation at Knebworth Village Hall (a few minutes' walk from Knebworth station) where we will enjoy a cream tea from 3pm onwards.

It’s a great opportunity to walk and chat with members from different Ramblers Groups and with new people.

All are welcome, though some walks may be unsuitable for young children due to distance - please check the individual listing for each walk to see if it is family-friendly. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or person with equivalent responsibility for the entire walk.

Walks are graded Easy, Leisurely, Moderate or Strenuous in increasing order of difficulty. Please read the walk description to check it is within your abilities and contact us if you are unsure.

Free for everyone to attend; no booking required.

Toilets are available at the Hall from 3pm.

Bring a packed lunch / snacks and drinks and appropriate clothing for the conditions.

Features

  • Refreshments available (Pub/cafe)
  • Toilets available
  • Accessible by public transport
  • Car parking available
  • Dog friendly
  • No car needed

Starting point

Grid reference:
TL 24781 20240
Nearest postcode:
SG3 6PD
what3words:
cares.horn.solo
Start time:
10:30 am

Knebworth Village Hall, Park Lane, Knebworth SG3 6PD. Accessible by train to Knebworth (London King's Cross - Cambridge Great Northern route) and local bus services. If driving, there is a car park at the station (£3.40 all day) or limited free parking on Kerr Close. Please check restrictions and park with consideration for local residents. Due to limited parking, we recommend car-sharing or travelling by public transport if possible.

Join the Ramblers and enjoy

  • unlimited free access to 50,000 Ramblers group walks
  • a library jam-packed with thousands of tried-and-tested routes
  • a welcome pack teeming with top tips plus our Walk magazine
  • exclusive discounts from our partners
  • knowing your support is opening up more places to walk and helping more people discover the joy of walking