We’re a Ramblers group aimed mainly at people in their 20s, 30s and slightly older, offering led walks and social events across Herts, Beds and south Cambs.
This walk and social is for up to 20 people, including the leader.
Join us for a short evening walk and social event at Hitchin Beer & Cider Festival.
The walk to the Beer Festival should take about an hour. Starting at Hitchin station, we’ll head through local park Ransom’s Rec, alongside the River Hiz and into Burymead Springs, a small nature reserve with a lagoon where we might spot some bird life. We’ll follow a rural footpath between a willow plantation and an old railway embankment (once part of the disused Hitchin - Bedford line) to reach the edge of Ickleford. At the bridge over the Hiz we’ll turn south and walk along the pavement into Hitchin, stopping at the Rugby Club where the Beer & Cider Festival takes place.
Drinks and food will be available at the Festival. When we’ve had our fill, it’s a walk of about a mile back to the station via Heathfield Avenue and Stormont Road then through Ransom’s Rec again.
About the Festival: Organised by North Herts CAMRA, Hitchin Beer & Cider Festival offers around 200 real ales, ciders, perries and meads, plus food from a variety of vendors. Drinks can be enjoyed in the marquee or on the field. Tickets are £2 + a refundable £3 for a Festival glass (tip: choose a half-pint so you can sample more drinks!).
We recommend buying advance tickets from the CAMRA website (https://tckty.camra.org.uk/e/131/hitchin-beer-cider-festival-2023) - Thursday General Admission tickets are £16 including £10 of drinks tokens.
Dogs are welcome on a lead.
Booking your place: If you would like to join, you must book in advance using the Stag Walkers Meetup group - see Notes for how to book & what to bring. If you are unable to attend, please cancel your booking so that someone else can take your place.
Please do not turn up for a walk without booking, as places are limited. Unless you opt in to further communications, we will only use contact information you provide to get in touch about the walk.
Please car-share or use public transport if possible. To offer a lift or ask for one from a fellow walker, please use the Meetup event page.
This is a circular walk
Please be aware of the walk grade: walks are graded Easy, Leisurely, Moderate or Strenuous.
Book your place via the Stag Walkers Meetup group by clicking the ‘Attend’ button on the event page. If the walk is full, click ‘join waitlist’ and you will be added if a place becomes available. If you’re on the waitlist, please check back regularly to see if you have been added to the attending list.
If you have any questions or need to contact the leader about the walk, please post on the Meetup event page.
Please:
DO NOT book onto a walk unless you are pretty sure you will be able to make it.
UPDATE YOUR RSVP. We understand ‘life happens’ so if you need to change your RSVP please do this at least 24 hours before the walk and before booking closes to enable someone else to take your place.
DON’T NO-SHOW on the day unless it is absolutely unavoidable (we do understand ‘life happens’) because it prevents others from enjoying a walk if it is fully booked.
*TAKE NOTE that if you no-show and/or cancel after the booking closing deadline three times, without extenuating circumstances, we will decline further bookings from you for a period of six weeks.*
Bring a packed lunch/snacks and drinks, appropriate clothing for the conditions and optionally a basic first aid kit & hand sanitiser.
For more information about walking with the group, including our dog policy, please visit the Stag Walkers website.
We are a Ramblers group, non members are welcome to try us out for two or three free walks before joining Ramblers as a full member.
As a charity we ask that non-members consider making a voluntary donation to Ramblers until they become a full member. We suggest £3-4 per walk. You can donate in person or online.
The Ramblers’ Association is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Company registration number: 4458492. Registered Charity in England and Wales number: 1093577. Registered office: First Floor, 10 Queen Street Place, London EC4R 1BE.
Hitchin Railway Station, Walsworth Road, Hitchin, Herts SG4 9UL. Meet at the Meeting Point between the ticket office and the car park (to your left if exiting the station). Parking £2.90 or free parking after 6pm around 10 mins walk away at Queen Mother Theatre car park, Woodside, Walsworth Road, Hitchin, SG4 9SP.
