We’re a Ramblers group aimed mainly at people in their 20s, 30s and a bit beyond, offering guided hikes and social events across Herts, Beds and south Cambs.
This walk is for up to 30 people, including the leader.
This is a short circular morning walk preceding our Festive Meal Social.
The walk is limited to 30 places, including the leader; feel free to join us only for the walk if you don’t wish to stay for the meal afterwards, but if you do intend to stay then make sure you have booked for both events. If the meal is fully booked, please join the waitlist on the separate event page and you may get a place if someone drops out.
The walk begins and ends in Hitchin and explores farmland and woodland to the east of the town, including a few gentle slopes.
Please note some paths are likely to be muddy so walking boots are recommended.
We'll begin our route in the car park of the Millstream pub and immediately cross over to Purwell Meadows, a mixture of preserved meadow and wetlands which the River Purwell flows through, which is also a nature protected area. After passing Purwell Recreation Ground, we will join a short section of the Hitchin Outer Orbital Path (HOOP) trail and pass the site of an ancient Roman bathhouse.
We'll tail off from the HOOP and cross farmland, with some nice views over the surrounding countryside, before reaching Wymondley Wood, a 20-acre conservation area consisting of mature woodland, streams and open grassland. We will then head out of the woods and join a short section of the Hertfordshire Way. After crossing more farmland with picturesque views we’ll head towards Willian, where we will join the Letchworth Garden City Greenway and have a snack stop on some benches in Manor Wood.
After our break, we will pass a sculpture of Telford Morton (a Letchworth resident remembered as a keen gardener and allotment holder) and if we have time, take a short loop around Willian Arboretum. We’ll then rejoin the Greenway and pass an information board commemorating the first servicemen to lose their lives on active service in a military aircraft, which crashed not far away. We'll continue along the Greenway and return to Hitchin, where we will pick up another short section of the HOOP alongside the neighbourhood of Purwell. We then head back through Purwell Meadows to return to our start point.
After the walk, you’re welcome to join us at the Millstream for a drink whether or not you’re dining with us for the Festive Meal Social. Christmas jumpers, Santa hats, festive costumes etc. are optional!
Dogs are welcome on a lead, but can join at the Millstream only outside or in the bar area, and not in the restaurant where we’re having our meal.
For information about walking with the group, including our dog policy, please visit the Stag Walkers website.
Booking your place: Please book your place using the free Meetup website/app. Join the Stag Walkers Meetup group and click the 'Attend' button on the event page.
Please do not turn up for a walk without booking, as places are limited.
If the walk is fully booked, please click 'join waitlist' then please check back regularly as you will likely get a place. The waitlist gives priority to single bookings so if you wish to bring a guest, we recommend booking separately.
Unless you opt in to further communications, we will only use contact information you provide to get in touch about the walk.
This is a circular walk.
The start time is when we aim to start walking and the finish time is an estimate.
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 the group if you are unsure.
Please:
We are a Ramblers group, non-members are welcome to try us out for 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 purchase membership. 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: Stone King LLP, Boundary House, 91 Charterhouse Street, London EC1M 6HR.
The Millstream, 97 Cambridge Road, Hitchin, Herts SG4 0JH. Meet at the pub’s main entrance, within the car park behind the pub building. The Millstream have kindly let us use their overflow car park for both the walk and our meal later in the day. Please park considerately in the overflow car park (over the bridge) and consider car sharing where possible. If using public transport, the Millstream is less than 10 minutes walk from Hitchin railway station and local bus services stop opposite the pub at Purwell Meadows and nearby opposite North Herts College.
