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 joint walk with our neighbouring young Ramblers group Walk Cambridge, led by Stag Walkers. There are 15 places for each group, including the leader.
On the first day of meteorological spring, join us for a rural walk from Ashwell & Morden station in North Herts to the villages of Litlington and Steeple Morden in South Cambs. The route is mainly through farmland, with some sections of woodland and some gentle slopes.
We’ll set out from the station on a tree-lined path between the railway line and a massive chalk quarry. Chalk has been quarried in this area since medieval times, and after passing alongside arable fields we’ll come to the former Litlington Chalk Pit, which is now an important wildlife habitat. A local legend says that Robin Hood once shot an arrow from Limlow Hill 700 metres away which landed on the site of the pit, and a thorn bush grew out of the arrow’s shaft.
We’ll progress into Litlington, where we can spot several thatched cottages and an old lock-up where criminals of the 18/19th-century were imprisoned before being taken to court. We’ll have a snack stop in the village and can pay a quick visit to the large parish church.
We then head across fields, passing a wood with a medieval moat and alongside a stream named Cheney Water, before we reach Steeple Morden. After walking through a new wood we’ll have our packed lunch break at the recreation ground, followed by a quick drink stop at the village pub The Waggon & Horses.
We then return into farmland and ascend a low hill which gives a good view of the surrounding landscape; we should be able to see back to Litlington and to the nearby chalk downland of Therfield Heath. We’ll pass another enormous quarry, which is mostly hidden in the trees of Morden Grange Plantation, then come back along the other side of the Station Quarry to return to our start point.
Please note some paths may be muddy after rain, so walking boots are recommended. Toilets are available at Litlington church (4 miles into the route) and at the pub in Steeple Morden (7 miles).
Dogs are welcome on a lead.
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, click 'join waitlist' to get a place if one becomes available and 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.
Ashwell & Morden Station, Station Road, Odsey, Hertfordshire SG7 5RT. Meet opposite the entrance to the station, outside Zaheers Hotel and Restaurant (SG7 5RS). Parking is available free of charge on the side of Station Road near the station entrance or in the station car park for £3.40. Please park considerately and consider car sharing or taking public transport. There are two trains an hour in both directions.
