Barn Owl Walks
A series of walks in Holwell, Ickleford and Pirton
| Distance: | Pirton Routes Ickleford route Holwell Route |
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Route descriptions
Pirton Route
Pirton - Wood Lane Route
From the Motte and Bailey pub head left then bear right to the end of Great Green. Cross onto Wood Lane. As this track climbs the hill, where the beech trees start in the hedgerow, turn left up the bank and along the field edge path. Go straight up through the grassy meadow keeping the wood on your right. At the top of the hill turn sharp left and follow the path back down across the meadow. Pass the 17th century Highdown House on your right. Through the gate in the corner turn left along the path. At the next field turn right down to the road. Cross into Walnut Tree Road. After 20 metres, take the gate on your left into the Bury. Cross towards the church. In the corner by the old castle mound take the gate and path down to the road. Turn left to Great Green.
Pirton - Hambridge Way Route
From the Motte and Bailey pub turn right into Crab Tree Lane, turn right along the path next to the church and onto The Bury. Bear right, then ahead up amongst the mounds, then left to the gate. Leave via the bridge. Across the road, turn left along the pavement. Turn right onto the path between the houses and left up the side of the playing field. From the gate in the corner follow the path straight ahead. At the end, go left onto Mill Way. Turn left onto Hambridge Way back into the village. Cross onto High Street. Opposite the Fox public house, turn left into Crab Tree Lane to Great Green.
Points of interest
Hambridge Way and Wood Lane may have formed a strategic Roman loop off the Icknield Way, and ancient trade road. For centuries, Hambridge Way was the route to West Mill in Ickleford and to Hitchin market.
Along Wood Lane, look out for plants like Cowslip, Harebell, Quaking Oat Grass and Black Knapweed thriving in the chalky soils.
Barn Owl fact
Barn owls breed from May onwards, usually laying 4 to 6 eggs. They nest in barns and old trees. In addition, the readily occupy nest boxes and some put up by the Barn Own Project have already been used. If you see a box on your walk please do not approach or disturb it.Ickleford route
This walk is 5.5km (3.5 miles) long with a short cut of 3.5km (2 miles)
Start opposite the Plume of Feathers public house on Chambers Lane. Follow the footpath signposted ‘Raymond Cottages’ out into the field and straight on. At the end the path crosses to the left side of the hedge. Beyond that turn right down Snailswell Lane, bearing the right at the ‘Y’ junction. At the main road turn left up the bridleway. Shortly after the pond turn right, then left through the gate into the lower part of Ickleford Common.
Ahead, cross the bridge into the upper common. Here the main route goes along the river to the end of the common. (for the short cut turn left and leave the common via the corner gate. Bear right. Be careful not to turn right up the private track to Pestol Farm. After 50 metres turn left onto the field edge path and back onto the main route).
By the bench at the end of the common bear left. Follow the hedge on your right and go through the gate in the corner. This permissive path is not a public right of way but use has kindly been allowed by the farmer. Follow it along the field edge. Turn left onto the broad, grassy public footpath, at the end take the bridleway round to the left, when you reach the horse paddock on the right turn right, take the bridleway onto the road and turn right into Snailswell Lane. Turn left at the end and retrace your route straight back to the village.
Points of interest
Ickleford gets its name from being sited where the Icknield Way, an ancient trade route, crosses the River Hiz. The name Pestol Farm comes from a pit that was dug to bury victims of the plague.
Ickleford Common was formed following the 1776 Act of Enclosure. It is rich in wildlife, with wild flowers such as Cowslips and Marsh Valerian. Look out for Water Voles and Kingfishers along the river.
Barn Owl Facts
Barn Owl numbers have fallen by three quarters in the last 70 years. Reasons include changes in farming, lack of suitable areas for hunting and loss of nesting sites. Many are also killed on the roads. Sadly, only one in four survive their first year. By improving the local habitat, we hope to give our Barn owls a better chance for the future.
Look out for long grass in fields and along tracks, ideal habitat for barn owls. They fly at about 3 metres above ground hunting for prey. Large eyes help them see in the dark. Soft feathers make owl flight silent and allow their sharp ears to pinpoint mice and voles scurrying below.
Holwell Route
This walk is 3.5km (2 miles) long
Start near the church on Holwell road. Go up to the end of Gurneys Lane. Take the footpath straight ahead along the field edge. Cross into the next field and follow the track straight up and over the hill, looking back to see a pretty view of the village. At the bottom, with Holwellbury Farm off to the right, turn left and follow the path near the overhead wires. Join the grassy lane between the ditch and thick hedges. Old maps show this was once the site of Fakeswell, a small hamlet that, as the name suggests, developed around a natural spring.
The lane leads you onto another field edhe with trees on your right, at the next corner continue left. Follow the path until it turns right and soon left. Across the ditch, take the cross-field path to your right back up to the church.
Points of interest
Holwell is over 1000 years old, having been granted a charter by the Saxon King Edgar in 968. Although it looks older, the present church, dedicated to St Peter, was actually built in 1878. It houses two bells taken from its predecessor.
Note the thick hedges providing food and nest sites for birds such as Song Thrushes and Long-tailed Tits. Look for crab apple, Dog-rose and Bramble – in blossom in spring and fruiting in autumn.
The Barn Owl Project
The Barn Owl has declined in Britain, the Holwell, Ickleford and Pirton Barn Owl Project aims to conserve the small number of these beautiful birds that are coming back to this part of Hertfordshire.
These routes were devised by the Barn Owl Project Steering Group, consisting of local volunteers and supported by the CMS.
The Barn Owl Project was developed in partnership with Holwell, Ickleford and Pirton Parish Councils. Funding was provided by Biffaward, North Hertfordshire District Council and Hertfordshire County Council, with support from Groundwork Hertfordshire. Biffaward is a multi million pound environment fund, managed by the RSWT. It utilises landfill tax credits donated by Biffa Waste Services.
Rights of Way symbols you might see
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Yellow arrows indicate footpaths for pedestrian use only |
| Blue arrows indicate bridleways for horse riders, cyclists and pedestrian use only |
| Red arrows indicate Byways Open to All Traffic (BOAT) for horse riders, cyclists and pedestrians and may be legally used by other wheeled vehicles |
| Black arrows indicate Roads Used as Public Paths (RUPP) for horse riders, cyclists and pedestrians and may be legally used by other wheeled vehicles |
Maps
This map is based on Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Hertfordshire County Council 100019606 2004.
The Ordnance Survey mapping included within this web-site is provided by Hertfordshire County Council under licence from the Ordnance Survey in order to fulfill its public function to provide information relating to its activities, services and plans. Persons viewing this mapping should contact Ordnance Survey copyright for advice where they wish to license Ordnance survey mapping for their own use.
See the Ordnance Survey site for more information.
This is is one of a series of walks through the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) supported by the Chilterns Conference.
Please be considerate in the countryside - keep to footpaths, especially through crops, and leave farm gates as you find them.
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