A circular walk in Welwyn Hatfield - South Hatfield and Welham Green
| Distance: | North loop 4km (2.5 miles), optional south loop 1.5 km (1 mile) – combined length 5.5km (3.5 miles) |
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| Time: | 1-1.5 hours |
| Rating: | moderate (flat, some unsurfaced paths may be muddy at times) |
| Starting point: | Hilltop shopping centre (High View) South Hatfield |
Route description
Starting at Hilltop shopping centre walk past the front of the church and turn left into Northdown Road – turn into Acacia Street through the recreation ground and follow waymark discs to Travellers Lane. Cross the footbridge and turn right through the kissing gate, following the gravel path to New Barnfield Pond. Follow the path around the field edge to another kissing gate that will lead you through Parson’s wood, a newly planted area of young trees. Follow the green and white discs (waymarkers) down to Dellsome Lane, either turn left and walk to Dellsome Lane or turn right and follow waymarkers for an optional extra mile before rejoining the rest of the walk route. Many paths cross private land so remember to stick to paths at all times.
Starting point and how to get there
The walk route can be joined at any point and is easy to walk from South hatfield. Hilltop shops can be found in High View – just off Bishop’s Rise, which is well served by local buses.
Watling Chase Community Forest
Watling Chase is one of twelve community forests being created in England in partnership with landowners, businesses and the local community. Covering an area between North London northwards to Hatfield and St Albans, the Community Forest aims to create a rich mix of farmland, open spaces and settlements in a landscape of multi purpose woods, trees and hedges. The walk takes you through Parson’s Wood planted in 1994.
Welham Green
As you walk along Dellsome Lane notice the large attractive hornbeam coppice wood (Bush Wood) on the right. The walk briefly winds through residential streets before heading back towards Hatfield. You may wish to continue on into the billage centre for refreshments before continuing your walk. Welham Green is particularly famous as being the spot where Italian balloonist Vincenzo Lunardi touched down in 1784 during the world’s first balloon flight outside France. In 1960 a commemorative stone was placed at Balloon Corner, at the junction of Dellsome Lane, parsonage Lane and Huggins Lane.
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.
