Bishop’s Stortford and the Stort Valley - green, red and blue routes
Red Route
| Distance: | 1.96 miles/3.16km |
|---|---|
| Rating: | Moderate – difficult access for wheelchairs, suitable for prams and pushchairs |
| Time: | 90 minutes |
| Toilets: | The Causeway |
Blue Route
| Distance: | 0.54 miles/0.8km |
|---|---|
| Rating: | Easy – flat meadows, suitable for wheelchairs, prams and pushchairs in dry weather |
| Time: | 20 minutes |
| Toilets: | The Causeway |
Green route
| Distance: | 0.77 miles/1.25km |
|---|---|
| Rating: | Easy – some surfaced paths, conditions may not suit wheelchairs throughout the year |
| Time: | 30 minutes |
| Toilets: | The Causeway |
Route description
Along the River Stort there are many typical riverside trees. Traditional willows sweep down to the water’s edge where they provide a haven for wildlife and in the early spring they are the first trees to come into leaf, providing that first green welcome after the long winter months. There is a magnificent pollarded ash on Grange Paddocks and some very old oak trees. To compliment these some new areas have been planted to provide trees for future generations.
For those in search of more active recreation, Grange Paddocks has a pool with a wide ranging swimming programme, extensive sports pitches surround the pool and a trim trail has been installed around the edge of the playing fields.
Farnham Road allotments are being restored as managed grassland. Here in the spring and summer are many species of wildflowers including cowslips, field pansies, stately teasel mixed in with a host of cultivated plants from the days when the site was actively used for allotment gardens. The hedges, predominantly hawthorn, are being layered to give them a new lease of life providing a richer denser habitat for many birds and animals.
Healthy steps
While you are out you are doing your health a favour. Regular moderate activity such as brisk walking is enough to keep you in shape. You don’t need to sweat and pant – feeling warm and breathing harder than usual will give you benefits and you’re never too old or too far gone to start!
Starting point and getting there
You can join the walks from almost any point, the railway station is five minutes from the castle. There is plenty of parking in the town centre and at Grange Paddocks by the swimming pool.
Rights of Way symbols you might see
|
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.
