Hertfordshire Countryside Walk
This dog friendly walk will give you beautiful views of rolling hills in the Hertfordshire Countryside and is for all abilities, perfect for a Sunday stroll with the option of stopping at the Brocket Arms for some home cooked pub classics and a pint of real ale.
Start the walk in Codicote Bottom
We begin this walk in Codicote Bottom and recommend parking along Green Lane near to the entrance of Rye End Farm. Head in a southerly direction towards Kimpton Road and directly opposite there is a footpath along the right hand edge of the field that slowly works its way up hill towards Ayot St Lawrence.
Walk uphill towards Ayot St Lawrence
Towards the top the path becomes covered on either side by a low tree line and you will bump into some wooden statues that have been carved into old stumps of wood. Once at the top of the field slightly turning to the right you join Tayard Lane. The lane comes to an end and you want to keep in the same direction but to the right of the gate. You then stay along the left hand edge of a field to a kissing gate.
Ayot Park & New St Lawrence Church
Enter through this kissing gate and you’ll be in Ayot Park heading towards the large columns which are New St Lawrence Church. The church is the perfect place to stop and have some sandwiches if you’ve brought supplies, its usually left unlocked so you can have a look around leave a donation to help keep it open to the public.
Shaws Corner
Exiting round the side of the church onto Bibbs Hall Lane you will at the end of it find Shaws Corner which is now a National Trust site. Playwriter, politician, philosopher and general cool guy George Bernard Shaw lived in this Edwardian villa for over 40 years from 1906. It’s only open in the summer but the exterior still provides a perfect photo opportunity.
Brocket Arms in Ayot St Lawrence
Turning left along Hills Farmer Lane the remains of the Old Church are clearly visible which provide another historic waymark along this route. A few steps further along the lane on the right and you’ll reach the delightful Brocket Arms, a beautiful quirky 14th century public house.
Walk downhill to Codicote Bottom
Turning left into the gates of the Manor House and then immediately to the right through another kissing gate and onto another foothpath, starting to slowly work your way downhill you will soon reach a farmers lane which has tall trees either side. Keep an eye our for all the bird houses and new trees that have just been planted along this route. At the bottom you’ll finish in a farm so exit back onto Kimpton Road and turn left.
Dog Friendly Walk Complete
Shortly after at the junction turn right slightly downhill onto Heath Hill looking out for the public footpath sign just after the river on the left. Following this footpath you keep the fast flowing River Mimram and its historic mills to your left and will eventually end back where you started on Green Lane.
