Hertfordshire Chain Walk 8:
Watton at Stone

27 December 2008

Today George accompanied Stephen on another visit to the Hertfordshire Chain Walk. The route is a series of 15 circular walks which link together to create a chain, running from the northern edges of Enfield in Greater London to Cambridgeshire. With the walks being circular they can be started from any point and walked in either direction. The eighth walk, was started from Mill Lane in Watton at Stone.

Walking away from Mill Lane, parallel to the river. This section became quite familiar as I had to return to the car to fetch George's lead so walked it three times.

Across the A602 road, we continue across farmland. The marker helpfully confirms when we have reached the point where the public footpath leaves the edge of the field and strides out across the middle - there is no sign of previous users, but armed with my GPS to guide me, I stuck to the official route and soon spotted the stile on the far side of the field.

Across High Elms Lane, we join this restricted byway which is clearly an ancient way, and winds delightfully towards Burn's Green.

The Lordship Arms at Burn's Green

There were lots of attractive houses in Hebing End, Burn's Green

Emerging onto farmland again, with a long downhill stretch ahead of us

At the bottom, we made our way across this field, and cross its dry stream bed.

George on the bank of another ancient restricted byway

Making our way uphill along the restricted byway

At the top of the hill, we had to make our way through several fields of horses, which rather unnervingly sprinted up to us and then threw themselves around, presumably because we didn't provide food.

We passed through the equine Gregory's Farm (well, the Ordnance Survey includes the apostrophe, even if the owners don't).

A trig point tells us we are 118 metres above sea level.

A rather sad looking gate with no purpose in life looks over the Beane valley

The section of Mill Lane which is now a bridleway since the building of the bypass.

A rather gloomy and chilly walk, but it was still good to stretch the legs, and the ancient sunken paths were interesting.

Zoom in for more detail, or see map in larger window: Ordnance Survey | Open Street Map | Google Maps