Walk 107: Preston West Loop

5.5 miles (8.9km) with 123m of total ascent

The footpath between points 2 and 3 below

This walk follows well-defined paths over rolling north Hertfordshire countryside and through some pretty hamlets. The walk cuts through Wain Wood, a site of scientific interest. It starts and finishes close to The Red Lion pub/restaurant which, when we were there served a superb pint of real ale and some delicious food.

Directions

Map for Walk 107: Preston West Loop
Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker
Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors
There is an interactive map below the directions

Those with GPS devices can download GPX or KML files for this walk. We've added What3Words location references for those who use that navigation system. If you print these walks you might want to use the green PrintFriendly icon at the bottom of these directions to delete elements you don't need.

1: From the Red Lion pub/restaurant (location - https://w3w.co/froze.heave.pounds) head SW (to the right of the pub as you face it) for 100m until the road becomes a footpath. Continue SSW and SW along Preston footpath 3 for 190m to Back Lane (location - https://w3w.co/enter.clips.smashes). Turn left then head SE for 230m past the school on the left and continue to the junction with Crunnells Green (location - https://w3w.co/safety.solo.dining) where you take the right fork then head SSE for 210m until you reach a footpath on the right (location - https://w3w.co/ruby.them.affair).

The gate mentioned in point 2

2: Take this path, Preston footpath 12, then head SW for 670m until you reach a signpost on the left just after a line of trees on your right. This is still Preston footpath 12, which now drops down to the left, then heads to the right, goes through a gate and continues SW through the crop for 300m to a gate leading to a lane (location - https://w3w.co/activates.acted.prove).

The path through the crop mentioned in point 3

3: Cross the lane then take the footpath almost directly opposite. This is Kings Walden footpath 30 which you follow uphill heading SW through the crop for 480m. When you reach the far side of the field head to the right of a large hay barn then go through a gap to the left of a large metal gate to reach a lane (location - https://w3w.co/tiredness.hypnotist.freedom).

Kings Walden footpath 26 mentioned in point 4

4: Turn left on the lane and head SW for 50m then turn right on another lane and head NW for 100m until you reach Whitehall Lane (location - https://w3w.co/qualified.this.enjoys) where you turn right and head NNE and then NNW for 140m.

Continue until the lane becomes Kings Walden BOAT 45 (byway open to all traffic) which you follow NNE for 100m looking out for a footpath on your left which is hidden in the bushes. This is Kings Walden footpath 26, take this path which then turns to the right and follow it NW for 1.1km crossing Parsonage Lane (location - https://w3w.co/currently.pictured.silence) and Plough Lane (location - https://w3w.co/scorch.earplugs.hounded), where you will find The Plough pub on your left (location - https://w3w.co/donor.pleasing.untruth), before reaching School Lane and Ley Green (location - https://w3w.co/optimists.noise.undertook).

Kings Walden footpath 29

5: Turn right on School Lane and head ESE for 15m before taking the first road on your left (location - https://w3w.co/refer.edicts.beak). Head along this road for 75m first NE and then NW looking out for a footpath on your right immediately after 1 Crown Cottage on your right (location - https://w3w.co/accordion.code.crust). This is Kings Walden footpath 29 which you follow heading NE for 450m with the hedgerow on the right and the field on the left. Cross a footbridge and continue until you reach Austage End Lane (location - https://w3w.co/packing.credit.spurring). Turn left and head first NNW and then NNE for 360m to Austage End.

You take the left fork, Kings Walden bridleway 28, mentioned in point 6

6: As you head NNE on Austage End Lane ignore byway 36 on your left and continue heading NNE until the lane becomes Kings Walden restricted byway 47 and heads NNE for 50m before becoming Kings Walden bridleway 28 at the point where the track forks, see image above. Take the left fork and follow Kings Walden bridleway 28 N for 280m, with the hedgerow on your right and the field on your left, to a T-junction (location - https://w3w.co/accordion.bagels.outdoors). Turn right here on Preston bridleway 11 and head E for 890m to a lane (location - https://w3w.co/mysteries.written.estimates).

Ippollitts bridleway 5 mentioned in point 7

7: Cross the lane and take the track diagonally opposite to your left. This is Preston bridleway 15, also known as Tatmorehills Lane. Head NE for 410m until you reach woodland. Continue, heading NE, now on Ippollitts bridleway 5 for 690m until you reach a junction in the track (location - https://w3w.co/hulk.sector.works).

Ippollitts footpath 6 mentioned in point 8

8: Turn sharp right on Ippollitts footpath 6 and head S for 460m until you reach woodland (location - https://w3w.co/decay.locate.whips).

The gate at the start of Preston footpath 13 mentioned in point 9

9: The path you are on dips down to a gate where it becomes Preston footpath 13 and heads S for 330m to the point where you are about to leave the woodland at a metal gate (location - https://w3w.co/pushed.until.supporter).

The permissive path on the left leading to Wain Wood

10: Just before the gate look out for a permissive path on your left that goes through Wain Wood.

Noticeboard in Wain Wood, a Site of Special Scientific Interest

Turn left and follow the permissive path (with the white arrow markers) SSE for 420m until you reach Preston footpath 14, where you turn right, leave Wain Wood, go through a gate, and rejoin Preston footpath 13 (location - https://w3w.co/jokes.faced.drives).

Leaving Wain Wood to rejoin Preston footpath 13

11: Turn left on Preston footpath 13 and follow it to Chequers Lane (location - https://w3w.co/stud.supply.palm). Turn left on Chequers Lane and follow it SE for 260m to Hitchin Road (location - https://w3w.co/orchestra.deaf.plant) where you turn right and follow it SSE for 120m back to the starting point.

Interactive map

---