What we’re about
HIKE - "To walk a long way usually for pleasure, especially in the country"
Our hikes are typically 8 - 10 miles (12.8 - 16 km), sometimes shorter or longer.
- Local hikes in Hertfordshire and surrounding areas
- Day hikes elsewhere in South-East England
- Hiking weekends away in England and Wales
WELCOME!
If you would like to explore the countryside of England and Wales on foot, you are welcome to join us.
Bienvenue
Willkommen
Benvenuti/Benvenute
Bienvenido
Witamy
Dobrodošli
Καλώς Όρισες
ยินดีต้อนรับ
歡迎光臨
Plus many other languages, too numerous to list.
MEMBERSHIP
To join one of our events:
- Log in to Meetup if you already have a Meetup login. If not, please see below.
- Join the South Herts Hikers Meetup Group by clicking the 'Join Us' button above. This gives you immediate free trial membership of our group and you can attend our events.
- Select an event and click 'Attend'. You should receive an email confirming your place. If the event is already full you will be put onto a waiting list.
If you don't have a Meetup login yet, you can create one easily using the login details of an existing Facebook or Google login or you can create a separate Meetup login.
To cover the costs of running this Meetup Group and other associated costs, we suggest a voluntary annual membership donation of £1 (50p if you join July onwards) at your first event of each year plus a voluntary donation of £2 for each hike for every participant. Cash is preferred or you can use Paypal https://paypal.me/SouthHertsHikers
MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA
Membership is open to anyone aged 18 or more who has an interest in hiking, regardless of gender, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs, provided they fulfil the following criteria:
- Being friendly towards all other Group members, treating other members with respect and as equals.
- Avoiding any conduct likely to discourage any other member from participating in future Group events or from organising future group events. In particular, this group is a “Grump Free Zone” especially on Group weekends away!
ETIQUETTE
These aren't rules but advice for a friendly group
- The walk leader sets the pace suitable for the slowest member, as long as we can complete the walk in a reasonable time. It is not a race to finish first nor a training event nor a non-stop work-out. We stop from time to time to regroup (for example after going through a gate), to have a rest, a drink or a snack, admire the view or take photos, etc. You may need extra clothing to put on for stops in colder weather.
- We have members of different ages and genders and we like everyone to relate to each other on an equal basis.
- We have members from different nationalities and cultures. We like to make everyone welcome and we don't quiz anyone about their background or country of origin, they can tell us if they like but this is optional.
- Conversations on a group walk or other event can often be overheard by others so we avoid discussing anything that is out of place in a friendly social group. This would include avoiding heated debates or any discussions about controversial or unpleasant subjects that others may not wish to hear about, including religion, UK politics or politics of any other country.
WHAT TO TAKE
Most of our routes are on public footpaths in the countryside. Some of these may be slippery, muddy or stony in places. You need adequate footwear, preferably hiking boots, with thick soles and good grip. You need a waterproof jacket in case it rains and in cold weather, you also need a warm outdoor jacket and an extra layer to put on for outdoor stops.
We have some info pages on what to take for day hikes and weekends away. Please see the Hiking Info http://southhertshikers.uk/info/ page on our web site for further details.
PAST EVENTS
You can find a photo album for each past event on this Meetup Group.
AFFILIATION
We are affiliated to The Ramblers https://www.ramblers.org.uk/
Hertfordshire & North Middlesex Area https://www.hnmramblers.org.uk/
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
Please see the FAQ page http://southhertshikers.uk/faq/ on our web site or click the Organizers https://www.meetup.com/SouthHertsHikers/members/?op=leaders link on Meetup to contact the organizers via Meetup messaging.
Upcoming events (3)
See all- Sunday Hike, Hadley Wood - Fir & Pond Woods - Trent Park circular, 9.5 mlsHadley Wood Railway Station - Great Northern Rail, Greater London
Join like-minded outdoor enthusiasts for a hike from Hadley Wood Station to explore Green Belt countryside and woodlands in Hertfordshire and London Borough of Enfield.
Whether you're a seasoned hiker or a beginner looking to explore new trails, this 9.5 mile (15.2 km) hike is suitable for all skill levels,
Meet 10:15 for a 10:30 start outside Hadley Wood Station, Crescent West, EN4 0EL Hike starts and finishes at Hadley Wood station.
Nearest post code: EN4 0EL
Lat/Long (WGS84): 51.668379,-0.176221
O.S. Grid Ref: TQ262981
What3Words https://w3w.co/little.case.hintHIKE DESCRIPTION:
Hadley Wood Station - Fir and Pond Wood Nature Reserves - Trent Park with optional detour to Camlet Moat - Jack's Lake - Hadley Wood Station. This route includes some paths that have only been created recently, a new Public Bridleway beside Coopers Lane Road, Potters Bar and new footpaths at Potters Chase Wood.Most of the route is on traffic-free footpaths with a stony or grassy surface. There may be some muddy patches but there shouldn't be any deep mud. There are also some roads with a pavement.
Total distance 9.5 miles (15.2 km) and quite hilly with 252 metres (827 ft) of ascent and descent. We are likely to finish the hike by 16:45 - 17:00.
PLACES OF INTEREST:
Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, Fir and Pond Woods https://www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/firandpondwoodsFriends of Trent Country Park
https://friendsoftrentcountrypark.org.uk/walk-the-trails-and-explore/Trent Park leaflet with Map: https://friendsoftrentcountrypark.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/TRENT-COUNTRY-PARK-MAP-BROCHURE-EDITV2.pdf
HIKING MAP:
O.S. 'Explorer' 1:25,000 scale, Sheet 182 St Albans & Hatfield and Sheet 173, London North.ONLINE MAP:
This route was devised by South Herts Hikers. The map in the event photo above shows a slightly longer version of the route but we shortened it slightly, missing out Cockfosters. We have also uploaded it to Wikiloc, see: https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/hadley-wood-station-fir-and-pond-woods-trent-park-cockfosters-loop-v1-61563389You can select map or aerial view (OpenStreetmap recommended) and you can zoom in. Navigating the trail outdoors using the Wikiloc app needs the premium version but you can also set up a free Wikiloc login then download a .GPX or .kml file to a mobile device to use with a GPS app such as OSMand, Komoot, All Trails, Outdoor Active, Organic Maps or Google Maps.
HOW TO GET TO THE MEETING LOCATION:
Great Northern trains to Hadley Wood Station (HDW) from London Kings Cross or all stations to Welwyn Garden City
Finsbury Park (FPK) dep. 09:42 arr. 10:00, check pay as you (Contactless or Oyster) for lowest fare.
Welwyn Garden City (WGC) dep. 09:30 arr. 09:47 or dep. 10:00 arr. 10:17
Although there is a bus 399 from Barnet Mon - Sat, there is no Sunday service.CAR PARKING NEAR MEETING LOCATION:
There may be free on street parking on Sundays on Crescent East and Crescent West (please park considerately).WHAT TO BRING
Most of the route is on public footpaths in the countryside. Some of these may be slippery, muddy or stony in places. You need:- adequate footwear, preferably hiking boots, with thick soles and good grip
- waterproof jacket or umbrella
- sun hat if sunny
- drink essential (1 - 2 litres)
- packed lunch recommended.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW
There will be a mid morning stop in Fir Wood 5.5 km from the start at about 12:00 noon and a 50 minute late lunch stop 12 km from the start at about 2:30 p.m. in Trent Park (café at wildlife rescue centre). You can eat your own packed lunch outdoors nearby but not at tables in or outside the café. There are public toilets in Trent Park. If you like, you could finish the hike here and take a bus or Piccadilly Line tube train from Cockfosters.We suggest a voluntary annual membership donation of £1 (50p if you join July onwards) at your first event of 2024 plus a voluntary donation of £2 for each hike for every participant. That's £3.00 for your first hike with us in 2024 or £2.00 per event after that. This contributes towards the running costs of this Meetup Group. You can use cash or Paypal https://paypal.me/SouthHertsHikers
Please note our membership criteria and guidelines for etiquette. From this Meetup Group's home page https://www.meetup.com/southhertshikers/ see What we're about > Read More
For our policy on dogs on our hikes, please see our FAQ page, http://southhertshikers.uk/faq/
- Sunday Hike Hatfield - West End - Bell Bar - Welham Green circular 11.1 mlsHatfield Train Station, Hatfield
Join us for a hike in the beautiful countryside around Hatfield Park in Hertfordshire. This Sunday getaway is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts looking to explore the picturesque Hertfordshire countryside. Our "Tour d'Hatfield Park' will cover a circular route of 11.1 miles, taking us through scenic trails, woodlands, and meadows but you can shorten it to 8.3 mls if you like.
Meet 10:15 for a 10:30 start outside Hatfield Railway Station by the red pillar box and the BT phone boxes.
Nearest post code: AL9 5AB
Lat/Long (WGS84): 51.764015 , -0.215244
O.S. Grid Ref: TL232087
What3Words https://w3w.co/update.enter.sportsHIKE DESCRIPTION:
From Hatfield Station to Mill Green, West End, Bell Bar, Welham Green, Howe Dell and back to Hatfield Station. The route goes around the outside of Hatfield Park on public footpaths and public bridleways but it doesn't actually go into Hatfield Park, so there is no admission charge to pay.Most of the route is on public footpaths and public bridleways in the countryside plus some roads in built-up areas. Care is required on a 300 metre section of Grubbs Lane with no footway and also crossing the A414.
Total distance 11.1 miles (17.8 km) with some hills, 123 metres (403 ft) of ascent and descent. This is a bit longer than our usual 8 - 10 mile hikes, as there are no public rights of way across Hatfield park. You can shorten the route to 8.3 mls (13.4 km) if you finish at Welham Green station and take a train back to Hatfield.
We plan to finish the hike by 17:00 or earlier.
PLACES OF INTEREST:
Café at Dutch garden centre, Bell Bar https://dutchmarketplace.co.uk/dutch-cafe/
Cock O' the North pub, Bell Bar https://www.mcmullens.co.uk/cockothenorthONLINE MAP:
This route was devised by South Herts Hikers. There is a static map in the event photo above and we have also uploaded it to Wikiloc. See: https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/hatfield-station-west-end-welham-green-loop-v2-167784357You can select map or aerial view (OpenStreetmap recommended) and you can zoom in and look at photos. If you set up a free Wikiloc login, you can download a .GPX file to use with any GPS app such as OSMand, Komoot, All Trails or Outdoor Active or a .KML file to use with Google Maps.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO MEETING LOCATION (CHECK TIMES):
Great Northern trains from London Moorgate [MOG]: 09:27, Finsbury Park [FPK] 09:42, calling at all stations to Hatfield [HAT] 10:12
Great Northern trains from Welwyn Garden City [WGC]: 10:00 to Hatfield [HAT] at 10:05
Bus 301 from St Albans City Railway Station Stop "A" at 09:37 to Hatfield Station 10:05.
Intalink bus travel in Hertfordshire https://www.intalink.org.uk/CAR SHARING FROM BARNET OR POTTERS BAR:
We may be able to offer car sharing from High Barnet Station (Northern Line) or Potters Bar Station. You can request this when you RSVP.CAR PARKING NEAR MEETING LOCATION:
Hatfield Station multi-storey car park, 79, Great North Road AL9 5AB £3.20 on Sun. APCOA Parking, location code 3016. Pay by APCOA Connect App or buy on-line https://www.apcoaconnect.com/locationDetail/?id=2441
Alternatively, it may be possible to park in nearby streets (please park considerately).WHAT TO TAKE
Much of the route is on public footpaths in the countryside. Some of these may be slippery, muddy or stony in places. We recommend:- adequate footwear, preferably hiking boots, with thick soles and good grip
- waterproof jacket or umbrella for rain
- sun hat if sunny
- drink essential (1 - 2 litres)
- packed lunch (optional).
IMPORTANT TO KNOW
Mid morning stop 4.4 km from the start. Lunch stop at Bell Bar 10.5 km from start, you can can go to Café at Dutch garden centre or visit Cock O' the North pub.We suggest a voluntary annual membership donation of £1 (50p if you join July onwards) at your first event of 2024 plus a voluntary donation of £2 for each hike for every participant. That's £3.00 for your first hike with us in 2024 or £2.00 per event after that. This contributes towards the running costs of this Meetup Group. Cash is preferred or you can use Paypal https://paypal.me/SouthHertsHikers
Please note our membership criteria and guidelines. From this Meetup Group's home page https://www.meetup.com/southhertshikers/ see What we're about > Read More
For our policy on dogs on our hikes, please see our FAQ page, http://southhertshikers.uk/faq/
- Sunday Hike High Barnet - Highwood Hill - Arkley - Hadley Common Circular 9.5 mlHigh Barnet Tube Station (by Coffee@Cals), Barnet, AL
Join like-minded outdoor enthusiasts to discover some little-known scenic trails and woodland in the Green Belt countryside near Barnet. Stop for lunch in the midst of a little known Rhodendron wood that should be in flower. This Sunday getaway is perfect for nature enthusiasts and hikers looking to explore new trails and embrace the great outdoors. It starts right at the end of the Northern Line tube line.
Meet 10:15 for 10:30 start outside the ticket office at High Barnet Underground Station (by the Coffee@Cal's kiosk) Barnet Hill, Barnet EN5 5RP. See photo in photo album for this event. Look for our Meetup sign.
HIKE DESCRIPTION:
From the start towards Underhill then west along the Dollis Valley Green Walk/London Loop - Whitings Hill Open Space - Whitings Wood - Totteridge Fields Nature Reserve - Highwood Hill - Barnet Gate Wood (outdoor lunch stop) - The Gate Pub (indoor lunch stop). After lunch Arkley Windmill - Galley Lane - St Albans Road - Monken Hadley Common - King George's Field - and back up Meadway to the start.
Approx 80% of this route is on footpaths and 20% on roads with pavements. Footpaths may be muddy in places if the weather has been wet.
PLACES OF INTEREST:
Totteridge Fields Nature Reserve, London Wildlife Trust http://www.wildlondon.org.uk/reserves/totteridge-fields
Barnet Gate Wood, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnet_Gate_Wood
Arkley Windmill http://www.windmillworld.com/millid/2594.htm
Whitings Wood (Woodland Trust) https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/wood/4629/whitings-wood/
The Gate pub: http://thegatearkley.co.uk/HIKING MAP:
Ordnance Survey 'Explorer' 1:25,000 scale, Sheet 173, London NorthONLINE MAP:
This route was devised by South Herts Hikers. There is a static map in the event photo above and we have also uploaded it to Wikiloc. See: https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/high-barnet-tube-station-highwood-hill-arkley-monken-hadley-common-loop-v1-36229215You can select map or aerial view (OpenStreetmap recommended) and you can zoom in. Navigating the trail outdoors using the Wikiloc app needs the premium version but you can also set up a free Wikiloc login then use a web browser such as Chrome (not the app) to download a .GPX or .kml file to a mobile device to use with a GPS app such as OSMand, Komoot, All Trails, Outdoor Active, Organic Maps or Google Maps.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO MEETING LOCATION:
London Underground Northern Line, TfL buses 34, 107, 234, 263, 307, 326, 384.CAR PARKING NEAR MEETING LOCATION:
Station car park (£3.00 Sundays). https://www.sabaparking.co.uk/car-park/high-barnet-station-car-park-tflParking restrictions in nearby streets such as Vale Drive EN5 2ED do not apply on Sundays, please park considerately.
• What to bring
Most of the route is on public footpaths in the countryside. Some of these may be slippery, muddy or stony in places. We recommend:- adequate footwear, preferably hiking boots, with thick soles and good grip
- waterproof jacket or umbrella for rain
- sun hat if sunny
- drink essential (1 - 2 litres)
- packed lunch (optional).
Important to know
There will be a mid morning stop 4.2 km from the start in Whitings Wood. Outdoor lunch stop is 7.3 km from the start in Barnet Gate Wood where you can eat your packed lunch. Indoor lunch stop is 7.7 km from start at The Gate pub, Barnet Road, Arkley, EN5 3LA. Before going into the pub, please remove or cover your boots and please do not consume your own food or drink on their premises.
We can spend up to 60 minutes at the pub lunch stop and this should allow time to order food, if available.
We plan to finish by 16:30 - 17:00.We suggest a voluntary annual membership donation of £1 (50p if you join July onwards) at your first event of 2024 plus a voluntary donation of £2 for each hike for every participant. That's £2.50 for your first hike with us in 2024 or £2.00 per event after that. This contributes towards the running costs of this Meetup Group. Cash is preferred or you can use Paypal https://paypal.me/SouthHertsHikers
Please note our membership criteria and guidelines for etiquette. From this Meetup Group's home page https://www.meetup.com/southhertshikers/ see What we're about > Read More
For our policy on dogs on our hikes, please see our FAQ page, http://southhertshikers.uk/faq/