A snowy hike in the North Hertfordshire wilderness
January 25, 2013
There’s nothing quite like going for a hike when it’s snowing. I love how the countryside is completely transformed, turning everyday agricultural scenery into desolate wilderness (kinda) fit only for the adventurous and foolhardy.
I hopped on southbound train past Cambridge to the ancient market town of Royston, just inside the North Hertfordshire border and really only a stone’s throw (well just over 40 miles) from London. My destination was Baldock, eleven or so so miles to the south west.
I arrived at Royston just before midday, it was snowing.
I passed various historic buildings and signs. The Romans were busy here and King James enjoyed a spot of bowling.
The good people of Royston were out on nearby Therfield Heath, sledging and having fun in the snow.
I headed up the hill, which is also on the site of a golf course.
At the top of the hill is the entrance to a wood. As I walked through the trees I saw a hawk swoop on by, a small bird clutched tightly in its talons.
I left the woods and joined the Hertfordshire Way.
I quickly lost track of the Herfordshire Way signposts but luckily I had my compass with me so set a bearing westwards in the direction of Baldock and continued on my happy way.
For some reason I was surprised to see sheep out and about, not something we have much of in the Fens.
After some wandering I found myself on the Icknield Way.
This section was absolutely beautiful. I would have liked to have stayed on the trail but I really want to do the whole of the Icknield Way from start to finish, rather than half way along its length. I’ll leave that for another time.
So I left the path, took another bearing westwards and continued on my way.
After a couple of miles of rather dreary road walking I found a footpath to take me the last four or so miles to Baldock.
But first a cuppa tea and chocolate bar under a railway bridge.
The last leg of the walk took me over white fields that seemed to disappear into the white horizon.
Hertfordshire is a county of many signposts.
At times it felt hard to believe I was just outside London, this really felt like walking on a desolate moor, rather than the home counties.
The trail took me through Park Wood, home of a number of Roman and Bronze Age barrows (not that I saw them in the snow).
I passed Sonny the horse.
The last mile or so was along a snowy road. I took my harmonica out and played some blues riffs, It felt like the right thing to do.
I had a short wait at Baldock before catching the train back to Ely. All in all a fine day’s hike in the snowy wilderness of North Hertfordshire.
Comments
These posts were first published on my old WordPress site, where family, friends and passing strangers would sometimes leave comments. I’ve decided to keep a few from much loved people who are no longer with us, especially my mother, Maggie, and my father-in-law, Bob. Both were keen walkers and always took an interest in my adventures.
Maggie
Bob