Stanstead Abbots marina on the River Lea. Leg 10b.
The Hertfordshire Way officially opened in July 1998, four years after a group of keen walkers decided to create a long distance trail to mark the then Ramblers’ Association’s 60th anniversary. They devised, researched, surveyed, walked and planned every inch of what would grow into a circular 195 mile walk. The Friends of the Hertfordshire Way (TFHW) remain diligent and committed custodians of the path, their vigilant stewardship a testimony to their avowed aim of maintaining, improving and protecting the route.
Initially 12 individual legs were created, expanded to 14 and then a further two were added to entice dogged ramblers to explore the Lea Valley and the ancient woodlands around Broxbourne. The sections, most of which cover around 11-12 miles, are a manageable day’s walk for the average person. And wonderfully it is a cross-generational walk. Youngsters can embrace the joys of the open countryside by walking all, or part, of one or the Hertfordshire Way’s varied and intriguing legs. Three or four miles in a day is a good start. Surely it is incumbent on us, as more seasoned ramblers, to entice them away from I-phones, X-boxes and C-rations by revealing the beauty of the landscape they live in. Ultimately interacting with the silicon chip is an empty experience. Surely interacting with the countryside is a fulfilling and life-affirming one.
The long distance path was initially designed to be walked anti-clockwise. However, the ever proactive TFHW have raised the money to fix separately designed clockwise roundels to complement the original ones. It’s a welcome move, doubling the walker’s choice of how they approach each of the 16 legs. Some people like to leave a fitting climax to a day’s walking. Playing devil’s advocate, the leg from St Albans to Markyate would be better for some if tackled Markyate to St Albans with the final miles in the company of the River Ver, the Gorhambury estate and then the delights of the historic city. Nothing personal Markyate. And then there is also the option to vary different lunchtime stop-offs to coincide with how fast or slow you walk clockwise and an alternative choice of transport links. And being restricted to walking in one direction arguably deprives you of alternative views and gives you a one-sided understanding of the unfolding story and the unfolding landscape.
