Outdoors in Welwyn Hatfield
Lovers of the great outdoors will be spoiled as Welwyn Hatfield is home to some fantastic parks, nature reserves, walks and cycle routes.
Northaw Great Wood, Cuffley is a 216 hectare woodland and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. There is plenty of room to roam and enjoy this historic woodland that dates back to the Normans.
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There is a free car park (although there are a lot of potholes so be careful) and public toilets on the site.
This seven and a half mile circular walk is a National Trust walk and takes in the attractive villages of Wheathampstead and Ayot St Lawrence as well as Shaw's Corner and some stunning countryside. It is a relatively easy walk and makes for a perfect afternoon stroll.
This cycle route is just over 6 miles and takes you all the way from St Albans to Hatfield. It follows the route of the disused railway track and the Hatfield end features the renovated Nast Hyde Station Platform which is makes for an interesting diversion.
Singlers Marsh is a nature reserve that features rare chalk streams and wet meadows. As the name suggests it can be quite soggy, especially if it's been raining, so a good pair of boots are recommended.
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The marsh is also home to the annual Welwyn Festival.
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There is plenty of parking in the nearby high street of Welwyn village and this gives you a good excuse to visit one of the cafes or pubs along here.
Another former railway the Ayot Greenway runs from Ayot St Peter to Wheathampsted. Although my preferred option is to go from Wheathampstead to Welwyn Garden City, where the route takes you right behind Campus West, where you can stop for refreshments.
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The route is only about four miles long but forms part of the National Cycle Network Route 57, so can form part of a longer ride (potentially all the way to Gloucester) for those of a more athletic disposition.
Stanborough Park is a beautiful 126 acre park on the outskirts of Welwyn Garden City. The park has two large lakes, a reed marsh and some stunning views.
There are plenty of facilities, including parking, a refreshment kiosk, Splashlands water park, Vertigo High Ropes and the Terranova Restaurant.
Sherrards Park Wood is one of the largest woods in Hertfordshire (79 hectares) and is located to the North West of Welwyn Garden City. It is popular with dog walkers and horse riders and there is an extensive network or paths and bridleways.
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There is a car park just off Rectory Road, but the woods can also be accessed via many of the nearby residential roads.
The former grounds of Danesbury House, Danesbury Nature Reserve is now a 60 acre site home to a variety of flora and fauna including kestrels and owls. The site is also features Danesbury Fernery.
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The site is managed by cattle grazing, so dogs should be kept on leads. Parking is in the nearby residential streets and is quite limited.
Situated within the grounds of Hatfield House, the woodlands and deer park offer a unique experience in the Borough with around 160 deer across the park. There are two recommended walking routes, the Queen Elizabeth Oak Route (1.5 miles) and the Broadwater Walk (2 miles).
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The park can be visited as part of a longer day out at Hatfield House, or on there own. There is a charge, but season tickets are available for regular visitors.
A 40 hectare nature reserve, this site has previously been used for timber production and gravel extraction.
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It is now a scenic nature reserve and it's wide open spaces make it a relaxed walk and ideal for dogs.
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There is a free car park on Heath Road.
Featuring such varied items as the modern water sculpture in the Renaissance Garden, the exquisite topiary of the East Garden, the stone frieze of Queen Elizabeth I and the mini maze in the Old Palace Garden the Gardens of Hatfield House are a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. Tickets can be purchased along with the house or separately.
