Baldock Circular Walk

1. [1] From platform 2 walk down the steps and through the underpass taking the exit straight ahead. Exit Baldock Railway Station and walk straight down Station Road to the main road. Turn right on to the main A507 and in 85 metres pass under the Railway bridge.
2. In 60 metres turn right into Bygrave Road and continue straight along ignoring Larkins Close on your right and then Salisbury Road on your left. [!] 55 metres after Salisbury Road and by Laymore Farm you turn left onto a signposted public bridleway. Ignore the access way to the farmhouse on the left and continue ahead between two hedges and in 120 metres emerge out to open fields, by a footpath post on your right.
3. Continue slightly uphill following the footpath, initially left, on a bearing of 340°(This path is sometimes marked out but not always – depending on whether the farmer has been working on the field. You should aim for the mini electricity pylon (the last in a line) in the distance and a footpath post which has 3 directional disks on it. This will be evident when you reach the brow of the hill). After going uphill for 300 metres you start to go downhill.
4. [2] In 200 metres at the field boundary, and path junction, by the footpath post (where the path ahead links up to the Icknield Way), turn right along the bridleway following a line of pylons, your direction 60°. A hedge and a ditch are on your left-hand side. Keep straight on ignoring all ways off. In 670 metres you pass through a field boundary and keep ahead. The pylons now veer off to the left. There is a house in the distance to your right (you are aiming to its left) and you should continue straight on now between vast fields (the hedge and tree-line previously on your left have been grubbed up). Follow the path cum track between the fields until in 400 metres you cross over a concrete apron (often piled with smelly silage) to reach a car road.
5. [3] Turn right along the road into the village of Bygrave. In 90 metres ignore Wedon Way on your left hand side to continue straight on past a row of houses on your left hand side.
6. [!] In 300 metres and at the last house (No 1 Ashwell Road), where the road swings right, turn left on to a footpath through a wooden kissing gate, with a metal farm gate to its left and by a two-armed footpath sign, your direction 45°.Continue straight on with gardens to your left and vast crop fields to your right, on a grassy car-wide path.
7. In 110 metres the gardens end and you come to a junior playing field with football goal posts (In May this playing field can be covered in daisies). Continue straight on, heading downhill. 20 metres beyond the end of the playing fields you pass under electricity pylons and in a further 90 metres go through a wooden kissing gate to the right of a metal field gate (or pass through a gap to the left of the kissing gate) to come out onto a gravel access road with a detached house straight ahead.
8. Turn right for 15 metres, then left, uphill, along the left-hand edge of open fields with a line of pylons on your right hand side, your direction 20°. Continue uphill with a hedge on your left-hand side. In 100 metres pass under electricity pylons as they bear to the right and keep ahead, now between open fields. In a further 150 metres at the top of the hill, you come to a wooden bench some 15 metres over to your right and a grassy track. Turn right along this track and continue straight ahead, gently uphill, with a hedgerow to your left and vast open fields to your right, your direction 110°.(There are fine views here to your right across the countryside)
9. In 250 metres by another wooden bench the path bears left. There is a small brick building to your right and pylons on your left-hand side. Follow the pylons, eventually passing under them in 250 metres. In a further 100 metres you come to the end of this track, with a bungalow and farm buildings on your right hand side and you are now at a tarmac access road.
10. [4] Cross this road towards the wood (Park Wood) to follow a three-armed footpath sign. Enter the wood, with a piggery on your right hand side, between gateposts for a missing farm gate and in 10 metres take the left of two paths, your direction 330°. Continue straight on, gently downhill on a car-wide track into the wood ignoring all turnings off (This path can be very muddy in winter - and in May you have masses of cow parsley on your either side). In 200 metres cross a path, next to a footpath post, to continue ahead for a further 200 metres, still downhill, aiming for a fence gap at the bottom of the wood (the stile previously here has been removed).
11. Pass through the gap and bear right across a field. [!] Your way ahead depends on whether the farmer has reinstated the path after ploughing. On a bearing of 40° cross this field. In 160 metres you come to a track. Here, depending on the previous path status, you may have to turn right downhill for a short distance before turning left to continue close to your previous direction - 30° - on a broad earthen way between open fields. In 300 metres you go through a field boundary to come to a T-junction, where you turn left, bearing 300° to continue on a grassy track with a ditch on your left.
12. In 300 metres pass a 3 plank footbridge on your left by a footpath sign and in a further 10 metres pass under pylons. Keep on this grassy track and in 400 metres you reach a road – Claybush Road (formerly Bygrave Road). [5] Turn right uphill along the road and in 400 metres you pass a lone house on the right (The Knoll) - recently rebuilt as a substantial property. 170 metres past this property, as the road levels out, you come to a derelict wooden farm building on your left hand side, to the right of which is the signposted Icknield Way and Partridge Hill.
13. Here [!] turn left along a car wide farm track to join the Icknield Way and in 60 metres [6] turn right with the track to continue first gently, then steadily uphill, with a hedge on your right-hand side, and vast open fields to your left, your direction due north. In 600 metres, at the top of the hill, continue straight on. The path now begins to descend and in 200 metres, as it swings to the left, keep ahead on a narrow path between hedges. Soon you will see Ashwell Church spire to your right-hand side and Arbury Banks to your left (which is the site of the Iron Age and Roman Settlements).
14. In 80 metres you pass a signed path to the left to Arbury Banks. In a further 80 metres you come out on to an access track and you pass two cottages on your left hand side. Continue down on this track past a yard and in 140 metres your reach a junction with a boarded-up, dilapidated house on your left hand side (now mostly hidden by undergrowth). [!] Turn right here, bearing 80° along a worn track and continue straight on with houses and allotments on your left, and later houses on your right-hand side. Ignore all ways off.
15. In 350 metres the track becomes a footpath, parallel with Ashwell Street to the left. Having passed by a new housing development on your right-hand side (the site of a former industrial property), in 140 metres you join Ashwell Street, in a further 20 metres coming to a main road junction at a bend in the road. Turn left at this junction into Bear Lane and descend this road, passing Dixies Close on the left in 80 metres. In a further 60 metres pass Silver Street to the right then Back Street on the left. Keep ahead, now down a restricted entry way and in 60 metres at a T-junction with the High Street, you are now in the village of Ashwell . Turn right, in 30 metres coming to the Rose and Crown pub, one of the suggested options for your lunchtime stop. To get to the Three Tuns Hotel (another lunch stop option) keep on along the High Street, ignoring ways off. In 170 metres you pass the Ashwell United Reformed Church and churchyard on your left and in a further 50 metres you come to the hotel.
16. After lunch, to visit St Mary’s Church, Ashwell (highly recommended), coming out of the Rose & Crown pub, turn right along the High Street for 130 metres, then turn left down Church Lane, then ahead down Church Path to reach the church [7]. On some Bank Holidays the church opens its tower to the public: a climb to the top is rewarded by fine views over Hertfordshire.
17. Coming out of the church, bear right down its gravel drive for 40 metres and exit the churchyard by its ancient lychgate, onto Mill Street. 50 metres down the road on your right is the Bushel & Strike pub (your third lunch stop option). To continue with the walk from the church lychgate: turn left along Mill Street and in 30 metres, at the road junction with Swan Street, keep ahead down the narrow Alms Lane (with Ashwell Museum on your right).
18. In 60 metres you come out on to the High Street, where you turn right, in 30 metres passing the Rose and Crown pub on your left-hand side. Walk ahead through the village. You pass Ashwell Gallery on your left. Where the road swings to the left you pass Ashwell Village Hall on your right-hand side. The road then swings to the right and Back Street joins from the left.
19. In 80 metres turn right into Hinxworth Road. In 30 metres [!] bear left onto a signposted public bridleway, a grassy track, your direction west. This track gradually ascends, providing good views of Ashwell village and its church behind you. In 150 metres you pass a tennis court over to your left. After 650 metres a permissive path joins from the left. Keep ahead, still uphill, through a field boundary. In 400 metres you reach the top of the incline (Newnham Hill) and the path swings to the left, your direction now 220°.
20. With some fine views out to the easterly end of The Chilterns (from Pegsdon Hills via Barton Hills to Sharpenhoe Clappers, and with Pulloxhill Water Tower to the right of it in the valley), the path begins to descend and in 500 metres, at a path T-junction, you turn right, downhill, with a hedge on your left, your direction now 300°. In 130 metres, [!] turn left through a gap in the hedge, pass over rough ground to come out onto a signposted footpath, your initial direction 225°.
21. Continue ahead along this narrow path between fields and in 300 metres a path joins from the left. Follow the path towards a line of pylons, and in 600 metres you come to the hamlet of Caldecote. You pass a pair of cottages on your right-hand side then turn right [8] on a concrete road, giving access to some large industrial barns, then in 70 metres, turn left over a concrete apron into the grounds of the previously derelict St Mary Magdalene Church, Caldecote , recently rescued from ruin by the splendidly named "Friends of Friendless Churches" organisation - as of May 2023 the church has been fully repaired and restored with all previous year's scaffolding now struck. You might be lucky and find the church open - do have a look inside when it is. Afterwards, walk behind the church, to go past a pond on your left, across grass and join a path as it swings left along a left hand field boundary, your direction 210° - ignoring a path straight ahead.
22. In 150 metres, in the field corner, turn left, to join Caldecote Road. In 40 metres ignore the turning to the left. Keep ahead on Caldecote Road, your direction 165°, along this tarmac lane between vast fields, and after 1 km the lane descends into the village of Newnham.
23. You now come to St Vincent’s Church on your left-hand side - well worth a look inside if open - there are some Medieval wall paintings opposite the main entrance). Returning to the road, go over a bridge and continue on through the village. Ignore a footpath to the right. In a further 100 metres you reach a road junction. Turn right [!] and immediately right again through a narrow, low gap in a tall hedge, with a footpath signpost (PF6 Newnham Road 1/2) on the right in the hedge (it can be overgrown) on a four-way road signpost, just before a Give Way-sign. Through the hedge, bear left on an indistinct path to the left of a private garden and in 35 metres emerge at the top edge of a vast arable field. Turn right along the boundary past a house and in 35 metres follow a yellow marker on a fence post to cross this vast field on a usually well-cleared path on a left-hand diagonal bearing of 200° and once over the brow of the field you aim for the field's far left-hand corner. [ [!] If the farmer has ploughed up this vast field and has not reinstated the path, keep along the top field edge to the next boundary (within 100 metres) where you turn left down the field edge, on a clear path between open fields, and at the bottom of the field, turn left to follow the field's lower edge as far as the field's lower corner where you turn right up the flight of wooden steps as on the main path route, detailed below.]
24. In 750 metres up and over the field leave it by going up a flight of wood and earth steps up a bank to come out onto Newnham Road.
25. Turn right here along the at-times busy road without a pavement (watch out for the fast flowing traffic). [9] In 225 metres, you come to a National Grid pylon over to your left.
26. [!] The route ahead up past the pylon and up along a field edge used to be a permissive path, but since 2022 it would seem "permission" might have been withdrawn. The way up the field is ploughed or planted up to the field edge, where previously there had been a clear way on one side of the hedge or the other, and at the far, southern end of the route, at its junction with the Icnield Way, there is now a "No Footpath" sign. Until we can establish for sure the status of the path, and or we figure out an alternative route, I suggest we continue to use this route up past the pylon although please be aware we might be unwanted visitors over someones private land.
27. Opposite the National Grid pylon turn left to cross the road and continue along an unmarked path (a field boundary), gently uphill, your initial direction 160°, If the way to the left of the pylon looks overgrown, try the route on the other side of the hedge - it might be clearer. In 30 metres you pass on your immediate right the pylon and keep ahead uphill. Note At the top of this path your way ahead might be blocked by a large building aggregate mound, now almost completely covered in foliage (May 2023).
28. In 430 metres, with the aggregate mound directly ahead of you, make your way best you can around to the right of the mound, then left Ignore the track to your right and keep ahead, slightly left your direction now 150° on a car wide track, with a hedgerow to your right and open fields to your left.
29. In 500 metres the track passes through a field boundary and joins The Icknield Way at a T-junction. Turn right onto the Icknield Way. You now follow this broad track in a south-westerly direction, gently downhill. The track soon swings to the left and in 220 metres pass through a metal squeeze stile to the right of a metal fieldgate. You now pass by two barns on your left and the track now becomes a concrete access drive. You next pass on your left a single storey farm house. Continue down this concrete drive and in 350 metres you pass on your right the entrace way to Nook Cottage and a stud farm with stables. In a further 70 metres you come out to a T-junction with a main road – Salisbury Road.
30. [10] At Salisbury Road, cross over with care and turn left along a narrow pavement. [ [!] If you are in a hurry to get to Baldock railway station for your journey home, just keep ahead down Salisbury Road for some 750 metres, to pass under the railway bridge, with the station's access road in a further 85 metres on your left-hand side.] Otherwise, in 30 metres there is a “Welcome to Baldock” sign over to your left. Continue straight on along the pavement. In a further 150 metres there is a footpath sign on your right next to Blackhorse Farm. [!] Turn right here on this path between the Farm and a bungalow on the right (signposted Ivel Springs Local Nature Reserve).
31. In 30 metres pass straight between a white cottage on your right and a brick house on your left, your direction 305°. Cross a stream and keep ahead, your direction 260°. Pass through a metal fieldgate and follow the path straight ahead with a wooden then wire fence on your right and a (dried up) stream on your left.
32. [11] Keep straight on this path as it winds through a wooded area. In 200 metres you reach a junction with a signpost marked Kingfisher Way. Directly ahead of you are horse paddocks. Turn left here and walk up a flight of substantial wooden steps with a dog-leg, to enter Ivel Springs Local Nature Reserve. Follow the path for 50 metres and you pass another Kingfisher Way sign on your left-hand side. Keep ahead along this path.
33. In 75 metres ignore the Kingfisher Way turning left by a marker post on your left-hand side and continue straight ahead , your direction 190° ignoring the path to the left. Keep straight on and in 160 metres a path on the left leads to an information panel for the Ivel Springs Local Nature Reserve. In a further 120 metres you ignore a metal kissing gate on your right by an equestrian center and in a further 10 metres you [!] turn left at a footpath post, your direction 100°.
34. Follow the path uphill for 60 metres to another footpath marker post on your right hand side. [12] Continue in the same direction along a grassy path, keeping a wire fence and a hedge on your right. In 75 metres ignore a faint footpath to the left and keep straight on along this path, in another 75 metres passing a football pitch above you on your right-hand side.
35. [!] In 110 metres you come out into a small gravel car park area at a path T-junction. 10 metres further along with a five-way footpath signpost and a narrow, low railway tunnel on the other side of it, continue ahead through the railway tunnel to next walk between high metal fences on the other side. In a further 60 metres you pass on your right the modern commercial premises of ABL Circuits to reach a road at a T-junction, with a new McCarthey and Stone retirement home development under construction (May 2021) on your left-hand side. Turn left along the road (but notice The Orange Tree pub about 100 metres to your right). In 40 metres turn right into Church Street and you continue straight on this road, passing the Parish Church on your right hand side.
36. At the end of Church Street, at a T-junction with Hitchin Street, with a Barclays Bank on your left and a hotel, bar & restaurant called The George at Baldock on your right, you have a choice : for Cafe Plus, a suggested tea stop, cross over the main road opposite the Baldock Museum and continue in the same direction to the left of the Museum to find the cafe in 35 metres on your right hand side. Otherwise, turn left along White Horse Street. You walk straight down towards some traffic lights 250 metres away, along the way passing The Rose & Crown pub on your right and Delizia Trattoria on your left.
37. At the traffic lights turn left and walk past the Old White Horse pub – another refreshment option - on your left-hand side. In a further 40 metres you pass The Engine pub on your left-hand side and opposite this is the station approach road. Walk up the road and in 100 metres you have Baldock Railway Station ahead of you.

Baldock Circular - shortening the walk to Ashwell and Morden Station

1. Coming out of The Rose & Crown pub, turn right, direction 70° to walk along the High Street. In 200 metres you pass a (road) signpost on your left, indicating Ashwell station ahead, direction 80° as you cross over Kingsland Way. In 20 metres you pass The Three Tuns Hotel on your left. In 80 metres you pass The Springs on your left (a potential picnic site) to continue ahead.
2. In 300 metres you reach a T-junction (signposted to the right Ashwell Station 2 miles), to turn right, direction 140°, to walk along Station Road.
3. After 2.3 km you come to a T-junction. Turn right (there is a road sign here for the railway station). In 30 metres you pass a road sign for Odsey and 30 metres further on you pass the Odsey War Memorial on your right.
4. In 180 metres you reach The Jester Inn public house and hotel on your right (as of Spring 2024 sadly PERMANENTLY CLOSED) and in a further 40 metres turn left to walk down the road leading to Ashwell and Morden Railway Station. Trains back to London depart from platform No 1.