Only 3 of us showed up for what arguably is the best bluebell walk in the SWC repertoire. Our fair weather walkers who wimped out due to the inclement weather forecast missed some glorious displays of bluebells in the many woods along the walk route. OK - the weather could have been better: drizzle for most of the day with a cold wind which required us to layer up, but having done so, we managed to enjoy this excellent walk, despite plentiful mud and many flooded paths which took some navigating. We arrived bang on time at the Red Lion, Preston for our reserved table. The pub was packed but the delay in my food arriving was very acceptable in the circumstances - and my pint of Timmy Taylor's Landlord was just what the doctor ordered. My companions joined me for a drink after enjoying their sandwiches under shelter nearby.

After lunch, more bluebell woods and more mud and floods, but the sun came out as we entered Hitchin, where two of us enjoyed a good cuppa and cake in Halsey's Deli before catching the 17-00 hrs fast service back to London - our companion having skipped tea in order to be in time for the 16-31 hrs train.

A grand day out - shame there were not more of us to enjoy the best bluebell displays in Southern England.

11 walkers alighted at Knebworth station on a largely dry overcast breezy and mild Valentine's Day. Although there was a substantial amount of road walking, there were muddy stretches and waterlogged fields as well, so gaiters turned out to be a sensible choice of attire. We reached Emily's tea shop in Whitwell in just under two hours. Four of our number decided to have lunch there, four had sandwiches at the outside tables, by kind permission of the owner, and three found a different place to picnic. After lunch, the seven picnickers pressed on, with three of us arriving back in Knebworth around 3.30 pm, in time to catch the 3.42 train back to London.

Several new recruits today, the youngest being 12. In total, we numbered 16 and a dog. A warm occasionally sunny day. Quite a fast pace. The bluebells were spectacular as predicted. Even Mr Tiger had to agree they were “Quite good”.

Nearing Preston, the scary Preston bullocks tried an ambush but the SWC army staged a rearguard action and they were soon cowering near the exit gate (the bullocks, not SWC).

The Red Lion was good. Some had food some had beer, some sat on the green and had their sandwiches. Mr Tiger had the “Coffin Stout”, which was dead good.

Eventually the troops were mustered and the march continued. More bluebells. More “ooh”s, more “ah”s.

In Hitchin, the Half Moon came up sooner than expected. A sizeable number were intending to visit but, sadly, there was a beer festival, there were large queues, and there was a lot of noise. Only three headbangers ventured in. The rest headed off for tea or whatever. The headbangers started off with an insipid stout. Mr Tiger then requested a Beesting perry (6.8 %) but had to settle for a 7% Pigsqieal.

The inebriated two (for they were, by now, two) took a shorter route to the station, caught the 18:00 and rolled off the train at St P. without further incident. Grand day out, if one says so oneself.

Sunday, 30 April 2023 at 19:39:00 BST Delete

Not much mud either.

Just to add to Mr Tiger's report: 9 of us had tea at Halsey's Deli & Eatery in Hitchin - and very pleasant, too. We all left together just in time to catch the 17-00 hrs fast train back to London (and onwards to Brighton). We had the good fortune of having the company of the walk author today, and I believe everyone enjoyed her excellent walk through the very best of bluebell woods. Thanks to Mr Tiger for posting her walk today.

And that’s not all….. I heard tell of another two did the walk in the other direction. That makes 18

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It’s true! 2 walked the opposite route Hitchin to Knebworth. Amazed by the seas of bluebells had snacks at a tranquil point along the way. They were welcome at Knebworth Country Park by a tortoise (probably wandering out from the Fair over the weekend)! and had an interesting choice at The Station pub in Knebworth : cocktails and Persian cake!

11 gathered for this lovely little winter walk on a cloudy but dry day. This walk certainly did not disappoint on the snowdrop front -- loads of the little guys.... scattered throughout the walk, including some wild ones in the woods. We also saw a very large group of aconites. In addition to the floral treats, this walk passes through gently rolling countryside with lots of good views. The only thing really missing from the walk was some food.....Unfortunately, the suggested lunch pub was not doing food for some reason on Saturday nor was the earlier possible pub.....so we opted for Emily's Tea Room where 11 orders of soup overwhelmed the young staff.... Eventually, after what seemed an eternity, most were finally served a hot bowl of rather tasty soup produced in what seemed like a small batch hand-crafted operation... Our light lunch sustained us through the afternoon, and most stopped at the cozy Robin Hood for a much-welcomed drink....in fact, we had such a smashing time there (quite literally) that we stayed for a second round before heading back to Knebworth and catching the 18:13....we lost 3 along the way.... presumably, they caught an earlier train.... Really a little gem of a winter walk -- though probably best to push on to one of the late pubs in Codicote if the Bull is not serving food for any reason.....Also, as a note, the GPS and written words are different in a couple of places (which is where we lost one person following the GPX)....

11 started in very slight rain. First through Knebworth Park, passing a large movie encampment, then into the first of many woods. Woods that were stuffed with bluebells More bluebells than we'd ever seen. More even than Flat Isley and Dockey Woods put together. Enough bluebells to melt the heart of even the most hardened bluebellophobe.There were lots of them.

Eventually we reached Preston.and the lunch stop in the community-owned Red Lion. It went down well . As did the Gravediggers Ale - "plenty of body" as one wit remarked. "Dead good" said another. Then on, past yet more bluebells. Past some pigs, over a hill, and into Hitchin where heavy rain started. Time for the tea-shop. Luckily there was one just there. The rain eased off for the trek to the station which involved yet another hill. An enjoyable walk. Deserves a place on the official SWC list of bluebell walks.

That weather: slightly damp start sunny and humid middle then rain to finish

Just one teensy criticism. The segue between the circular and the Hitchin end isn’t very clear. It’s hard to follow through in the text. It’s lost in the various options.

I’ve booked a table for 6 people for lunch as the pub is quite small. Those of us who have lunched here before will remember the landlady who used to do home cooked lunches only on Wednesdays for £6.95 for 2 courses. Sadly she is no longer there and the pub is now under new management with a new menu available every day of the week. Walk posters please note.

Sorry I was referring of course to the Bull Inn at Whitwell.

We had another good turnout today, particularly for a walk "North of the Thames" which our SWC Clapham Junction set tend to avoid. 18 of us set out from Knebworth on the Clockwise (backwards) version of this walk, collecting one other walker as planned in Codicote, so making a total of 19 today. It was a mild day, overcast but with some nice sunny spells at times . It tried to rain after our lunch stop but failed to do so ! We had some nice snowdrops late morning by the Bridge below Hoo Park, and then some splendid clumps outside the Bowes-Lyon Estate in the afternoon. We encountered some muddy woods in the afternoon, but overall the mud where encountered was manageable all day.

Lunch for eleven of us was taken at the Bull Inn, Whitwell, and we were not disappointed by the pub's new management and their fare on offer. I have never seen so large, fat, chunky chips before ! Their fish & chips looked especially good. A good choice of draught beers, too, and a friendly and very efficient barmaid, so this pub now comes with our recommendation !

I'm not sure what happened to our eight picnickers, who we never saw again after our stop in Whitwell today. Perhaps one of them could add his / her own report on the adventures (or hopefully mischief) they encountered or got up to.

As for the pub lunchers, we set out as one cohort post prandial. Later in the afternoon, after a spell of country lane walking , we entered Knebworth Park, said hello to the green dinosaur, then came upon a herd of 100 plus Roe deer, who checked us out before giving us a wide berth.

Then it was down a long stretch of road back to Knebworth railway station, where five said goodbye to us and caught the 16-13 hrs train That left six of us to retire to the recently refurbished Station pub, and very comfortable, too. The barman could have been a little more enthused by our custom (in stark contrast to our lunch pub experience) but it did not matter too much. We did not rush our post-walk drinks and made it over to the station in time for the 17-13 hrs train back to Kings Cross.

As for the walk, it suffers from quite a bit of (unavoidable) road walking, but I believe most of us enjoyed their walk day today - I certainly did.

Phoned The Bull. Serving lunch 12-3.

7 of us assembled at Knebworth Railway station to be joined by a car driver, so that made 8 for the first Saturday posting of this walk. I was hoping the walk author was going to join us, but she must have had other commitments on the day.

We opted to follow the anti-clockwise directions, and set off towards Knebworth House on a day which could be described as overcast and cloudy all day , warm, and slightly humid later on, but no rain - so no complaints ! To our amusement the only sign of the sun came on our return rail journey as we approached London.

Deer were spotted in the vast Knebworth Park, which we had to ourselves, although the House had some visitors. After Graffidge Wood (mud free for once) we decided to stay on the country lanes all the way to the village of St Paul's Walden, where we visited the church with memorials to the late Queen Mother and her Bowes-Lyon family. On then to go past her family estate and down to the village of Whitwell, where one stopped at Emily's for a coffee and four of us enjoyed pub-grub at the Bull Inn. We had a room at the back of the pub to ourselves which enhanced our visit. The staff were also friendly and the service was very good.

Just before Whitwell one of our ensemble left us to do her own thing - I hope she enjoyed the rest of her walk. After the two picnickers had joined us for a drink at the Bull we all left to tackle the afternoon leg of the walk. Fortunately, the local farmer had cut a clear path through his extensive fields in crop with corn, so what I was expecting to be a tricky bit was easily negotiated.

Straightforward, and pleasant going followed to Hoo Park, then Codicote. We then crossed a vast, harvested field on a clear path (again, well done and a thank you to the farmer) to the hamlet of Rabley Heath, then back down the road to Knebworth. We had maintained a good, healthy pace all afternoon, which meant we were in plenty of time to take tea at the Sugar Boutique - or so we thought. Passing the railway station on the way there we said goodbye to our car driver and two were in time to catch the 16-13 hrs service back to Kings Cross. The staff at the cafe were unwelcoming - we arrived there at 4-20 pm and they must have told us a dozen times they were closing at 5 pm with last orders at 4-45 pm ?! We managed to extract cup cakes (excellent) teas (good) and coffees (very good) out of them and a neighbouring retailer let us use their outside table with bench seats. But oh dear - and such a shame as on my two previous visits to this cafe I had enjoyed a friendly welcome and best service.

As for the walk, I think the consensus was it was enjoyable with good variety and interesting sights along the way, with the only deduct being it suffers from too much (unavoidable) road walking. But well worth a spin.

14 on this walk, one of whom missed the specified train and caught up with us at lunch. A bright sunny day , even if the wind was rather keen In the morning. Crossing Knebworth Park it was positively arctic, but gradually lessened thereafter, and the afternoon was almost spring-like.

Walk author Elsa had promised us lots of snowdrops on this inaugural outing of her walk, and we definitely could not sue her under the Trades Descriptions Act. There were numerous patches throughout the walk, including some large ones in woods, a fairly rare sight. We also saw red deer in Knebworth Park (or more accurately, they saw us), and heard one chaffinch singing (my first of the year) and one lark. At one point there were some aconites (yellow flowers) growing wild in a wood, which is very unusual.

The scenery was very pleasant throughout - gentle hills, quiet country lanes, woods, pretty villages. Mud was minimal, even on the ploughed fields, probably because it had been blast-dried by the winds of recent days. At one point we passed the late Queen Mother's birthplace and were given the inside story about an encounter with one of her relatives. Some reminisced about Genesis concerts in Knebworth Park (before my time, natch...).

Choosing the Bull Inn for lunch, we found a lovely old-fashioned pub, still with a recognisable lounge and public bars. The menu (only offered on Wednesdays at present) was handwritten on a piece of paper and featured homemade dishes in enormous portions, each priced at only £6.50. This seemed a tremendous bargain, until we discovered that pudding was also included. Despite the seven diners having declared themselves all totally full seconds earlier, most of us succumbed. Two also tried the village tea room, and the rest had sandwiches. Some of the latter set off early, but most of us kept together as a group in the afternoon.

The pace after lunch was a bit stately, our bodies busy processing the unexpected influx of stodgy pud and custard (or ice cream), and thus having little energy to spare for such trivia as moving legs. We did an author-led variation around Codicote which is soon to be the main route. The sun was golden and the wind dropped and the troubles of the world seemed a long way away.

Back in Knebworth seven of us crammed into the tiny Sugar Cafe, having first phoned to ask them to stay open for us. This was basically a cup-cake emporium and despite our calorific lunch, most of us had one. After a pleasant chat over tea we caught a train about dusk (forgot to record the time) back to London