You’ve never Hadham so good

8:56am Thursday 10th November 2005

Walk 97
Little Hadham - 3.6miles.

Len Banister goes around the houses this week:
Delightful countryside and some wonderful houses feature in this gem of a walk.

If you have ever travelled from Bishops Stortford along the A120 to the A10 you will have stopped at Little Hadham.

However the stop probably wasn't a voluntary one.

This tiny village is the site of one of the most serious traffic bottlenecks in the area and it's all because the historically interesting and beautiful houses at the junction in the centre of the village have been preserved for future generations to admire.

Our walk starts from the village, crosses fields to St Cecilia's church and then on to an astonishing complex of buildings which includes the predominantly 16th century Hadham Hall in which Henry Capel entertained Queen Elizabeth I in 1578 when she lodged here while returning from Norfolk.

Nearby are the superb Tithe Barn and the wonderful Tudor Gatehouse.

Once having had your fill of history you will travel west along the Hall's driveway out into gently rolling countryside and descend toward Hadham Ford before returning to the start amongst all those wonderfully preserved houses.

1. Start

Walk away from the crossroads with the A120, along the Albury Road and look for a fingerpost on the right.

You are now immediately in the countryside walking down the right-hand edge of a field to a bridge.

You walk up the centre of the next field toward the church, partially hidden by tree.

Go through the graveyard of the 14th-century St Cecilia's passing its beautiful porch on the left and emerge on a drive. (To your right is the very attractive Church End farmhouse).

2. 0.5 miles/ 0.8km

Turn left for about 40 metres and then go right along a hedge-lined path with extensive farm buildings to your left.

Keep forward until you emerge at a driveway with a pond on your left. Go left with the edge of the pond and turn left in front of the gatehouse then right up alongside the magnificently converted tithe barn.

Turn right in front of Stable Cottages and right again to walk down through the Tudor gatehouse with the rather austere Hadham Hall to your left.

3. 1 mile/ 1.6 km

Once through the Gatehouse continue along the drive to the A120. Cross the road with great care and turn right to go left along Millfield Lane.

Keep to this quiet lane, passing a junction on the left, until you come to a thatched house on the right.

Just before this go right on a hedged path which emerges along the left edge of a field (diagonally right you can see Albury Church), At the end of the field turn left to walk for a few metres along a broad grass field-edge.

4. 1.9 miles/ 3km

Turn right, through a gap in the hedge and go directly across the field to a wood.

Go left in front of the wood and, when the trees end, continue forward, directed by a waymarker, over the field and down into a dip to rejoin the woodland edge. Continue forward into the next field and maintain your direction towards the buildings of Hadham Ford.

5. 2.6 miles/4.1km

When you reach the bridge over the ford, turn right without crossing it to walk to a stile in the far right-hand corner of the field.

In the next field, continue with the edge of the wood to reach another field where you turn left along a broad grassy track.

If all has gone well, you should see Little Hadham Church ahead. When you reach a hedge, go to the right of it and later go right around the perimeter of a school to reach the main road.

6. 3.3 miles/ 5.2km

Now turn left to the cross roads surrounded by ancient buildings, the preservation of which results in extraordinary waits for motor vehicles at the junction. Go right to return to your car.

Walker's notebook: Starting Point/Parking: Little Hadham is on a junction of the A120. Coming from Bishop's Stortford turn right at the junction and park along the Albury Road (the walk starts about 350 metres north of the junction).

Distance: 3.6 miles/ 5.8km.

Time: 2 hours.

Terrain: gently rolling hills, easy walking.

Stiles: 8, but most of these can be bypassed, suitable for dogs.

Near: Bishop's Stortford.

Refreshments: The Nag's Head pub at Hadham Ford.

Public Toilets: None.

Public Transport: bus services 20, 351 and 386 go from Bishops Stortford to Little Hadham (phone 01763 848226 ).

Map and Grid Reference: Explorer 194, 442228.

More Information: West Essex Ramblers: memberships and free programme of walks with leaders: 020 8524 2737 (Redbridge Group: 01708 456 771 and Lea Valley Friends who specialise in walks of 3 to 4 miles: 020 8529 7328).