Throughout 2026, members of the congregation of St. Mary’s Church in Baldock are walking the 195 mile-long Hertfordshire Way to raise money to renovate the church hall. The team are keen to attract anyone who would like to walk all, or part of a leg, or feels able to sponsor them.
The Hertfordshire Way is a marked footpath that forms a circular route around Hertfordshire. The team has been walking the route since March, in legs of 10-15 miles each, and expect to complete the challenge in October.
The church-hall is a vital community resource for the town of Baldock. In July 2024, the church hall suffered extensive vandalism, with nearly all the windows and the front doors and fire exit smashed. This walk will help fund much needed internal and external improvements, making the hall safer, more versatile, more accessible, and more environmentally sustainable.
Leg starts and stops with distances and mini description
St Mary’s Baldock to Little Wymondley (Sun 15th March)(Almost entirely rural, despite passing close to Stevenage and crossing the A1M) 10 miles
Little Wymondley to Codicote (Sat 28th March)9.3 miles
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Codicote to St Albans Cathedral (Mon 6th April) |
13.4 miles |
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St Albans Cathedral to Markyate (Sat 18th April) |
10.2 miles |
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Markyate to Tring Railway Station (Mon 4th May) |
11.4 miles |
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Tring Railway Station to Kings Langley Railway Station (Sat 16th May) |
15.4 miles
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Kings Langley Railway Station to Shenley (Sat 6th June)
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12.3 miles |
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Shenley to Cuffley (Sat 4th July) (Rural, criss-crossing trunk roads and railway routes – good variety of scenery) |
11.5 miles |
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Cuffley to Broxbourne (Through large area of ancient woodland and National Nature Reserve)
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12 miles |
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Broxbourne to Hertford (Sat 25th July) (Follows the Lea valley along the New River path and the Lee Navigation – can be divided into smaller stages via intermediate railway stations)
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12.5 miles |
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Hertford to Widford (Sat 29 August) |
13.6 miles |
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Widford to Bishop’s Stortford (Tesco Stores) (Sun 13 September)
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10.3 miles
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Bishop’s Stortford to Hare Street (Sat 26 September) |
12.4 miles |
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Hare Street to Royston |
12.6 miles |
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(The walk starts at the Royse Stone in the town centre. Most dramatic leg, fabulous scenery, scarp slopes of the chalk hills. Gentle rural landscape of fields and hedgerows follow.) |
15.5 miles |
Hertford to Widford
Hertford to Widford
Start location: Hertford East Railway Station
Finish location: Widford village centre
Date: Saturday 29th August
Start time: 9am
Estimated finish time: 4pm
Distance: 15 miles
Route description: This section of the route includes plenty of river side and farmland walking. The route passes through Wadesmill, Thundridge and Wareside, before finishing at Widford.
Opportunities to join
There is the option to start at Hertford East railway station and stop at the Feathers Pub in Wadesmill, after 7.5 miles, estimated arrival ~12.30pm.
There is also the option to start at Hertford East railway station and stop at The Checkers Inn in Wareside, after 12.5 miles, estimated arrival ~3pm.
Toilets
There are pubs on route at Wadesmill and Wareside.
We can’t guarantee these places will be open, or that it will be possible for members of the public to use their facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Hertfordshire Way?
The Hertfordshire Way is a 195 mile-long, marked, footpath, that forms a circular route through Hertfordshire. You can find a more detailed description of it here (Hertfordshire Way – The definitive journey by Graham Newson).
Why are we planning to walk it?
It will be a lovely opportunity to walk with friends and enjoy our beautiful countryside. We are also planning to use the walk as an opportunity to raise funds to support the refurbishment of the church hall.
What are you raising money for?
All monies raised will be donated to the St Mary’s Baldock Church Hall Renovation project.
In July 2024, the church hall was severely vandalised, with almost every window, and the door, smashed. The windows have recently been replaced in phase one of a project to modernise and renovate the hall. Phase two and three of the project will enable various internal and external improvements that will make the hall safer, more multi-purpose, more accessible for disabled users and more environmentally friendly.
St Mary’s Baldock Church Hall is a vital resource for the whole community of Baldock and nearby towns, housing everything from birthday parties to dance classes, community events and even a Drum n Bass gig! The hall also provides an important source of income that supports St Mary’s Baldock, a 1,000 year old building that sits at the heart of the town’s infrastructure.
How can I sponsor the walk?
https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/fundraising/big-hertfordshire-walk
How far is each walk?
The Hertfordshire Way is split into 15 legs. The shortest leg is about 9.3 miles (15 km) and the longest is around 15 miles (24 km). We are planning to modify the route slightly in order to start and finish at St Mary’s Baldock.
How fast will the walk be?
We are aiming to walk at around 2.5 miles per hour. There will be a backmarker for every walk to ensure that no-one is left behind.
When are we planning to walk?
We are hoping to walk one leg at a time, on different days spread over 2026. We have fixed dates for the first few walks, the rest are to be decided.
Sunday 15th March: St Mary’s Baldock to Little Wymondley
Saturday 28th March: Little Wymondley to Codicote: 9.3 miles
Easter Monday 6th April: Codicote to St Albans Cathedral: 13.4 miles
Saturday 18th April: St Albans Cathedral to Markyate: 10.2 miles
Monday 4th May: Markyate to Tring Railway Station: 11.4 miles
Saturday 16th May: Tring Station to Kings Langley Station: 15.4 miles
Can anyone join in?
Yes, all are welcome, but please do consider carefully the distances involved.
Walkers can choose to join whichever legs they wish – you don’t need to do all of them. We will share details about each of the legs as it approaches, so there’s the opportunity to choose shorter or flatter legs.
For the most part walkers will be expected to walk the complete leg. However, some of the legs are well suited to having a larger group accompany us for a shorter section, so that’s a great opportunity for families and those less keen on walking 11+ miles. We’ll advertise these ahead of time.
If you’re planning to walk a whole leg do have a chat with Alex Milne, Laura Kimpton or Steven Shepperson-Smith.
What do I need to do to join in?
Please complete the relevant form:
Sat 18th April: https://forms.gle/1MoZx2ycdioxVAhz8
Mon 4th May: https://forms.gle/QBtcydYuXLYQTuBo6
Sat 16th May: https://forms.gle/ERgL7L2mf6E8FyUZ6
What should I bring?
Warm layers, a waterproof and comfortable shoes to walk in.
Sun hat and sun cream in the summer.
Water to drink – it’s a good idea to bring at least 2 litres of water if you’re walking a whole leg.
A picnic lunch, plus snacks to eat whilst walking.
A mobile phone.
A personal first aid kit.
How are we planning to travel to and from the walk?
Everyone is responsible for making their own travel arrangements, but once we have the list of walkers for a particular walk we will look for opportunities to lift share.