Hatfield Walks - Hatfield House Circular
This Hertfordshire based town is a fine place for walkers with river trails along the River Lea, the woodland and parkland of Hatfield House and miles of easily accessible countryside trails to try.
This circular walk explores the extensive grounds of Hatfield House on the eastern side of the town. The park is perfect for walking with a number of well maintained paths and three well defined routes:
The Blue Walk - (2 miles / 3.2 kilometres / 50 minutes)
The Red Walk (3.2 miles / 5.2 kilometres / 90 minutes)
The Green Walk (1.1 mile / 1.8 kilometres / 30 minutes)
You can pick up an information leaflet from the Gift Shop or Kiosk.
The park boasts extensive woodlands, ancient oak trees, a deer park and views of the River Lee. It also has an interesting history having been the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth I during the 16th century. In the park you can see the site of the former oak tree where it is believed she learned of here succession to the throne.
Postcode
AL9 5HX - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsPlease click here for more information
Hatfield Park Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Hatfield Park Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Hatfield Park OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Hatfield Park Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
To continue your walking around Hatfield you could pick up the Lea Valley Walk on the northern edge of the town. If you follow the waymarked trail west it will take you to the pretty Lemsford Springs Nature Reserve where there are good wildlife spotting opportunities. You can also visit Brocket Halll and Sherrardspark Wood on the Wheathampstead Walk which starts from the nearby village.
Another popular and easy walk near the town is the Alban Way. This shared cycling and walking trail runs along a disused railway line from Hatfield to St Albans.
Head a few miles south west and you could visit Shenley village. Here you can try the circular Shenley Walk which visits the training grounds of Arsenal F.C and Watford F.C before heading to the village of London Colney where you can enjoy lovely river walks along the River Colne. The walk also visits the noteworthy de Havilland Aircraft Museum. The museum is one of the highlights of the area and a must see for aircraft enthusiasts. There's a wonderful collection of aircraft including the de Havilland Mosquito which is the only surviving World War II twin piston engine prototype of a combat aircraft to be preserved in the World. It can now be viewed by the public on the very site where it was designed and built. The village of Ridge is also located near here. The settlement has a fine local pub with a particularly huge countryside garden area.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Hertfordshire Walks page.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Entrance to the Park Walks, Hatfield House. This large oak at the start of the nature trails is known as the Sentinel of the Wood.
This oak tree was planted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1985 on the site of the original oak tree where Queen Elizabeth I was thought to have heard of her succession to the throne.
The Broadwater, Home Park, Hatfield House. This lake by the River Lea has a nice waterside walking trail to try.
Castle Folly, Home Park, Hatfield House
Summerhouse
View of the gardens and the fountain
The Nature Trail, Home Park. A row of tall and straight Western Hemlocks in the middle of a broadleaf wood at Waymark 5.
Hatfield, The Old Palace