Oughtonhead Common
This walk takes you around the Oughtonhead Common Nature Reserve in Hitchin.
There's some nice trails along the River Oughton, pockets of woodland, meadows and lots of wildlife to look out for on the way. Keep your eyes peeled for kingfishers on the river and the Orange Tip butterflies around the pretty wildflower meadows in the warmer months. It's a lovely peaceful place for a stroll with plenty of benches to sit and relax on too. You can start the walk from the car park on the eastern side of the common at the Swinbourne Avenue playing fields. Then head west and then north to meet up with the riverside trails.
To extend your walk you could pick up the Icknield Way Path and follow it north west to visit the nearby village of Pirton.
Postcode
SG5 3RP - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsPlease click here for more information
Oughtonhead Common Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Oughtonhead Common Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Oughtonhead Common OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Oughtonhead Common Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
Head east into Ickleford to visit the historic Old George. The pub dates back to the 15th century and includes a fine interior with an ancient inglenook fireplace. Outside there's a lovely courtyard garden and a terrace with fine views of the old village church. You can find them on the Arlesey Road at postcode SG5 3UX for your sat navs.
Dog Walking
The reserve is a great place for dog walking so you'll probably see other owners on your visit. The Old George mentioned above is also dog friendly.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
In the town you can pick up the Hitchin Walk which visits the viewpoints at the nearby Pegsdon Hills.
The Ickleford Walk visits the reserve from the nearby village before heading to Pirton.
The reserve is also located very close to Letchworth where you can try the circular Letchworth Walk. This uses a section of the epic Icknield Way Path to visit the town's Norton Common and the nearby villages of Ickleford and Pirton.
For more walking ideas in the area see the
Chilterns Walks and Hertfordshire Walks pages.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Footpath on Oughtonhead Common, near to Ickleford, Hertfordshire, Great Britain. Beside the river Oughton.
River Oughton at Oughtonhead Common. From the Hertfordshire Countryside Magazine, April 1967:- "The Lucas family was closely associated with Oughton Head and owned much of the land around the common. William Lucas in his diary tells of his favourite walk out over Gaping Hills to Orton (sic) Head; Samuel Lucas drew and painted the countryside and birds; and Francis Lucas wrote poems which reflect the scene of fields and woods around and the men who worked them."
Waterfall at Oughtonhead Common Nature Reserve. Man made waterfall on the River Oughton just along from the dog paddling pool!
Bridge and seat on Oughtonhead Common. The bridge allows access across a tributary of the River Oughton and forms part of a network of footpaths on the common.