Bassingbourn to Sandon and Return
Cambridgeshire/Hertfordshire
Distance 32km Climb 420m
Saturday 24 July 2021
I have been checking the weather forecast throughout the week and saw there had been a severe weather warning for today. This made me think should I go for my walk? Then last night I did another check and the weather warning had moved to Sunday. Not being put off and hoping for the best I set off early from my accommodation.
Walking to the village there was a lovely coloured light in the sky across the fields. It was dry and quite warm even early on. There was no dew on the long grass and my feet were still dry, a bonus, things were looking good. For my arrival in Bassingbourn for the start of my walk.
Today I crossed straight over the High Street and headed down Spring Lane, walking south. Near the last cottages on the right I saw a long concrete pole. I have noticed a few of these around Bassingbourn and wonder what they are?
Passed the concrete pole I continued along Spring Lane. There were high hedges to my left and trees with bushes to my right as Spring Lane twisted left then right.
At the end of Spring Lane I turned left onto Ashwell Street for a few meters. I was also on the Ickneld Way Riders Route. Last week I had joined Ashwell Street a little further west, follow the link to check out that walk to Baldock.
After a few meters along Ashwell Street, I turned and followed the footpath sign to my right, continuing to walk south.
A few meters from the turn, passing by a gate the footpath becomes a narrow grass path between tall wild grasses. A gentle climb with high banks on my left. It was along here I noticed that I had seen at least four commercial airplanes passing overhead within as many minutes. From the sounds of their engines it sounded like they were preparing to land. Possibly landing at Luton Airport.
Following the crest of the gentle climb as the path levels, the solar field came into view on my left. A few sheep were wandering amongst the solar panels.
The footpath led through a patch of purple thistle like flowers. After a few hundred meters as the footpath approaches the busy A505. It twists and turns through a patch of high grasses, nettles, bracken and bushes.
Coming through the hedge there is a road barrier.
At this time of day the road was not too busy and easy to cross.
Over the A505 I was in a familiar place where Aldi is. The day before, after doing my shopping I saw a kite just floating across York Way, flying very low.
Following York Way to the right I missed the footpath sign, nothing lost I just continued southwards down Orchard Road. At the top as Orchard Road turns left I spotted a footpath sign on the other side of the road.
Following the footpath I turned right. The footpath sign says it is only 720yards to Therfield Heath. The footpath starts of quite wide but soon narrows with a hedge on my right and a tall wire fence on my left.
After a few meters it soon opens up again, between tall metal fences. After a couple of hundred meters the footpath turns sharp right then left to cross the railway line. It looks like the style was made out of old railway track.
Over the railway line and another railway track style, then the footpath passes in front of a small row of houses.
The houses are on Green Drift and Green Drift runs and turns across the footpath. Over Green Drift the footpath continues straight. High garden hedges run either side of the wide footpath.
At the top of the footpath the footpath comes out onto Baldock Road and Therfield Heath lies straight ahead.
I crossed Baldock Road and walked across a rugby field towards a park bench. Where I had a short break and a short snack. A fitness class was working out to the left of the building behind the tent. Checking my map as to where I was going to go next. I was looking west.
Decision made I headed west.
Following paths I climbed the hill to the viewpoint and saw a bench as a memorial to Herbert John Haywood. Who loved the walk and view.
From the bench I followed the grass path down to the right and headed south west. Running by a couple of golf greens the grass path joins a gravel path. More greens the ground runs a little up and down but the footpath follows by the edge and climbs up to a golfing hole.
There were a couple of splashes of rain but they did not amount to anything.
Following the edge of the course the footpath is hidden through the trees.
Tracks run through the trees, with plenty of up and down most head towards the south west. Rising up to the road.
Across the road, through a chain gate and I continued along the Hertfordshire Way, heading west.
After a few hundred meters I saw a footpath sign which led down to Fordham and Jubilee Woods.
Dropping down to cross under the barrier to my left I thought I would go and have a look. The path drops down hill, passing a number of places where branches had been piled up to make shelters. Some looked solid and some did not.
There were a few up and downs but it was nice walking through the trees. I reached the bottom of the wood and was heading back up through the trees when another shower started and this one was heavy. I dithered about should I put my waterproof on or not. At first it was quite sheltered under the trees.
Then as the rain started getting heavier I stopped and put my waterproof on. Working my way back up to the Hertfordshire Way. Water was now falling off the trees as well as through the trees.
Back on the Hertfordshire Way, after a few meters I saw this sign for Fox Covert Nature Reserve.
The Hertfordshire Way turns south for a few meters before turning right. I did think about wandering a little further down into Fox Covert but decided to continue along the Hertfordshire Way.
Stepping out from the trees on Church Hill I found it had stopped raining. I passed the gate and continued along the footpath heading west.
After a few meters the footpath drops down hill, into an area of long grass, nettles, blackberry bushes and another chain gate. Following the rain, water was dripping wetly all over me as I pushed my way through the grass and nettles.
Through the chain gate and I was onto a track, which I followed to my right. After a few meters I turned up the track to the left.
After a few meters I saw signs the track ahead was private land. I turned right slightly following a path of flattened grass under the trees. Coming through the trees I was now heading westerly on the Gallops. For some reason I had put my camera away, which was a mistake.
Walking along the Gallops I could see the busy A505 running to my front and right. There was also the busy train line. A number of trains travelled the line as I was walking the Gallops. At the bottom of the bank I could see a white fence, similar to the fences you see on horse racecourses.
I had only been walking on the Gallops a few minutes when suddenly the Red Arrows flew right over me from my right. They were so close I felt I could have touched them. I hadn't heard them over the sound of the traffic. As soon as I saw them I dropped my hat and scrambled to get my camera out of its bag, I was too slow. Why had I put my camera in the bag? I had been carrying it out ready to use all morning and had only recently put it in the bag.
I decided to have a sit down and see if the Red Arrows would come back over. They didn't, so I took the opportunity to tip some stones and twigs from my boots and give my feet a rub for luck.
When I was ready I continued along the Gallops, waterproof packed in my bag and camera in hand.
Another white racecourse fence started up on my left from Kings Ride. As I was walking towards the south western corner I realised I should have been on the other side of this white fence.
Crossing under the fence I was on the track and back on the Hertfordshire Way. This took me through Thrift Farm.
Passing through Thrift Farm I was now heading south east on the Hertfordshire Way. Leaving the farm the farm track continues by a high hedge on my left and what looks like a turnip field. After a few hundred meters the track runs through a gap in the hedge.
Now I am passing a field of barley that run up on my left. Patches of red poppies are scattered among the yellow barley, it looked lovely.
Walking further along the track, leaving the field behind I was walking through an area that was overgrown on both sides. I could see a hut ahead to my right. A sign shows this was a rifle range but it was not shown on my map.
Passed the hut the footpath follows the edge of a field round to the left and then to the right.
Before passing under some trees, one map shows this as Coombe Road. Continuing under the trees Coombe Road climbs up quite steeply.
At the top Coombe Road narrows as it approaches a kissing gate. Through the gate I turned left onto Kelshall Road, Therfield.
After a few meters I turned left continuing to follow the Hertfordshire Way signs.
There was a lovely smell along here, I do not know what it was but it seamed to come from the garden of an old house on my left.
I saw the water tower shown on the map but could not see the trig point. Retracing my steps back along the track a little. I finally saw the trig point 168m on the far side of the fenced area around the water tower. It was hidden under trees and surrounded by nettles. I must have scared a pigeon as I took a photo of the trig point.
Continuing for a few meters along the track I turned left following the Hertfordshire Way sign.
Over a narrow style I was in a rough field of low grass and patches of thistles. The ground undulated up and down a little. Looking behind to my left I could get a good view of the old house. Across the field and over another style I was walking by a garden fence. Over the fence I could see the top of the church tower.
After a few steps I was walking through someone's garden onto a lose stone path which led to Pedlars Lane.
Turning right on Pedlars Lane I walked into the village centre.
The pub was closed as I sat on the bench and had a short break. Looking at the information board there are loads of walks in and around the village.
After my break I walked the few meters further along Pedlars Lane to Church Lane and headed towards the Church.
There are some nice looking houses around here. Passed the Fordham Memorial Hall Therfield. It was only a few meters before I reached the Church St Mary the Virgin.
I saw at the next footpath junction that I could turn right and go back to the water tower I passed a little earlier, I could continue straight on the Hertfordshire Way, or I could turn half left and take a footpath across a field of wheat.
I turned half left and walked the footpath through a field of wheat. Continuing through a kissing gate I headed across the next field and was still heading south west.
I continued south west across a field that looked like peas but the crop looked very dry. At the end of the field the footpath turns left slightly and crosses a small footbridge.
Over the footbridge the footpath follows the edge of a field. There are no footpath signs so I turned right and headed towards the houses of Kelshall.
Turning left onto Kelshall Street.
After a few meters I turned right following the footpath sign towards Kelshall Church.
The grass path becomes a track and continues towards the Church.
Across from the footpath signs stand Kelshall Church.
The map shows "Cross remains of" and I could see it just to the right of the Church.
Turning around I was now back on the Hertfordshire Way and so followed the signs through the gate walking south. Down the side of a lovely cut lawn under some large old chestnut trees.
After a few meters the footpath leads though a kissing on the right hand fence.
Through the kissing gate the footpath has a wooden fence running on either side. At the bottom there is another kissing gate. To the left there is a large pond, ducks were sitting on decking that stretched over the water with what could be a summer house.
Through the kissing gate the footpath travelled across an open field. I could see the next kissing gate across the field. An area to the left must have been for horse training.
After walking across the field and through that kissing gate I was in a field of wheat. I could see my footpath cutting rising across the wheat.
Reaching the edge of the field a Hertfordshire Way sign directed me right. I could have jumped through the nettles onto a narrow footpath but decided to just follow the edge of the field. This was only for a few meters before the edge of the field came to a farm track.
Turning left along the farm track I could just see the next footpath sign.
I was again heading south. Passing Lords Wood to my left.
Then Philpott's Wood to my right. As I walked the edge of Philpott's Wood, near where my map shows Collins Green. I could hear what I think was a kite, whistling. I tried to look through the trees but could not see it.
A few hundred meters further on and I reached a footpath junction. This was where the Hertfordshire Way joined the Chain Walk and the Icknield Way Trail. I would return along this route.
For now though I continued south joining Notley Lane.
After a few hundred meters my map shows I walked passed Notley Green.
Continuing along the Lane I soon reached the Sandon Road.
Turning right onto Sandon Road. I walked to the next junction.
Turning right towards Sandon on Mill End.
Check out the duck crossing sign. I stayed on Mill End all the way into Sandon. I had to step off the road a few times because of cars passing but it was not too bad.
Arriving in Sandon I took my usual photo of the Village sign. It has a picture of a goose, checking out the website it says the goose is no longer around. It also says Sandon is one of the highest villages in Hertfordshire.
I took my photo of the village Church, All Saints Church.
Then I found a seat on the Village Green and ate my sandwiches.
While I was eating I was checking my map and deciding what I would do next.
Decision made I was going to return but on a slightly different route. My return route was the same as my route out up until I reached the footpath junction at Philpott's Wood. Reaching the junction, what I thought was a kite was still making it calling sound in Philpott's Wood.
At the junction instead of walking north along the Hertfordshire Way, the way I had come. I turned right along the Chain Walk, Icknield Way Trail, walking east. After a few hundred meters I passed Hawkins Wood on my right.
At the end of the track the Ickneild Way Trail turned left. The sign shows I was heading towards Hay Green.
My map shows I was on Kelshall Lane. It was sheltered along here as it was turning warmer. I was now walking north east. I had only seen a couple of people all day until now. It was very busy along here, a lot of people were walking south west.
After nearly 1.5km my map shows the track becomes Duck's Green which leads to Hay Green. Reaching the road I turned left onto Police Row, Therfield. Passing the Royston Cricket Club after a few meters.
As I approached the village centre I could see the seat I had sat on earlier. I was heading for the footpath that turned to my right just before the pub, Fox Lane.
After a few meters the footpath leads to the left of a private driveway. Passing a children's play area, the Ickneild Way Trail heads north east.
After a few meters the Ickneild Way Trail crosses the corner of a wheat field as it climbs a slight rise. At the top there is a track junction. Continuing straight ahead still heading north east, the path starts heading down hill. I saw a family who told me to watch out for a number of kites in the area. Pointing out one that was flying high over the field to my right. I could see it but it was too far away to get a photo.
I passed Peter Bishop's bench and headed down the track. On my way down I had to stand into the side to avoid a tractor pulling large bails of hay, coming up the track. High hedges ran either side of the track.
At the bottom of the bank the footpath opened up a little first on the left of a large hedge then moving through the fields to the right of a hedge. Continuing north east for just over 2km.
At a track junction I continued on the Ickneild Way Trail. Which led between trees and hedges.
The ground was narrow and a little rougher approaching Therfield Heath.
The footpath I followed twisted and turned heading down hill amongst long grasses. I soon reached a position where I could see the rugby pitch I had walked across early this morning.
I worked my way down hill following paths under the trees coming out further down the heath land. Crossed the rugby pitch and onto Baldock Road. I was back on my outward route and followed it back to Orchard Road. Where I took the footpath pointing to York Way. The footpath I had missed on my outward walk.
At the end of the path I saw how I missed it on my outward walk. A large lorry had hidden it from view, not to worry, it didn't really affect the distance I had walked.
I continued following my outward walk in reverse. This time I was quick enough to capture a photo of a buzzard after crossing the now very busy A505.
I was also fortunate to see this little fella a muntjac, he was walking towards me, and I managed to collect a few photos before he just walked off into the roadside. I was only a few hundred meters from Bassingbourn.
Back in Bassingbourn I was so pleased about collecting photos of the buzzard and muntjac. It had been yet another great walk. The rain had kept away apart from one heavy shower. I have shown my walk as Distance 32km Climb 420m. From my accommodation until my return I covered just over 37km.
More to follow
Boz North
Details correct at time of writing.
If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done in Cambridgeshire/Bedfordshire/Essex/Hertfordshire or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.
