HIGHLIGHTS:  Cuffley | Home Wood | Hertfordshire Way | Celtic Harmony Camp |Broxbourne Woods | Bourne Wood | Hertford |River Lee | Ware

Many of our 13 walkers agreed that the walk felt far away from London. It covered many woodland tracks as it rose up the Hertford hills. We indulged in home-made Polish apple pie and coffee at a Padel cafe early in our walk and had lunch in the woods before reaching Harmony. We were disappointed to find the Harmony Camp closed, though still advertised as being open to the public at weekends. We were looking forward to exploring the visitor centre, thatched huts and reading about their calendar of activities. The walk might need to be repeated on a future programme to visit the camp.

Beyond the camp, we followed the route through open fields to Hertford, tip toeing through the one with ‘beware of the bull’, or suchlike notice, on the gate. At one point we spotted a single large emu-like bird in an adjacent field (see photo). Google lens identified it as a rhea. One walker phoned the nearby Hertfordshire Zoo to ask if they had lost one but they had not.

One of our group parted ways to return home via Bayford, another to catch a train from Hertford North. Another few walkers jumped on a train at Hertford East. Those remaining completed the last section, along the River Lee. It was a lovely section surrounded by meadows and canal boats to enjoy, and took us right up to Ware station.

Jackie McC.  Photos by Ida