Would you like to explore the Hertfordshire countryside on foot but don’t know where to start?
Are you looking for tried and tested routes with detailed directions, maps, photographs and satellite navigation to show you which way to go as you walk?
Well the good news is that there are more than 250 free walks at the award-winning Hertfordshire Walker website which are all available to download and enjoy on any device.
You don’t have to register or share any personal or bank details, you just download the free walks and you are all set.
Hertfordshire Walker was set up by Dave and Ellie Brewer who have been publishing free walks in the Hertfordshire countryside for more than 25 years.
Theirs is a hobby shared and not a business. They cover all the costs from their own pocket, and all advertising space is donated to promote Hertfordshire charities.
The Trussell Trust, which provides food banks, is the current charity featured on the site.
Hertfordshire Walker has no connection with a paid-for subscription app with a similar name which charges people to download walks.
Finding the right walk for you
On Hertfordshire Walker, you can search for walks based on location, distance or elevation.
You can choose linear walks if you prefer station-to-station routes, flat walks for those with wheelchairs or pushchairs, shady walks if you want to avoid the sun, or just scroll through a list of all the free walks and pick one you fancy.
Dave has written a guide to help you find the perfect walk that meets your needs.
For solo walkers who would like to join an official walking group, there is a list on Hertfordshire Walker of almost 20 such Hertfordshire groups that welcome new members.
In total, the walks on Hertfordshire Walker cover a distance equal to walking from Welwyn Garden City to John O’ Groats and back, and a total elevation of roughly the equivalent of climbing Everest three times or Ben Nevis 18 times. And Dave and Ellie have walked every inch of every walk, sometimes several times.
If you fancy stopping at a Hertfordshire pub for a pint, a cuppa, or a snack, there are more than 220 mentioned on the Hertfordshire Walker site. Alongside each pub name is the number of walks that feature the pub. Just click on the link to be taken to a list of every walk along which the pub appears.
If you enjoy any of the walks you can leave a comment – totally anonymously if you want – or you can join the friendly and helpful Hertfordshire Walker Facebook group and interact with more than 3,500 fellow walkers who are
sharing their experiences and photos taken while walking in the Hertfordshire countryside.
All images © Hertfordshire Walker | Special thanks to Dave Brewer