Barley Barkway Walk September 2019

This is the first walk of the September 2019 Summer Walks

Park in a layby off of Royston Road in Barkway.

Set off down the hill, you will find a bridleway that heads west (to your right) near the bend in the road.

Take this track out towards the village of Reed after about 3 quarters of a mile you will cross the Greenwich Meridian on the edge of Rokey Wood just under Periwinkle Hill (the wireless station to the North is also on the meridian.

Carry on past Bush Wood (at the end of a track) you come to a road junction - head away from the road along a track to your left until you find another path that heads East again, take this track and head back to Barkway this time going to the south of Bush and Rokey Woods.

There is a junction just after Rokey Wood, you should take the left fork and then at the edge of the field go through a gate into a well kept paddock.

When you exit the paddock you will be near the charming chucrh in Barkway, stop here for refreshments before setting off down the track into the main road.

Turn right and head North towards Barley - take note of the War memorial on your right as you pass it. At this point you can cut the walk short and go back to your vehicle (take the road to your left and follow it back to oyur vehicle), but you'll miss out on the best bits this walk has to offer.

Go past Royston Road and look out for a bridleway on your left near some newly built houses. Take this track and keep going straight no until ou come to a few houses nestled in a valley, turn right and then after a few yards left through a gate (taking care to shut the gate after you have passed through).

You will now be walking through a charming wood and come out near a paddock, there is a footpath accross this paddock which you should take and then you'll come across a small road.

Follow the road to the Newsells war memorial, there is a track past the memorial that heads up through the woods with a paddock to the left. Keep straight along this track until oyu meet Cambridge Road.

Be careful as you walk along Cambridge Road towards Barley and look out for a footpath sign on the right - this indicates a footpath through a field which you should take. Be careful when crossing the little bridge here!

After you have crossed the field take take the road to the left and lookout for a footpath heading east (right) near a sharp bend to tehe left in the road.

Follow the path until you find a crossroads in the path and take a right turn, you will walk alongside a garden, then across a field and finally alongside a cricket field. There are some beautifule views to the East.

Continue to the road, take a left turn and walk straight on to a T junction - just across from which the path continues straight and up a hill. Once again there are lovely views to be had between gaps in the trees.

Carry straight on and eventually you will come to Mesop's Grove through which the path meanders. When you leave the grove the path continues across the next few fields, there is a gap in the hedge with a small bridge over a cut.

The paths at this point are less well marked, but can be found if you know what you're looking for. Close to Nuthampstead there is a field where two tracks meet at a crossroads and you should switch from your current path to The Hertfordshire Way. which will take you to the south of Bury Farm.

When you meet the road again you will find a gate which you should pass through and cross the next two paddocks energing on the edge of a field and Earl's Wood.

Keep Earl's Wood on your left as you walk, and you will eventually turn left heading towards Barkway - keep straight on this path taking the permissive path around Earl's Wood Cottage.

You will emerge onto Barkway Recreation Ground and taking a short path to the South Western corner you will end up at the Barkway War Memorial noted earlier.

From here simply cross the road and follow the road opposite back to where you parked your vehicle.