GOC has invited Herts GOC to bid for the GOC's Annual Outdoor Gathering in Jul/Aug 2027.
Herts GOC has compiled a bid and found sufficient walk leaders to mount a credible bid for the AOG. The volunteers originate from Herts GOC and all of its neighbouring branches. Accordingly, the bid is named as the Northern Home Counties AOG 2027.
Hertfordshire has a interesting geographic history, a pile of muddled geology, the rare habitat of chalk streams, a diversity urban planning, history (at least two types of "new town"), centres of art (e.g. Henry Moore), a smorsgadbord of architectural styles, complex geography between town and river confluences, nature reserves and a patch of a National Landscape (the Chiltern Hills). Herts GOC has a lot to showcase. From its archive of ~20 years of walk route history, Herts has some major flagship routes that excel to show the many flavours of Herts.
Herts GOC has formally submitted it bid to host as the Northern Home Counties AOG 2027 to the AOG Committee on Mon 22Jun2026.
This prospectus aids planning of Herts GOC's bid response to GOC and the initial planning document for the NHC AOG Squad in their planning if AOG Committee selects Herts GOC's bid.
This prospectus is addressed to all interested parties - GOC members (from any GOC branch), walk leaders, co-ordinators, AOG committee members, GOC board members, GOC's partners and contractors, and anybody else with a interest in making the AOG a success - to volunteer for events within scope of the terms of refence set out below.
Herts GOC would be responsible for:
provision of up to 2 events on day 0 (the Friday, arrival day);
provision of up to 10 events on day 1 (the Saturday);
provision of up to 10 events on day 2 (the Sunday);
provision of up to 3 events on day 3 (the Monday, departure day);
where the events must include a variety of easy walks, moderate walks, difficult walks, garden events, history events and arts & culture events;
provision of some volunteers to aid with guiding incoming members to the AOG venue.
GOC's AOG committee is responsible for every other aspect of the AOG, including the research and selection of the AOG's venue, accommodation, some travel arrangements for specific events, evening catering, evening discos and evening quizzes. The AOG Committee reserves the right to provide some events during any day. Other board members of GOC are responsible for the running of the Annual General Meeting.
GOC's Cycling Group will develop their own programme for the AOG. Herts GOC knows of no cyclist members at its regular walk events. Any comments from Herts GOC might be welcome.
GOC's gardens group might develop their own programme for the AOG. Any comments from Herts GOC might be welcome.
As at Apr2026, GOC is considering one of two weekends:
Fri 23Jul-Mon 26Jul2027;
Fri 30Jul-Mon 02Aug2027.
As at Apr2026, the working assumption is that the venue would be University of Hertfordshire, ("UH") for which the assumed location would be the students' halls of residence at the College Lane Campus.
All attendees at all day events must find arrive into their UH rooms by 5pm, ready for the AOG's evening events to start at 6pm. This time constraint must be planned into day events.
There is no constraint on the start time of day events. If the start point of the event is far away from UH and is, say, a walk of 15 miles, then the start time could justifiably be 8am. And there will likely be keen attendance at such an event.
As at Jun2026, the AOG Committee confirmed that it was still in negotiation with UH.
Members will make their own way to each event's start point, either by private car or by public transport (assumed primarily trains). The assumed UH may be a start point, but is not required to be a start point for any event.
Start points must be a reasonable time distance from the AOG venue to ensure that members can arrive at their UH rooms by 5pm. The likely maximum journey time is 40 minutes one-way. The longer the journey time, the less time there is for the event.
Given the likely number of attendees at each event, walk leaders must consider where members can park their cars for the event. Railway station car parks are expensive, but are readily accessible and generally have plenty of spaces. Villages might have ungated recreational area car parks, or otherwise on-street parking if distributed over a wider area.
The start point of most events ought to be in Herts, but there is no restriction.
Herts GOC's normal walking area is one hour journey away from Ayot St Lawrence, which encroaches into neighbouring counties and London.
Showcasing the Lee Valley will require entering Essex.
Showcasing the Colne Valley will require entering London and/or Bucks.
For some members travelling far away from Herts to be at the AOG, an opportunity to visit unexpected green areas of London might also be attractive.
The distance between UH accommodation and Hatfield railway station is ~35 minutes by foot, ~18 minutes by bus (assuming favourable bus timetable, so otherwise assume at least 30 minutes of waiting for the bus) or ~5 mins by private car (Google Maps).
If an event is aimed at members who rely upon public transport, then walk leaders must account for this journey time in the planning of their event's start points.
For Herts GOC's contribution to the AOG, the programme must include easy, moderate and hard walks. For this prospectus, the definitions are:
an easy walk is up to 5 miles and/or an amble of ~1.6mph;
a moderate walk is up to 10 miles and/or a pace of ~2.3mph (most of Herts GOC walks are moderate by this measure);
a difficult walk is up to 15 miles and/or a pace greater than 2.3mph and/or a running/jogging event and/or route marches. There will be demand for these harder walks, too!
There are no significant gradients in Hertfordshire to consider: no parts of Herts is akin to climbing the Cairngorms or stretching over the entire 28 miles of the Lairig Ghru. The nearby Chiltern Hills are but mere speed bumps in the countryside.
For Herts GOC's contribution to the AOG, the programme may include per day any of the following:
history-themed event, e.g. a historic guided tour;
art-themed event, e.g. an art walk, an art centre;
event that starts at a railway station or bus station (or from the UH itself);
a garden visit (which GOC Gardens will likely plan or co-plan, comments/tips are welcome);
cycling events (which GOC Cycling will likely plan in its entirety, comments/tips are welcome).
For Herts GOC's contributions to the AOG, the programme may include:
visits to stately homes (which tends to align with gardens).
The number of attendees at the AOG needing outdoor event will be between 160 to 180 people.
Most will be capable of up to 10 miles (moderate walk).
Most will have private cars to get to and from day events;
Some will have limited mobility (on account of age).
Walk leaders must comply with GOC's safety policies. This means that walk leaders must themselves pilot their routes at least once, to time, prior to running the event on the AOG's days. The pilot must demonstrate compliance with GOC's safety policy and with the time constraints set out above.
Walk leaders may design their own routes, or they may select from Herts GOC's archives, or otherwise adapt a route from archive. The repetition of flagship Herts GOC events during the past 5 years at the AOG is strongly encouraged.
Herts GOC may survey subscribers of the AOG interest group to determine their likely interests in the Hatfield & London areas.
The GOC will name the winning bid for AOG 2027 at AOG 2026, on Sat 25Jul2026.
Therefore, Herts GOC:
has declared its initial intention to bid as soon as possible (by publishing this prospectus);
shall determine whether it has a credible bid to GOC's AOG committee on Sun 21Jun2026, and notify the committee as soon as possible thereafter.
Herts GOC group co-ordinators will:
host regular planning meetings, some in-person and some online;
aid potential walk leaders to select walk routes that showcase Herts;
check that walks are of a duration, and start from a distance, that is compatible with the "all home by 5pm" requirement;
mentor new walk leaders between May 2026 and Jul 2027 to enhance their confidence in leading walks (an early start is strongly recommended!);
add some flagship events to Herts GOC's programme up to Jul 2027 so that walk leaders can learn routes;
other reasonable support requests will be considered.
Herts GOC will submit its final bid to GOC's AOG committe if and only if Herts GOC is satisfied that its programme is credible.
The AOG committee has its own selection criteria, which includes more then Herts GOC's offering, all of which is outside the scope of this prospectus.
Hatfield House (house & gardens);
Shaw's Corner, Ayot St Lawrence (National Trust, house only, short visit);
Knebworth House (house & gardens) (open only selectively, might need negotiation for a larger pre-booked group);
St Paul's Walden Bury (house & gardens) (open only selectively, might need negotiation for a larger pre-booked group);
Ashridge House (house & gardens);
Gorhambury House (this would need bespoke approach to identify what the visit would see and whether a visit would be viable).
Wrest Park (English Heritage) (we have member with "insider access" who has offered an event here).
Most of these walks qualify as easy walks (therefore shorter routes).
Hatfield House and gardens (as listed above);
Verulamium Museum & park, St Albans (~5mi walk from Hatfield along the Alban Way, a former railway with restored former stations ; a alternatively, direct bus in both directions, so perhaps walk out, bus return);
St Albans church & pub crawl: St Peter's (the northern gate of "Watlingchester"), St Stephen's (the southern gate), St Michael's (the western gate, also the resting place of the father of empiricism Francis Bacon), loads of pubs in between;
St Albans Saturday market (offers a dose of a southern English market culture, starring terribly middle class stuff on offer, alongside the usual collection of fruit & veg and London/estuary accents yelling about "free [three] for a paaaaaaand". The market includes a "street food court".);
St Marys Church, Hitchin (secondary source) and short urban exploration
See also historic towns & tours below.
These events qualify as equivalent to easy walks (therefore shorter routes).
Benington Lordship (open Tue Mar-Jun2026; bespoke approach needed for a significant group);
Henry Moore studio & gardens (as listed above);
Heartwood Forest, Woodland Trust
Moven Park, National Trust
Lee Valley Regional Park (includes legacy infrastructure of Olympics 2012)
Verulamium Park (includes Roman ruins)
Letchworth Garden City (Herts GOC own script, reduced to fit into the day);
Stevenage New Town (Herts GOC own script, "The Jewel in Silkin's Crown: Stevenage New Town");
St Albans (Herts GOC own script, from Roman ruins to Reformation ruins to modern sort-of-planning).
A credible cycling programme ought to comprise:
one ride each day between 30 to 50 miles;
one ride each day between 20 to 30 miles;
circular routes which start at the venue.
Initial pro temp suggestions only. Herts GOC has tested none of these. A lot more planning is required!
From Hatfield to St Albans on the Alban Way track;
From Hatfield to Welwyn Garden City to Wheathampstead, partly on road, partly on the Ayot Greenway;
From Hatfield to Hertford, partly on road, partly on the Cole Green Way;
From Hatfield to Lilley, all on road, via Welwyn Garden City, Codicote, Whitwell, Kings Walden to Lilley. Return same route. Great scenery north of Whitwell (route runs along a valley floor). Some gradients to enjoy nearer Lilley.
From Hatfield to Baldock on the Great North Road (or the bits that remain), mainly on road and some hardstanding cycle track (source);
From Hatfield to Muswell Hill on the Great North Road (or the bits that remain), all on road (source);
Sustrans/Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, maps https://explore.osmaps.com/?lat=51.90057&lon=-0.46344&zoom=9.4466&overlays=os-ncn-layer&style=Standard&type=2d
routes 12, 6, 606, 61
Below is a sample of flagship routes based upon GOC's archives since 2006. There are in no particular order. The list is not exhaustive. Estimated travel times from UH by private car, whereby the maximum drive time must be ~40 mins one-way to accommodate a reasonable walk.
Herts GOC walks are moderate. Shorter routes would need plotting and piloting.
Lemsford, Ellenbrook and Symondshyde (new route, ~10.5 mi) (9 mins by car);
Letchworth historic guided tour (reduced version of prior event) (24 mins by car, meet at railway station, trains direct from Hatfield);
Stevenage historic guided tour (reduced version of prior event, rotated route) (17 mins by car, meet at railway station, trains direct from Hatfield);
The Lee Valley (version of prior route, was ~10.5 mi), Cheshunt to Waltham Abbey (23 mins by car, meet at railway station, no direct trains from Hatfield);
Hatfield to St Albans (short route on the flat, ~ 6 mi one-way, lunch at St Albans market, some history of St Albans, bus return to Hatfield, from UH) (no cars required, no trains required);
Hatfield to Welwyn Garden City (new route, short route on the flat, ~6 mi one way, return by either bus or train);
Markyate to Dunstable Downs (~8mi, new route) (30 mins by car);
Ickleford & Hitchin (~9 mi, new route) (max 30 mins by car, could be re-routed to start at railway station, trains direct from Hatfield);
Therfield & Therfield Heath (~9mi, choice of two routes) (30 mins by car);
Lilley & the Pegsdon Hills (30 mins by car);
Berkhampstead & the Gaddesons (~35 mins by car);
Gadebridge & the Grand Union Canal (25 mins by car);
Rickmansworth & Harefield: Colne Valley Metroland (28 mins by car);
Bayford & Hertford (15 mins by car; however, parking might be an issue, pending re-pilot);
Much Hadham to Perry Green (aligns with Henry Moore studio & gardens) (~35 mins by car);
Wheathampstead & the Ayots (aligns with Shaw's Corner) (14 mins by car);
Welwyn North, Tewin & the Viaduct (new route) (13 mins by car, trains direct from Hatfield).
These items are far outside Herts GOC's normal offerings!
Ski & snow
There is an outdoors dry ski slope at Goslings Sports Park in Welwyn Garden City, £16/hour for experienced skiiers, pre-booking is essential within a window of only 3 hours in the day.
There is an indoors snow ski centre at the Snow Centre, Hemel Hempstead. No sure how easy it is to be a one-off customer or a group at this venue. Would need specific investigation.
Caving
There is no caving per se in Hertfordshire. But there is a cave. Royston Cave is a minor tourist attraction. Access is made for the general public, without needing ropes, and needs pre-booking.
The nearest alternative caves are the Hellfire Caves, West Wycombe, Bucks. These are a minor tourist attraction.
There are manmade potholes to consider, along with a whole range of other activities for a pre-arranged day out, at Phasels Wood, near Kings Langley, Hemel Hempstead.
Mountain climbing
There is an indoor mountain climbing training centre at the XC Rock Climbing Experience at Hemel Hempstead. Booking is required.
Swimming & canoeing
Lee Valley White Water Centre, near Cheshunt/Waltham Abbey was used by the London Olympics 2012. It is open today for canoeing. Booking is required.
Swimming pools are relatively common in Herts, the nearest one being the Herts Sports Village in Hatfield. Letchworth Garden City hosts an outdoor lido. For the more adventurous swimmer, the Lee Valley Open Water Swimming Centre provides a 250m triangular loop. Note the safety protocol.
Camping
Herts offers limited facilities to campers:
campsites.co.uk lists 8 campsites a drive away from Hatfield. The nearest is Aldenham Country Park, 8.5mi away.
ukcampsite.co.uk lists fewer campsites, one common location being Theobalds Park, 9mi away.
Short walk qualify as easy walks. These ideas are samples only, all need to be tested.
Hatfield, westbound to Ellenbrook Fields, return via Hatfield Garden Village;
Hatfield to St Albans via the Alban way (listed above a few times), with a direct bus journey to return);
Hatfield to Welwyn Garden City (with a direct train or bus journey to return);
Convert it to a moderate walk? Extend the northbound journey to Digswell/Welwyn North to see the Digswell Viaduct;
Welwyn North railway station (Digswell) circular via Burnham Green, Tewin. Journey to/from Hatfield by direct train.
Potters Bar railway station circular via Ridge, South Mimms (motorway semi-madness!)
The prototype prospectus programme of events will appear below. Nothing to see in it as at May2026!
End of document.