AOG 2027 planning handbook

This page summarises planning resources aimed for:

• the Northern Home Counties AOG 2027 planning team; and

• all attendees to AOG 2027 relating to venue, maps, parking and bus transport.

This page and its contents will change over time, as future decisions refine our choices.

Date, venue, expected attendance

The  dates of the Annual Outdoor Gathering 2027 are Friday 23 July 2027 to Monday 26 July 2027 inclusive.

The venue is the campus of University of Hertfordshire, College Lane Campus, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL10 9AB (GoogleMaps).

We anticipate members to arrive at the venue from 3pm on Friday and to leave before 11am on the Monday.

Based on prior AOGs, attendance at this AOG could be ~180 people.

Live planning chart, actions & vacancies

The following chart sets out:

• the draft programme of events;

• the volunteers and vacancies;

• the planning diary from Aug2026 to Aug2027;

• feedback recevied from members attending AOG2026, including the attendees' survey.

Hint: open the sheet full-screen for a better view of it.

Walk route design criteria, whole programme

Our designs for our walking route must follow the criteria  defined in the prospectus, as modified below for the definition of event difficulty.  In addition, we have received feedback from AOG 2026 which we ought to include in the walk design.

In summary:

• on day 1 Saturday and day 2 Sunday, we ought to have AOG attendees on campus by 5pm, to prepare for the evening events.

• the more popular events were shorter than 8 miles distance.

• the garden events are astonishingly popular, with one garden event in 2026 attracting ~70 members!

• 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;

• where there is an expectation of a stately home visit on the Sunday (which, somehow, doesn't duplicate a visit within a garden group visit);

• the attendees generally expect lighter events on day 2 Sunday, because some of them will already have already worn out....

• all events need clear marketing: members must know how they benefit from the event purely upon the advert on the GOC website, with no ambiguity in the joining instructions.

In addition, walk routes ought to include:

• at least one place where the event photographer can take a group shot.

When plotting a route accessible by public transport, you must check the current train timetables for both Saturday and Sunday to ensure that there is sufficient time to return to the campus.  Timetables for both railways and buses are generally usable on Saturday morning, but inefficient and adverse by Sunday afternoon.

Start point journey cheat-sheet

COMING SOON - a series of sample start points with estimated travel times to/from campus.   Some of this data is already presented in the sample walk route library index, below.

Sample walk route library

COMING SOON - a collection of sample routes - sketched out for walk leaders, with points of interest - to inspire route design... or maybe just pilot the sketched route.

The sample walk library is only a series of suggestions; it is not prescriptive.  If you have a route in mind - and it complies with the walk route design criteria - then please do it!

The library contains an index.  Otherwise, feel free to browse the file cabinet below.  The list of files is longer than this screen permits: scroll down within the file cabinet window.

Event difficulty - walks

Deviating from the prospectus in light of feedback from AOG 2026, the event difficulties are:

• an easy walk is up to 5 miles and an amble of less than ~1.6mph;

• a moderate walk is up to 8 miles and a pace of less than ~2.3mph (most of Herts GOC walks are moderate by this measure);

• a difficult walk is up to 12 miles and i) a pace greater than 2.3mph; or ii) a running/jogging event.

Event difficulty - cycling

Volunteers propose leading two cycle events: one of 40 miles and one of 30 miles.

The Venue: University of Hertfordshire, campus maps, postcodes, parking, charging and meeting points

The venue is the campus of University of Hertfordshire, College Lane Campus, Hatfield.

• of the university's office: AL10 9AB or https://w3w.co/after.reach.ranged (source).  No-body should need to use this postcode/map points.

• of the Car Park R, the main car park for AOG attendees, AL10 9UX, or http://streetmap.co.uk/map?X=521950&Y=207484&A=Y&Z=110, or https://w3w.co/moved.cute.nods, or https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/9342267570, or https://maps.app.goo.gl/gw17cZEZYDGNy73h6 .

The campus has a map.  Volunteers - both walk leaders and marshals - must learn the campus map.

• UH's general basic campus map is here.   Zoom in to see more details.  A downloadable map is on this page.

• OpenStreetMaps has designated UH over all of its sites, of which the College Lane campus designation is here.  OSM is particularly well detailed.  Zoom in to see more details, including the public works of art.

• To walk from two opposite points across the campus is ~16 minutes (~1 mile).

• An interim map setting how how we shall use the campus is set out in the campus orientation route map.  When we have finalised this map, we shall need a volunteer to convert this into a printable set of joining instructions that members can print at home before they travel to Hatfield.

Campus car parking:

• Car Park R (Residential) is a series of parking spaces alongside the eastern edge of the campus, immediately behind the student residences to which they relate.  UH recommends that we use Car Park R throughout the weekend.  Each driver shall need to register their vehicle for the duration of the AOG by typing at a tablet device located in the Oval.

• other car parks are available, but are managed by a separate company (Hozah).  Each stay must be registered on the company's app via a smartphone, even if the tariff is free at the time.  These car parks are free to use at weekends.  Charges apply on weekdays.  

Campus cycle parking:

• there are cycle parks everywhere.  For further guidance, use OpenStreetMaps, zoom right in and browse.

Campus electric car charging points:

• the campus has charging points for electric cars.  UH tells us that there are only a few.  The charging points are not marked on the UH map (above), even when zoomed in.  Drivers will have to drive around the campus to find them.

Meeting points on campus (for initial planning purposes only):

• the first meeting point that all members shall need is The Oval.  Members need to register their cars for parking at The Oval.  They will also collect their room keys and directions to their rooms from The Oval.  The Oval is the service point for housekeeping; if members need things for their rooms, here is where they ask.

• the second meeting point that all members shall need is The Forum.  The Forum is the south-western-most block on campus.  It includes the refectory (breakfast, dinner), the auditorium (the AGM), the bar (!!), the campus bus station and two large meeting areas (one indoors, one outdoors).

Reconnaissance on 22Aug2026 and 03Oct2026: see pics at https://photos.app.goo.gl/6f35Zbxowmm8H1yRA .

Parking outside the campus

There is no viable parking outside the campus.

There are a few spots in a tiny number of residential streets for the locals who know how to find spaces, but otherwise it is a non-starter.

Public transport to & from the UH campus

Volunteers planning routes must account for the time required to travel from Hatfield railway station to the UH's campus. 

• to walk from Hatfield railway station to UH's College Lane campus is ~40 mins, plus additional time around the campus.

• to bus from Hatfield railway station to UH's College Lane campus varies by bus route (Google Map live query).  Some routes take as little as 10 mins, others 20 mins, others 30 mins.

• Google Maps live queries:

  • outbound from UH The Forum to Hatfield station

  • return from Hatfield station to UH The Forum

Orientating bus routes from the campus

• On campus, the main bus station is at the Forum on the western edge of the campus.  A secondary bus station is in Car Park R on the eastern edge of the campus.

• Between the Forum (western edge) and Hatfield Railway station are the following main routes: 602, 610, 614, 653.  Bus company UNO runs these four bus routes.  Other routes from other companies are available opportunistically.   Of these routes, only the 653 visits the secondary bus station in Car Park R (eastern edge).

• Intalink is the umbrella organisation that covers bus routes in Hertfordshire.  Maps and journey planners are available from this page, with a PDF of Hatfield town's bus routes here.  Hatfield station has its own bus map, which is essential preparation for anybody using Hatfield station.

• UNO is the preferred bus company of UH students.  UNO participates in Intalink.  The company has published this page for students of UH, which in turn links to this route map and this page of relevant timetables. 

• UH itself refers to UNO here.

Orientating bus routes to-and-from nearby towns

Buses to-and-from UH's campus visit nearby towns, from which some of the AOG's walks shall start.  The key bus routes are:

• St Albans & Watford to UH College Lane: 602 (run by UNO)

• St Albans, UH College Lane, Welwyn Garden City: 653 (run by UNO)

• UH College Lane to Stevenage: 625 (run by UNO).  This is a less frequent service at UH College Lane.

• UH Collage Lane to Luton: 610 (run by UNO).

Railway services - getting to campus from afar

The nearest railway station is Hatfield Herts (HAT).

Various London terminii serve Hatfield: London Kings Cross (the Great Northern service), London St Pancras (the Thamelink service), London Moorgate.

Hatfield Herts is a "semi-fast" destination.  Most trains from London to Peterborough stop at Hatfield.  Change at Peterborough for services to Edinburgh, Newcastle, and Leeds and for cross-country services to Norwich, Nuneaton and Birmingham.

Railway services - getting to AOG events and return

From Hatfield Herts railway station (HAT), trains run between Cambridge and London Kings Cross/St Pancras.  This gives us a lot of opportunity to run events from numerous railway stations.

However, the further one starts an event away from campus, the more desireable a car is to get to the start point.  Train timetables are most favourable on the outbound journey on the Saturday and significantly adverse on the return journey on a Sunday afternoon.  Sunday afternoon is further compounded by the bus timetable, where it becomes quicker to walk from Hatfield station back to the campus.

To obtain an idea of the public transport journey, use Google Maps.  The timetables are not always accurate, but for planning purposes, they are accurate enough.

Accommodation

University of Hertfordshire: fine for singles

Accommodation at UH will be entirely single-bed rooms, each with en suite shower.   The mattress is wider than a standard single, but not wide enough for a comfortable double.

The UH will provide bedding and towels, but nothing else.  Attendees will need to bring their own soap, shower gels, shampoos, flannels etc.

UH accommodation includes one kitchenette per eight or ten rooms.  The kitchenette contains fridges, freezers, stoves and ovens.  UH will not provide cooking utensils or consumables (e.g. washing-up liquids, detergents).

UH accommodation contains limited laundry facilities, which appears to need an app to use.  See UH's advice to students at https://ask.herts.ac.uk/laundry-on-campus .   Extra-campus, the nearest launderette is Hatfield Rise Launderette (GoogleMaps, own website (!!)) to the south-east of campus, and fairly near the residential part of campus. (GoogleMaps search)

Nearby hotels

Hatfield has three hotels within a 10 minute drive of the campus (Google search).  There are three types: budget, half-decent and utter poshness.

• Budget: Travelodge Hatfield Central (to campus by bus, 18 minutes; by car,  7 minutes plus time to walk to Oval to register your car, then walk onwards to the Forum to start walks, minimum 15 mins)

• Budget: Premier Inn (to campus by bus, 21 minutes; by car, 5 minutes plus time to walk to Oval to register your car, then walk onwards to the Forum to start walks, minimum 15 mins)

• Half-decent: The Comet Hotel.  This is obviously more expensive, but it is quite nice and is also the closest to the campus.

• Utter poshness: Tewinbury Farm Hotel (GoogleMaps).  Budget GBP 220 per night for a double room.   To campus by car, 16 minutes, plus time to walk to Oval to register your car, then walk onwards to the Forum to start walks, minimum 15 mins).   By bus, lol!, no (sample route).

For guest houses and B&Bs, see perhaps this directory.

Camping, caravanning, holiday homes etc

There are two campsites relatively near UH campus, and only a few more near the neighbouring towns.  Here is a small selection to start your own research.

• for women only (optimised for girl guides), Cherry Green Trees, GoogleMaps, to campus by car 12 minutes plus time to walk to Oval to register your car, then walk onwards to the Forum to start walks, minimum 15 mins)

• for caravans/tourers, Commons Wood & Motorhome Club campsite (GoogleMaps).  To campus by car, 10 minutes plus time to walk to Oval to register your car, then walk onwards to the Forum to start walks, minimum 15 mins)

• for tents, caravans/tourers, Hertford Camping and Caravanning Club Site (GoogleMaps).  To campus by car, 20 minutes plus time to walk to Oval to register your car, then walk onwards to the Forum to start walks, minimum 15 mins)

For more directories, see perhaps this directory or this directory.

For glamping, there are a handful of options in Hertfordshire, but quite a distance from the campus.  Similarly for holiday homes.

Email distribution list

Volunteers may subscribe to the following email group to receive planning updates during the planning process.  This protects the wider GOC membership from receiving planning correspondence.

To subscribe to the group, go to http://goc.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/aog2027-volunteers_goc.org.uk and complete the form in section "Subscribing to Aog2007-volunteers".

The form asks for your email address and your choice of password to log into the group (if you ever need to)

The group will then email you to confirm your email's identity; click on the link.

Then, behind the scenes, a moderator will tick a box to let you into the group.

You will then receive a welcome email, with three easy instructions about how to use the group (including the all-important email address (!), how to adjust your privacy settings, how to log into your preferences panel in the group's settings, how to reset your password, how to unsubscribe from the group, etc).

Subscription to the group is recommended to all volunteers of AOG2027.

Moderation guidelines

Moderation guidelines for event advert, event reports and event photographs are set out here.

Hi-vis jackets

As at Sep2026, hi-vis jackets for walk leaders and large-walk marshalls are voluntary.

GOC-branded hi-vis jackets are not available from the GOC shop.

GOC has a small stock of its own hi-vis to borrow.  If walk leaders and marshals can buy their own - they are quite cheap nowadays - that would be very useful.

Document change history & status

18Oct2026: version 3, active.

07Oct2026: version 2, inactive.

03Oct2026: version 1, inactive.