For our second foray into the woods near Broxbourne we go north into some magnificent conifer plantations, visit the Farmers Boy pub, and return along a section of the ancient Roman road of Ermine Street.

Those of you who have completed the first Broxbourne walk, number 127, will know what to expect: well signed paths with butterfly symbols, and a huge variety of woodland with plenty of undulation.

At the appropriate time of the year, this region is particularly rich in fungi growing from the remains or trunks of trees - ranging from the brightly coloured honey fungus to the large brackets.

Those who wish can combine the two walks in a figure of eight to make a ten mile day excursion.

1. Start

Leave near the front of the car park and turn left along the path which runs parallel to the road and eventually joins it.

Continue until you reach a finger post to the left opposite Pembridge Farm. Go through a series of three gates in quick succession, crossing a field and a bridge across a stream at the bottom.

Go right gradually uphill, swinging left through a fence then ahead on a fairly indistinct path through trees.

At the top of the rise, feed into a wider path going left. Continue past a bench dedicated to Henry Barnes, Rambler, into an area of conifers.

Go left and immediately right across a narrow cross-track, continuing through the conifers. Although this path twists and turns, it is easy to follow.

Take short bypasses to avoid the worst of the mud. You reach a gate.

2.1 mile/1.6km

Emerge from the wood and continue with a hedge on your left. When you reach a large house on the right, turn left into Bourne Orchard. This drive leads to the road along which you continue to reach The Farmer's Boy Pub.

3. 1.6 miles/2.6km

Turn right into a road which after passing houses deteriorates into a rough track. When the track swings left, continue forward for about 0.6 miles down a lane to a road.

4. 2.3 miles/ 3.6km

Go right. Just past the turning to Edward's Green Farm go left at a finger post.

When you reach a private road' notice continue, slightly to the right, parallel with the drive.

You continue on this path to reach an area of farm buildings and new developments. Follow the butterfly symbols, just past battery hen houses on the right.

Where the road swings left carry straight on over rough ground to the remnants of a stile in the right hand corner.

Go along a series of boardwalks and through a kissing gate to continue with Highfield Wood on the right.

Go through a couple more gates then head for a third to the left of a white gas tank. The path goes left then right to skirt some derelict farm buildings and continues with the fence on the left.

After going through the next gate go diagonally left to reach a lane.

5. 3.8 miles/6km

Turn right. At the junction with Elbow Lane turn right at a finger post down Ermine Street (you have now left the butterflies).

Keep ahead over one crosstrack and ignore all minor side tracks to cross a bridge at the bottom of the descent.

Go right over a second bridge and pick up the butterfly symbols again. Continue with Spital Brook on the right, cross a bridge and join a fence on the left.

The fence veers off and you rejoin the stream and then follow an extensive section of boardwalk which delivers you to a kissing gate and an information board.

6. 4.2 miles/6.9km

Turn left on a bridleway which develops into a drive and is lined by tree stumps. Just before a further information board about Broxbourne Common, turn right.

Soon fork right with a butterfly and notice that your guidance is enhanced by occasional arrows on trees.

Go through a gate then left along a path through conifers. Keep forward over crosstracks, eventually joining another path coming in from the right.

Go through a gate and forward with a fence on the right and then across a footbridge on the right to walk uphill and go left at the first waymarker.

The path zig zags through the trees before settling into a straight line. Soon you will see two sets of butterfly waymarkers; here turn left, almost back on yourself.

Go through a gap then slightly right down to a bridge and on up over a field (you should recognise your outward route) to go through three gates to the road.

Turn right, joining the parallel path at the bollards to return to the car park.

Walkers' Notebook

Starting Point/Parking: There are many car parks dotted around the woods, ours is labelled Broxbourne Woods East and is off Pembridge Lane (reached from the A1170) where it turns sharply south

Distance: 5.9 miles/9.4km

Time: 4 hours

Terrain: very varied; ranging from high class surfaces to boggy ground. Well signposted

Suitability for Dogs: Good

Stiles: 4

Near: Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire

Refreshments: The Farmer's Boy pub, Brickenden

Public Toilets: none

Public Transport: none really but Bayford station is 1 miles away

Map and Grid Reference: Explorer 174 328069

More Information: The Woodland Trust is the UK's leading conservation charity dedicated to the protection of Britain's native woodland heritage. You can make contact by telephoning 01476 581135.

The Trust has worked with Hertfordshire Countryside Management Service to produce a superb series of leaflets on the Broxbourne woods; this walk is based on one of them. To obtain copies of the free leaflets, contact 01462 459395 If you would like to support the work of the Ramblers Association you can join a number of local groups. All also offer a regular programme of walks with leaders which you can obtain free of charge.

West Essex Group operates four walks of varying distances every week (020 8529 6265).

The Redbridge Group has fewer but more adventurous walks, it also coordinates car lifts to the starting points (01708 456 771). The Lea Valley Friends group specialise in shorter walks of 3 to 4 miles (020 8529 7328).

Len Banister has written Drive and Stroll in Essex which contains 20 circular walks and contributed to Pub Walks for Motorists: Essex, Suffolk & Norfolk - both are published by Countryside Books.

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