Hertfordshire can be explored in many different ways: its network of walking and riding routes includes public rights of way, old railway lines, canal-side paths and car-free routes through lively town centres. This variety is especially evident on the Ashridge Estate, where walks, a cycling route and seasonal wildlife watching each offer a distinct experience.
Trails and seasons on the Ashridge Estate
Four signposted walking trails lead through the Ashridge Estate. The options range from a one-mile family walk to an eight-mile hike, offering both a shorter route and a considerably longer outing. For cycling, there is a four-mile family-friendly route through woodland and common land. The Chilterns Cycleway offers another perspective on the estate, passing the visitor centre, shop and café.
The landscape is equally varied: Ashridge in the Chiltern Hills features ancient trees, gently rolling chalk hillsides, lush meadows, beech and oak woods, and common land. In spring, you can see carpets of bluebells; in summer, rare butterflies; and in autumn, fallow deer rutting. Seasonal wildlife sightings vary and are not guaranteed. The changing seasons therefore shape which natural details stand out most during a visit.
Collections, studios and architectural history
The Natural History Museum at Tring centres on Lionel Walter Rothschild’s private collection, which includes specimens from around the world. The museum offers free self-guided tours for adults supervising small groups of children. This lets visitors explore the collection independently rather than as part of a guided group tour.
Henry Moore Studios & Gardens welcomes visitors to the artist’s former home, his studios and the sculpture gardens in rural Hertfordshire. The studios were used for a wide range of stages of work: making small models, enlarging plaster models, carving, drawing and printing. These activities offer a concrete insight into the range of work carried out in the studios.
The nave of St Albans Cathedral measures 85 metres and is the longest in England; the cathedral also has well-preserved medieval wall paintings. Hatfield House, meanwhile, was Elizabeth I’s childhood home and served as a filming location for Bridgerton, Enola Holmes and The Favourite. The two places offer different historical connections, from architecture and its features to a queen’s childhood and film history.
Paper, water and birdlife
Frogmore Papermill is the world’s oldest mechanised paper mill and is considered the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution in papermaking. It offers tours, handmade paper and boat trips to the public. Here, the history of papermaking goes hand in hand with practical insights into the subject.
Lee Valley White Water Centre in Waltham Cross offers rafting, canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and hydrospeeding. Opening hours vary throughout the year. River Lee Country Park has a wide range of routes for exploring the park. Wetland and woodland habitats offer the chance to spot kingfishers, water rails, bitterns and nightingales; sightings are seasonal and not guaranteed. A bird hide with a discovery room and a tower provide wide-ranging views across Seventy Acres Lake.
Tring Reservoirs are also a nature destination in their own right: they comprise four separate reservoirs and are protected for their rich and varied wildlife. Alongside the habitats of River Lee Country Park, these individual bodies of water and their protection are a focus.
Regional markets
Hertfordshire farmers’ markets offer seasonal fruit and vegetables, as well as locally reared meat and eggs. Tring Farmers’ Market adds locally produced food and drink, along with refreshment stalls. Market dates can vary, so it is advisable to check the schedule before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Welwyn Garden City, Watford, Tring, Stevenage, Sawbridgeworth, Saint Albans, Royston, Rickmansworth, Redbourn, Radlett, Potters Bar, Meriden, Markyate, Little Berkhampstead, Letchworth, Knebworth, Kings Langley, Hitchin, Hertingfordbury, Hertford, Hemel Hempstead, Hatfield, Harpenden, Hailey, Elstree, Codicote, Broxbourne, Boxmoor, Borehamwood, Bishops Stortford, Berkhamsted, Baldock, Wadesmill, Datchworth, Ware, Hoddesdon, Waltham Cross, Hexton, Wigginton, Standon, Ardeley, London Colney, Tewin, Benington, Buntingford, Bayford, Little Gaddesden.
For the regional travel overview: East of England.
