Hertfordshire Village Walks (Part 3): Wheathampstead to Bishop's Hatfield

This walk covered 18 miles in total and took us from the Hertfordshire village of Wheathampstead to Nomansland Common, where the notorious female highway robber, Katherine Ferrers staged her last robbery. Then across country to the Old Town of Hatfield (Bishop's Hatfield). Here we visit an historic pub noted by Charles Dickens and then view a spectacular monument in the local church before visiting the grounds of Hatfield House and Palace, where Elizabeth 1st lived prior to acceding to the throne. Then we visit an unusual location where an epic film was made. Then we head back to Wheathampstead, visiting another two historic and noteworthy pubs on the way.
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[@davidmorgan984]

Magnificent 8 hours walk covering 18 miles between Wheathapmstead to Bishop's Hatfield. St. Etheldreda's Church, so important due to mom,s funeral 40 year ago. Hatfield House, Cecil family, park, Crooked Chimney, John Bunyan, and obviously big green grasslands, everything is magnificent. So beautiful video once again. Live long England, my beautiful Christian country.

[@arcadia449]

Thank you, Dave.

[@marywolpert4854]

I grew up in Wheathampstead, first at Gustard Wood, then after the war, my family named Ashby, moved into a new house on Caesar's Rd. just across from the Devil's Dyke. I was a bell ringer in St. Helen's church. I use to cycle along Marford Road to Hatfield, past the DeHavilland aircraft factory, where I worked in the public library, at that time housed in a local church. Later I moved to the US but whenever I visit England I have to visit Wheathampstead. I just loved this walk. Thank you.

[@arcadia449]

Fascinating! I lived near the DeHavilland works in the early 1980's. I know the places you talk of.

[@hell0hkitty]

eighteen miles of walking! what stamina. good for you. what a beautiful view into england's most beautiful and historical places. i could immerse myself in the history! thank you!

[@arcadia449]

We were amazed at how far we'd walked when Sylvie checked her 'FitBit' device afterwards. And it was a very warm, muggy, day too?

[@dianeknott3655]

Wow! That's a lot of miles! Awesome! I enjoyed your walk from a sitting position in my studio! LOL! Keep up the good work. Very informative narrative too. Thank you!

[@4000ChacoRoad]

Thank you for showing the tomb of Sir Robert Cecil and his Hatfield House grounds and exterior in such detail. He was a great 11x uncle of mine and I've not been able to make it to Hatfield yet.

[@arcadia449]

Extraordinary family history you have? It's well worth a visit.

[@martinaaron609]

If you go back 20 generations, everyone in the UK has a common ancestor, so going back 12 generations means more than 33 million people (in the UK alone!) will also be related to Sir Robert Cecil.

[@claireseyeviewonredbubble]

Down Dyke Lane to where it meets Marford Rd. across to where The Nelson pub once stood, down Sheepcote Lane, past Marford farm, over the ford across the river Lea, there is a gate on the right. Decades ago before the Cory Wright Way there were five caravans along a driveway through that gate, each with their own front and back gardens backing onto the river. I grew up in the furthest one, there for 16 yrs until the bypass and we got housed. My sister and I helped fetch the cows in from the fields over the ford to Marford farm for milking. It's private land, and the caravans have long gone.

[@arcadia449]

I remember the Nelson Pub.

[@PsychicIsaacs]

Thank you for posting this.

[@arcadia449]

Thought of you when I shot those scenes on Nomansland Common, Guineith.

[@PsychicIsaacs]

@@arcadia449 I'd love to go to the Nomansland one day and just walk around for a bit. Maybe when all this craziness is over, I'll get my passport, save my pennies and do a tour. What I know is that when I first saw your films of the various Hertfordshire trails, it brought back so many memories of my life before...

[@PsychicIsaacs]

And BTW, for anyone out there who is wondering what this comment is about, I have had past life memories of being Lady Katherine for many years, although I only found out who she was in 2018. I shared some of the details about these memories with David and by happenstance, he was able to verify some of them.

[@arcadia449]

@@PsychicIsaacs If you ever get to come over, Guineith, we'll meet up.

[@PsychicIsaacs]

@@arcadia449 I'd like that. I would even like to do a short film or documentary of my visit, and perhaps go on a few hikes.

[@robnewman6101]

Wow.

[@spencehh]

Blimey…I live around here 😃

[@arcadia449]

I used to many years ago.

[@juliedouglas2888]

6 miles to the east of St Albans..........................