Hertfordshire – Chiltern Hills, Culture and Nature

At Ashridge Estate, the four signposted walking routes range from a one-mile family walk to an eight-mile hike. Hertfordshire combines trails like these with historic sites, museums, waterways and wildlife-watching opportunities.

Nature, Trails and Seasons

Hertfordshire’s network of walking and riding trails includes public rights of way, disused railway lines, canal towpaths and car-free routes through lively town centres. Ashridge Estate also has a four-mile, family-friendly cycle route through woodland and common land. The Chilterns Cycleway passes the visitor centre, shop and café there. The range of short walks, longer hikes and a designated cycle route can be compared when planning according to your preferred day length and type of activity.

Ashridge Estate in the Chiltern Hills encompasses ancient trees, gently rolling chalk hills, lush meadows, beech and oak woodlands, and common land. In spring, carpets of bluebells appear; in summer, rare butterflies can be seen; and in autumn, fallow deer roar.

Lee Valley Country Park encompasses wetland and woodland habitats where visitors can spot kingfishers, water rails, bitterns and nightingales. A hide with a discovery room and a tower offer wide-ranging views across Seventy Acres Lake. There are numerous different routes for exploring the park. Tring Reservoirs consist of four separate reservoirs and are protected because of their rich and diverse wildlife.

Culture and History

The Natural History Museum at Tring houses Lionel Walter Rothschild’s private collection of specimens from around the world. The museum offers free, self-guided tours intended for adults leading small groups of children.

The Henry Moore Studios & Gardens in rural Hertfordshire welcome visitors to the artist’s former home, studios and sculpture gardens. The studios were used to create small models, enlarge plaster models, carve, draw and print.

Saint Albans Cathedral has England’s longest nave, measuring 85 metres, as well as well-preserved medieval wall paintings. Hatfield House was Elizabeth I’s childhood home and served as a filming location for Bridgerton, Enola Holmes and The Favourite.

Frogmore Papermill is the world’s oldest mechanised paper mill and is considered the birthplace of the industrial paper-making revolution. It is open to the public for tours, handmade paper and boat trips. An annual event gives visitors in Hertfordshire’s towns and villages the opportunity to meet artists and see work in progress.

Water and Wildlife

Lee Valley White Water Centre in Waltham Cross offers rafting, canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and hydrospeeding. A zoo in Hertfordshire offers exclusive feeding experiences with tigers, snow leopards and jaguars before the zoo opens.

Markets and Getting There

Farmers’ markets in Hertfordshire offer seasonal fruit and vegetables, as well as locally reared meat and eggs. Tring Farmers’ Market offers locally produced food and drink, along with refreshment stalls.

Hertfordshire is just 20 minutes from London by train. When choosing a holiday apartment in Hertfordshire, you can compare travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies on the respective offer pages and weigh the information according to your own planning preferences.

Other places in Hertfordshire: 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, Benington, Tewin, Buntingford, Bayford, Little Gaddesden.

To the higher-level travel overview: East of England.