Discover Standon: Walking Routes, Village History and the River Rib Valley

Standon combines historic sites with a variety of opportunities for walks and hikes. More than 29 miles of footpaths and bridleways run through the parish, giving walkers and horse riders access to the entire area. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday cottage, the main consideration is therefore how you plan to spend your days: you can combine short walks through the village with longer routes through the countryside and use your accommodation as a base for a range of different experiences.

Walking routes for different day plans

The historic walk through Standon High Street is about one mile long. It is suitable as a short walk through the village if you would like to combine history and exercise. A longer option is the Latchford Walk. It starts at Standon church and is 3½ miles long. This gives you routes with a clearly stated longer distance in addition to the historic walk.

The “Standon and the River Rib Valley Walk” is a 3.8-mile circular route south of the village of Standon through the River Rib valley. The route offers wide views across the River Rib Valley. If your group has different preferences, these routes can be treated as different ideas for a day out: a short walk along the High Street, a route starting at the church or a circuit with valley views. The stated distances help you take the desired length into account when planning your trip.

Churchyard, wildflowers and history

St Mary's in Standon is open during daylight hours seven days a week. The churchyard features a rich variety of native wildflowers. A walk leads through the churchyard of St Mary's in Standon and offers views in every season. This makes it one of the places that can be enjoyed as part of a stay at any time of year, rather than only in a single season. Anyone interested in churches, village history and plants can deliberately include this area in their day plan.

Standon Lordship also gives the village a historical dimension. The building was constructed for Sir Ralph Sadleir between 1540 and 1546. Queen Elizabeth spent three days at Standon Lordship in 1561.

Choosing Standon as a holiday destination

Standon has several pubs, village shops and a bakery for breaks and refreshments. This adds simple options for taking a break in the village to your day planning. When looking for accommodation, you can therefore first consider whether your trip should focus more on short walks around the village, longer hikes, countryside views or historical discoveries.

Other places for planning your trip

For further orientation, you can also explore Sawbridgeworth, Buntingford, Welwyn Garden City, Letchworth, Ware, Bayford, Ardeley and Stevenage.

For the main travel overview: Hertfordshire.