Essex, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire

To protect Hatfield Forest and allow the ground to recover from a busy summer season, during the wetter months of winter, parking is limited to hard-standing areas. Pre-booking is essential for members and non-members at weekends and peaks times (school holidays).

A delightful piece of late Elizabethan playfulness, built for banquets and converted into a mill in the 19th century. Set in tranquil grounds, still with its own working waterwheel, it's the perfect place to start your exploration of the Essex countryside.

A stunning Tudor merchant’s house whose wall have more than a few stories to tell. Built around 1500 for Thomas Paycocke, with stunning woodcarving and elaborate panelling the house is a grand example of the wealth generated in East Anglia by the cloth trade in the 16th century. Paycocke’s is now closed for the winter.

Book your visit to Shaw’s Corner and explore the peaceful, rural home and garden of playwright George Bernard Shaw. Enjoy a guided experience of the arts and crafts inspired house with its fascinating collection and hear the stories of its famous visitors. Wander through the garden as the autumn colour starts to appear, see the writing hut and pick your own apples from the orchard.

Feel like you are walking in the clouds this winter with a morning walk along Dunstable Downs. As the morning mist lifts, a stunning view across five counties is revealed. Grab a hot drink to bring with you on your walk or sit back and relax in the café as you take in the wintry views. Why not indulge in a spot of retail therapy in the gift shop?

Step into the quiet of the ancient woodlands at Ashridge Estate and bathe in the light of the golden autumn hues. Meander along Capability Brown’s Golden Valley this autumn and admire the array of yellows, reds and gold. Ashridge Estate has more than 2000 acres of woodland with five waymarked walks to choose from guiding you through the autumn colours.

Why not enjoy a walk with the family at either Dunstable Downs, Ashridge Estate or Hatfield Forest? We've even got our new Percy the Park Keeper winter wander to get involved with this year.

If you're after a short stroll or a long ramble, here are some walks you might like to try in Essex, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Whether you enjoy woodland walks or wide open spaces where you can enjoy the view, we'd recommend pulling on those walking boots and trying this series of walks that bring new interest with the changing seasons.