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Sustainable travel in Essex, Beds and Herts

the image shows a lone cyclist riding amongst the buttercups on Takeley Hill
Explore the Forest on a bike | © National Trust Images / Britainonview Rod Edwards

Whether you’re looking to travel by train, bus, bike or foot. Plan your day out in Essex, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire using greener travel options.

Travel by bus

  • Ashridge Estate - Buses stop close to the end of Monument Drive. The 378 bus stops in Aldbury village, which is a ½ mile uphill walk and also in Tring, which is a 1¾ mile walk.
  • Bourne Mill - Bus Numbers 65, 71, 81a, 66/66a go from Colchester Bus Station to Old Heath.
  • Danbury Common - For Danbury Common take First 36, Chelmsford Bus Station - South Woodham. For Danbury village and Blake's Wood take First 31, Chelmsford Bus Station - Maldon. Blake's Wood can be reached via a short walk along Rifhams Lane.
  • Dunstable Downs - There is a 'Circular' bus service (number 40) from Dunstable Asda to Dunstable Square stopping at Dunstable Downs. There is no service on Sundays or Bank Holidays. Please check bus services with Centrebus before travelling.
  • Hatfield Forest - The closest bus stop is The Green Man, Takeley Street, on the northern border of Hatfield Forest. This can be reached by Arriva bus service 508 which runs from Harlow, via Bishops Stortford to Stansted Airport bus station. The walk through the Forest is approximately 1.5 miles to the main visitor facilities. The bus stop at the Four Ashes, Takeley, is served by a wider range of buses. The Forest can then be reached by walking along the Flitch Way (about 1 mile).
  • Paycocke’s & Grange Barn - There are buses to Coggeshall from Colchester and Braintree (passing Marks Tey train station).
  • Whipsnade Tree Cathedral - There are regular X31 services from Luton and Dunstable to Whipsnade village

Nearby railway stations

Don’t forget to plan your onward journey from the train station.

  • Ashridge Estate - The nearest train station is Tring (1¾ miles). From the station you can take a taxi or walk to the Estate on a footpath that parallels the Aldbury road.
  • Bourne Mill - There are three railway stations nearby, Colchester (1.84 miles), Colchester Town (0.73 miles) or Hythe (0.88 miles). The 66 bus runs from Colchester Station to Old Heath.
  • Dunstable Downs - The nearest station is Luton (7 miles).
  • Hatfield Forest - The nearest railway stations are Bishops Stortford (5 miles) and Stansted Airport station (3 miles). From there, take a bus, Arriva service 508, to The Green Man, Takeley Street.
  • Paycockes & Grange Barn - the nearest station is Kelvedon (2½ miles).
  • Sharpenhoe - The nearest station is Harlington (2.3 miles). Thameslink runs regular services between London and Bedford.
  • Shaw’s Corner - the nearest stations are Welwyn North (4½ miles), Welwyn Garden City (6 miles) and Harpenden (5 miles).

Cycle routes nearby

The National Cycle Network (NCN) is a UK-wide network of signed paths and routes, ideal if you’re looking to reach places by bike.

  • Ashridge Estate - is close to the Chilterns Cycle Route.
  • Danbury - NCN1 between Harlow and Maldon, via Chelmsford passes by the edge of Blake's Wood and Danbury and Lingwood Commons.
  • Hatfield Forest - NCN16 The Flitch Way (is a disused railway track which is now a country park that runs from Braintree to Start Hill (near Bishop's Stortford). There are two entrances to Hatfield Forest off the Flitch Way.
  • Shaw’s Corner - NCN12 is 1 mile away. The Chilterns Cycleway also passes close by.

Arrive on foot

  • Hatfield Forest - The Flitch Way runs along the northern border of Hatfield Forest. Three Forests Way and Forest Way are permissive paths that also pass through Hatfield Forest.
  • Paycockes & Grange Barn - are close to the Essex Way.
  • Sharpenhoe - can be reached via the Icknield Way.