[1] From the Chells Park car park face towards Gresley Way, then follow alongside the wooden fence right to a pedestrian bridge that crosses Gresley Way. Cross the bridge and continue along path until it meets a tarmac lane. Follow the lane left to a T junction. (Take care here due to traffic). Turn right into Long Lane and continue until you reach Holders Lane on left just before the Crown Pub. Walk up Holders lane approximately 90 metres until you reach a house on left (Diamond Cottage).
[2] Opposite the house look for a footpath sign and stile next to a parking area. Cross the stile and continue across the field to a gate on the opposite side of the field. Follow the path as it leads through woods and upon exiting the wood, continue on to a further way marker. Continue ahead to a field and head downhill, aiming towards the central overhead power cable pole. Soon a gate comes into view. Go through the gate, down some steps and then follow the path that crosses the field until the path splits into two directions halfway down the slope.
[3] Follow the path that heads right to a way marked post then continue to a way marked metal gate and go through. Follow the way marker towards a wooden bridge over a frequently dry ditch with several way marks. Follow the right path towards a gate and another wooden foot bridge that crosses the River Beane alongside a ford. Buildings are also visible behind some trees. Go through the gate and cross the foot bridge, then follow lane uphill to Benington Road.
[4] Follow the road (Take care due to traffic) to right approximately 50 metres, then bear left into a lane. Follow the lane past Walkern Lodge until it meets a road.
This lane offers several viewpoints looking towards Stevenage, Aston and Walkern.
At the road turn right and follow the road (Take care, traffic) until Walkern Hall and Farm come into view. Continue until you reach a bridleway & circular walk way marker pointing right immediately before Walkern Hall.
(A) Walkern Hall was an 18th / 19th century country house set in the medieval hunting park of Walkern Manor.
[5] Follow the bridleway that crosses in front of Walkern Hall. Eventually the track surface changes to concrete. Continue through an avenue of trees until a road is reached. Turn left to follow Walkern Road into Benington village (Take care, traffic). Continue through the village until you reach Benington Village Parish Hall on right hand side of road.
At Benington Village Hall the route turns back towards Stevenage but if time permits follow the road onwards a short distance to explore the village green, duck pond, church, Benington Lordship and other attractions. See the Notes section for relevant website details.
[6] Look for a way marked footpath sign at the Village Hall. Go through the gate, then keep to left of the field towards a gate between some trees (heading 294 degrees). Go through another gate, then cross another field aiming for opposite field corner (still heading in roughly the same direction) and cross a wooden bridge. Cross the next field keeping towards the right field boundary, then continue through a gate to join a track towards the buildings of Lordship Farm.
[7] Continue past the buildings to a building with tanks, hopper and long vertical ladder. When level with the ladder, take the path to the left leading to the next way point (heading 270 degrees). Continue a short distance (roughly 27 metres) and a gate and way marker is reached. Follow the path as it follows the edge of the woods. On reaching the corner of the field, follow the path downhill through the woods. Continue downhill to reach Walkern Road. Cross the road and continue to a wooden bridge crossing the River Beane.
(B) The River Beane is one of Hertfordshire's chalk rivers and was a noted trout stream in the 1800's, supporting a variety of plants and wildlife. Today it suffers from over abstraction of water and can often be dry for long periods.
[9] Cross the bridge then take the centre path, which follows the line of a hedge and overhead power cables uphill (heading 281 degrees). At the brow of the hill Lords Farm comes into view. Continue ahead until a way marked path veers to the left through a livestock field. Cross the field, following the direction of the overhead power cables to a gate to rejoin Long Lane.
[9] Turn right (Take care, traffic) and follow Long Lane past the pub, retracing the route to the start point. When you reach a lane off to the left, follow it (approximately 100 metres) until you come to a path on right. Turn right and follow path and continue to the pedestrian bridge and the start of walk.