Hitchin

Hitchin is the place from which to explore the north-eastern extremities of the Chiltern Hills as they merge into the flatter landscapes of Bedfordshire. But don’t leave too quickly! With its medieval layout, historic buildings and traditional cobbled streets, the town is something of a gem. There’s lots of opportunities for shopping and Hitchin Market is one of the largest outdoor markets in the region, with regular antique, craft and farmers’ markets being held.

If shopping’s not your thing, there is still plenty to see and do. In the centre of the town, on the banks of the River Hiz, St Mary’s Church is a focal point for visitors. Built with money from the wool trade, this is largest church in Hertfordshire, second only to the cathedral at St Albans.

Young visitors might like to look for the ‘Thompson Mouse’ on the altar rail. A hallmark of the famous wood carver, Robert ‘Mousey’ Thompson, it also appears in Westminster Abbey and York Minster.

The British Schools Museum can be found in a series of old school buildings in the centre. Furnished classrooms follow the story of education from 1810 to the late 1960s and provide fascinating insights into school life, from how children learned to write, to how one master taught 300 children in the large schoolroom. Children can dress up in Victorian costume and adults can try some long-forgotten skills, such as writing with a spluttering, dip-in pen and ink.

Pegsdon Hills and Hoo Bit nature reserve, Barton Hills National Nature Reserve and Sharpenhoe are gems of the Northern Chilterns. Swathed in wildflowers in spring and summer, they offer stunning viewpoints over the rolling hills. Mainly chalk grassland sites, with some woodlands of beech and ash-maple, grazing encourages the wildflowers, including the rare pasque flower, which is in bloom between April and early June. Chalkhill blue, marbled white and grizzled skipper butterflies also thrive on the open slopes. At Sharpenhoe, delve into history and discover iron age hillforts and medieval rabbit warrens, known as ‘Clappers’. Find out more about Sharpenhoe Clappers on this blog.

If you fancy taking in a pub as you walk through the wilds, both the long and short routes of the Three Springs Walk begin and end at The Red Lion in the village of Offley. These trails explore tranquil landscapes of ancient hedges, sunken lanes and small woodlands. The Chalk Hills Walk in Lilley gives the choice of a 2- or 5-mile walk, starting and finishing at the Lilley Arms, a 300-year-old former coaching inn.