HISTORY tells us that King Oa of The village of Arlesey lies south of Still an important ‘’ to created a religious settlement near the in the A507 and to the east of the Eastcoast Mainline. many of the surrounding villages. The old Corn Hitchin. This was the land occupied by the Hicca tribe Three footpaths connect the village to the Hicca Way. Exchange (now a bar) overlooking Market Place was a ‘the people of the horse’. When Danish invaders settled Do look at the medieval river bridge opposite the hub for the grain trade in the 19th & early 20th on the con uences of the Rivers Hiz and Ivel at station as well as St Peters church dating back to 1180. Centuries. A thriving outdoor market is held nearby on Etonbury in Arlesey, the Hicca were forced to pay a There are a couple of pubs nearby. The footpath Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Several of regular ‘Danegeld’ tax to save their land from attack. around Bridge Lakes is the furthest point Hitchin’s historic buildings can be found in Market In this instance the tax is thought to have been bread north on the Hiz which can be publicly accessed, Place, Sun Street, Bucklersbury, and Tilehouse Street. rather than silver. before it joins the . It is here that the Hicca Way meets the Kingsher Way, a The River Hiz enters the town through the private We can imagine these Saxons walk along the River Ivel grounds of The Priory, passing following the river valley from its source at under Bridge Street. as they carried their to its meeting with the Through the centre the payment into Viking at river has rather been territory. . swallowed up as the busy town has The Hicca Way The Glebe Meadows expanded. However reminds us of this and The Old Moat are an ornamental section piece of forgotten Wildlife Trust Nature of river with a fountain history. Whilst Reserves, oering a rich can be seen behind St Etonbury has long since variety of habitat. There Mary’s Church. The Hiz been abandoned, Hitchin is permitted open access in re-emerges north of grew and thrived as an the Mill Pits - but following Hermitage Road, passing important town in the region. the river bank is recommended. From Bancroft Gardens and Ransoms Recreation Ground. Arlesey Common, our route leaves the river for a while, NATURE The River Hiz is a high quality chalk crossing arable elds of New Ramerwick Farm, passing bed stream. Like many, it has suered in the past from between the old farm buildings. excessive water extraction at its source causing the CHARLTON Home to around 50 people, this springs to dry up, but recent eorts have been made to A delightful village, and well tiny village has some interesting history and features – limit this impact. The surrounding area is also classed worth the short detour to visit the 12th Century the best known of which is its riverside pub The as nitrate sensitive and managed to ensure water church, old school buildings dating back to 1848 and Windmill. The pub sits near the site of a former runo from the elds does not contaminate the river. perhaps have lunch at one of the traditional old pubs. windmill (destroyed in a storm in 1895). An Ale-house During the summer months, why not take time out since the 1850s, many old photos are displayed on the Many sections of the original river remain in good from your walk to visit Cadwell Farm, home of the pub walls. condition, supporting a diversity of water plants, renowned Hitchin Lavender? including Yellow Flag Iris, and Watercress which used to Opposite the pub is Charlton House with its blue be grown commercially at Ickleford. Willow trees are Both Ickleford and Whitsun Commons are still grazed plaque commemorating the birth place of Sir Henry common along the bank, with a by cattle and sheep, but are also Bessemer (1813 – 1898) who ne example of pollarded managed by the Common developed a process for the willows at Glebe Meadows, Holders who retain their inexpensive Arlesey. traditional grazing rights mass-production of steel. for the benet of wildlife. There was also once a If you are lucky, you may In the village, we cross watermill in the spot a Kingsher, Water the famous east-west village, recorded in the Vole or even an Otter. In walk. , and the riverside meadows a Nearby, Gerry’s Hole is you will pass the now rich variety of wild now a conservation area, derelict site of the Mill owers can be found managed by the owner and the surviving Mill including Cowslip, Black and volunteers as one of the Pond as you carry on to the Knapweed and Marsh most important ponds in the spring source. Valerian. area, for a variety of amphibians.

WALKING THE HICCA WAY TRANSPORT

The route has been designed so it can be walked in 2 BY CAR: At Arlesey, a new commuter car park should (or more) sections. The linear section from Hitchin to be available west of Glebe Meadows from 2013. Arlesey (8 miles) allows for the return trip to be made Hitchin has a number of pay car parks – check on-line by train (or other public transport). From Hitchin out (e.g. en.parkopedia.co.uk) for details. A small car park in to the river source at Charlton, the partial loop adds Nightingale Rd allows 3hrs free. Parking is very limited interest, and a chance to see more of both town and in Charlton – take care not to cause an obstruction. country. BY TRAIN: Generally twice an hour through the day For the most part, the route is clearly marked with the between Hitchin and Arlesey – see special Hicca Way discs, alongside standard footpath www.nationalrail.co.uk or call 08457 484950. markers. The arrow points in the direction to follow. BY BUS: See www.travelinesoutheast.org.uk or call Through Hitchin itself, you will be following mostly 0871 2002233. There are no buses to Charlton. roads – an information map is available from “Hitchin Initiative”, 27 Churchyard (N of St Marys). ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Hicca Way has been established and promoted by EATING OUT Arlesey Conservation for Nature (ACORN) in ARLESEY partnership with representatives from Ickleford Parish The Old Oak PH. Council and Friends of Charlton Village. Supported by (A café is planned for Henlow Bridge Lakes in 2013.) Beds Rural Communities Charity (BRCC), Countryside Management Service (CMS), Central Beds Council, ICKLEFORD Herts County Council, and North Herts District Council. Plume of Feathers PH | The Old George PH Footpath improvement work undertaken by BRCC Ickleford Stores (snacks / drinks) (IVCV) and CMS. Lea et nal artwork by BRCC. HITCHIN Main funding for lea et design, signs and Numerous around town centre improvement work has come from Section 106 CHARLTON agreements secured by BRCC, Central Beds Council The Windmill PH and Herts County Council. Contributions and assistance from the following are DOG WALKERS gratefully acknowledged: ACORN, Arlesey Town Keep dogs under close control at all times. Use a lead Council, Ickleford Parish Council, Friends of Charlton where livestock are grazing (including the Commons), Village, The Windmill (Charlton), The Old Oak (Arlesey), through crop elds and nature reserves. Always clean Jenkins & Potter, private landowners and the Wildlife up after your dog, as a courtesy to other walkers and Trust (BCN). the landowners.

Arlesey | Ickleford | Hitchin | Charlton Arlesey | Ickleford | Hitchin | Charlton

“Follow hedgeline “Small at top of Common” bridge over stream” Site of “Keep to Etonbury From bottom of map #1 From bottom of map #2 footpath Fort around private Ickleford fishing lakes / Common Henlow Ransoms camping site” Bridge Lakes Arlesey Rec Station Grove Rd “Link to Option: A507 Station” Follow waymarking for King sher Way walk along River Ivel “Hedge with A507 Parking footbridge HITCHIN Hitchin from separates Station 2013 Vicars Inn PH Commons” Old Oak Glebe Meadows Rd PH Church Lane Nature Reserve St. Peters “Follow riverside path Church Whitsun Whinbush Rd through Bancroft Common Gardens and behind Old Moat Bancroft supermarket” Nature Ickelford Gardens Equestrian Bancroft Reserve Centre Arlesey Rd “Keep this side of ornamental section” Queen St Sainsburys Hermitage Portmill LOWER GREEN St. Mary’s ARLESEY Church

Cricketers Hitchin Lavender “Between Old Moat PH (Cadwell Farm) Market NR and the Mill Pits Place “Current market site” keep to the fenced “Take care Sun St Permissive path” ICKLEFORD Arlesey Rd crossing road at bridge” Ickleford School Bridge St British Schools Tilehouse Museum Mill Plume of Pits Feathers PH “Open grass St. Katharines fields” Church The Priory Park St Icknield Way Gerry’s “Subway” Hole “Path through Park Way Cricket Bat willow A602 Old George plantation, once railway & Green “Cross at Man PH flyover complete (see Notes)” footbridge”

“Path cuts across arable “Hard surfaced field” section of path Charlton Rd between river and tree nursery” Windmill PH Brick Kiln Lane “Follow path across Arlesey fields and round Common CHARLTON pumping station”

Cadwell Lane “Path splits “Cut across south of old Mill Pond” The Mead Playing “The spring is in Field” a tree-lined dip “Cross Arlesey Common in the ground, Maydencroft Lane via raised footbridge visible from the “Cross through over river” path above” hedge at small “Alternative route wooden bridge” by road until railway flyover complete Wellhead (see Notes)” (source of the Hiz)

“Path cuts “Cut through across arable Ransoms Rec field” for Station” NOTES ON ROUTE

To top of map #3 The section of footpath from Ransoms Ickleford (Gerry’s Hole) down Rec to Hitchin (Cadwell Lane) will “Two small HITCHIN be closed until 2014/15, due to bridges cross construction of a railway streams here” embankment. Until then, follow the Nightingale Rd alternative (dotted) route by road as shown. Alternative links to Hitchin Station are shown, depending on which direction you are approaching from.

“Path cuts Walsworth Rd Hitchin Take care to follow the established path where it cuts across across arable Station the arable elds north of New Ramerwick Farm. field”

“White tipped fingerpost at farm” WC “Look for WC doorway in New Ramerwick hedge line” Farm To top of map #2

“Good grass farm track” “Permissive 0 Approximate scale 500m path to Ickleford Common” © Crown Copyright and database right 2012 | Ordnance Survey 100049029 | Central Council Design: BRCC Services Ltd. | www.bedsrcc.org.uk | All images Copyright © 2012 Roger Watson © 2012 Roger images Copyright | All Services | www.bedsrcc.org.uk BRCC Design: Ltd.