🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
☀️Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay
🛝Playground 199m away — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site
🌤️ Visiting this summer
🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
☀️Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay
🛝Playground 199m away — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site
Good to know
£Free to visit — no entry charge
🐕Dogs welcome
🅿️Parking🛝Playground
Best for
9 activities
🦅
Bird watching
Strong match
Nature reserve
Free
🦉
Wildlife
Strong match
Nature reserve
Free
🎠
Playgrounds
Strong match
playground, parking
Free
🛝
Family friendly
Strong match
playground
Free
🐶
Dog walks
Strong match
Dogs allowed — nature reserve
Free
🌲
Forest walks
Strong match
Nature reserve
Free
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km
🚶
Walking
▾
12 signed routes nearby · 27 public paths nearby
Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Old Railway & River LeaWalking route7.9 km▾
After a brief visit to the remains of Wheathampstead railway station, the walk follows the Ayot Greenway (route of the Permanent Way) to Ayot Green. The return journey follows the course of the River Lea.
Named routeLength 7.9 kmRound tripLocal walking route
Lea Valley WalkWalking route▾
Named routePoint-to-pointRegional walking route
Hertfordshire WayWalking route267 km▾
Long distance path
Named routeLength 267 kmRegional walking route
WGC100 Centenary WalkWalking route20.2 km▾
Created for Welwyn Garden City's 100th anniversary, a circular walk around the whole town
Named routeLength 20.2 kmRound tripLocal walking route
Named routeLength 4 kmRound tripLocal walking route
Primrose Closepublic footpath · 93 m▾
Public pathpublic footpathLength 93 mPath type: footway
Link Walkpublic footpath · 66 m▾
Public pathpublic footpathLength 66 mSurface asphaltPath type: footway
Link Walkpublic footpath · 88 m▾
Public pathpublic footpathLength 88 mSurface asphaltPath type: footway
🚴
Cycling
▾
96 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
NCN12 proposed reroutingCycling route▾
Named routeRef 12National Cycle Network
Route 12Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 12National Cycle Network
Route 61Cycling route34 km▾
Route 61 travels from Maidenhead to Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City and Hertford before arriving near Hoddesdon.
Named routeRef 61Length 34 kmNational Cycle Network
NCN National Route 57Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 57National Cycle Network
NCN 12 delistedCycling route▾
Named routeRef 12National Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route52 m▾
Named routeRef 12Length 52 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
About this nature reserve
Howe Dell is a 4-hectare Local Nature Reserve located in Welwyn Hatfield, Eastern England. This habitat includes meadows and woodlands, supporting biodiversity such as wildflowers, insects, and small mammals.
