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St Mary's Church

WildlifeBirdsDogs
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome

Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
  • 🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
  • 🅿️Parking 297m away — 4 car parks within reach

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome
Parking

Best for

7 activities

Wildlife

Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Robin, Great Tit, Blue Tit +78 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Robin, Great Tit, Blue Tit +78 more · last seen 2025

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed with public access

Free

Seasonal nature

Plants — Bramble, Common Nettle, Hogweed +8 more · last seen 2025; Plants — Bramble, Common Nettle, Hogweed +8 more · last seen 2025

Free

Hiking

Named hiking route nearby: Hertfordshire Way

Free

Foraging

Plants — Bramble, Common Nettle, Hogweed +1 more foraging species

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

11 signed routes nearby · 12 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Red TrailWalking route
Named routeRound tripLocal walking route
Hertfordshire WayWalking route267 km

Long distance path

Named routeLength 267 kmRegional walking route
Hertfordshire Chain WalkWalking route

Not waymarked

Named routeRegional 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
Broxbourne Woods NNR TrailWalking route17.5 km
Named routeLength 17.5 kmRound tripRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

99 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
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
NCN12 proposed reroutingCycling route
Named routeRef 12National Cycle Network
Ayot GreenwayCycling route
Named route
🐴

Horse riding

2 public paths nearby

Public paths

No named routes yet. Public paths are shown on the map.

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Church of St Mary the Virgin, Essendon

Church of St Mary the Virgin, Essendon

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