Walks

Route and points of interest Leave the shopping centre via car park B (1) and cross Hempstead Valley Drive. On the far side of the drive is Chapel Hill Wood. This is the site of Lidsing Chapel. The chapel was known to be existence in 1450, however it was pulled down in 1883 as it had fallen into disrepair. Continue along the footpath and turn left up Chapel Hill (2). At the end, turn right and continue for about 50 yards (45.7m) up Hempstead Road. Take the public bridleway on the left (3) which leads into South Wood. This wood is a fragment of a much larger wood that once covered much of Hempstead and Wigmore. It contains a number of ancient woodland species, such as early purple orchid, midland hawthorn and primrose. Continue down the path to Capstone Road, turn left (4) and then take the path on the right after about 100 yards (5). Please take care on Capstone Road as it is narrow. This path climbs the hill on the far side of Capstone Valley. At the top, the path follows an old hedge bank between two fields (6). There are good views here. After a while, the path turns right and meets the corner of a belt of trees (7). A small path through the trees brings you out in Capstone Country Park (8).

At this point you have a choice: turn right to carry on with the main walk or turn left to join the first spur loop.

Turning right, the main walk follows the path round to the field classroom building (9). Here you go through a small gate and enter an old cherry orchard beyond. Follow the main track, which skirts the orchard and brings you to a tarmac lane (10). The first spur rejoins here. This lane brings you down past the Ski Centre to Capstone Road (11). Turn right and walk up the road for a few yards before taking the footpath on the left (12). Climb the hill until you reach Pear Tree Lane (13). Turn right along the footpath for 300 yards (274.3m) to Glenwood Close. Turn into Glenwood Close and carry on until you reach a footpath on the right (14). This path goes down between the houses and enters Grove Wood. This is another ancient wood, traditionally managed by coppicing the trees (cutting every 15-20 years). Larger standard trees grow among the coppice. The path brings you to the edge of a field (15). Follow the path down to the valley until you reach a lane (16). Here you have a choice: turn right to continue on the main route or turn left for the second spur.

Turning right, you follow the lane along the bottom of Darland Valley. To the left, the steep chalk down of Darland Banks rises to a wood at the top. On reaching Hempstead Road (17) cross over and continue up the lane where spur two rejoins. This lane turns to the left and winds up through houses and trees. Eventually, it becomes a footpath which runs through the trees. The area to the right used to be farmland until recent development. The footpath emerges on Sharstead Way (18) above the shopping centre.

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