A historic Hertfordshire village where medieval streets, chalk springs, and rolling farmland create a rewarding walking base near the Cambridgeshire border.
Ashwell, in north Hertfordshire, is a characterful village well suited to walking holidays that combine historic streets with gentle countryside routes. Just a short distance from Baldock and Royston, it sits close to the Icknield Way Trail, one of Britain’s oldest long-distance paths. With its medieval buildings, quiet lanes, and open farmland, Ashwell makes a natural stopping point for walkers exploring the Hertfordshire–Cambridgeshire border.
Beyond the village centre, the surrounding landscape lends itself to slower outdoor adventures shaped by chalk downland, arable fields, and spring-fed streams. The Ashwell Springs — source of the River Cam — offer a peaceful place to begin or end a walk, while footpaths link the village with neighbouring places such as Hinxworth, Newnham, and Guilden Morden. Circular routes through meadows and farmland provide variety without straying far from the village.
With a good choice of places to stay — including pubs with rooms, guesthouses, and nearby countryside cottages — Ashwell works well for short walking breaks and longer self-guided trips. The area’s quiet lanes and gently rolling terrain also make it suitable for relaxed cycling holidays, connecting nearby villages and market towns at an easy pace.