Out & about

Hartham Common Hartham Common is a large recreational area close to the town centre. It is largely enclosed by the Rivers Beane and Lee, with a confluence of the two rivers in the north-eastern corner. It is managed by East Herts District Council. The River Lee runs along the southern edge of Hartham, where you'll find the Hertford Basin and weir. The Basin is home to a number of residential boatowners and is close to the nearby Hertford East station and Tesco. Just across the weir is Herts Canoe Club and just a couple of minutes walk away is Hartham Pool and Leisure Centre, which is owned by the District Council and operated by Everyone Active. The centre has a small car park for visitors. There is also a public car park immediately to the south on the site of the old railway line that used to run along the southern boundary of the common. Next the the leisure centre is a popular fenced children's playground. There is also skate park which is similarly popular with teenagers. National cycle route 61 also runs along the southern edge of Hartham. In the south-western corner is the Hartham car park, which is a pay-and-display car park operated by the district council. This can be accessed either via Port Hill or Cowbridge. The River Beane runs along the western and northern borders of Hartham. To the north you will also find Sele Farm Bowls Club and Hertford Tennis Club as well as well as three public tennis courts. The northern boundary is also notable for The Warren, a densely wooded incline that separates Hartham from Bengeo. Along the bottom is a tarmac path that leads from Port Hill to St.Leonard's Church, Hertford's oldest building. There is also a footpath within The Warren although this starts and finishes short of both ends of the finished path. There is also a trim trail running around the edge of Hartham, with a selection of installed exercise equipment at regular stops along the trail. Football is also regularly played at Hartham with both matches and training taking place at weekends.

Whether you want somewhere for the children to run off energy or a place for quiet reflection, you will find your own special place in Hatfield Forest. Let off some steam Children love nothing more than running around and letting off steam. Here at Hatfield Forest we have plenty of open space for playing and exploring. Why not run across the plains and feel like you're flying in the wind, climb a tree or build a den? You can tick off 33 of the 50 Things to do before you're 11¾ here. Build a secret den in the woods First of all, find a little space which is nice and level and not muddy. Then use fallen sticks and branches found lying on the ground to build a frame. Cover it and camouflage it with mud and fallen leaves, then add smaller twigs over the frame. Once your den is complete, get in and hide. Don't forget to tick off number 4 on your 50 Things to do before you're 11¾ list. Find hidden treasure Try geocaching - Join in this technical treasure hunt using your GPS enabled mobile phone. Go to www.geocaching.com or www.opencaching.com before your visit to download the app. There are 14 caches hidden in the Forest. Enjoy the woodland paths You can follow some of our walking trails through the forest. If you're feeling adventurous, you can make up your own route but don't forget to take a map and compass to avoid getting lost. Explore the forest by bike Bring your own bicycles and get out and discover the far corners of the forest. Most of the forest is a safe, car-free area. Treat yourself to a refreshing drink and, maybe, a piece of cake, from the forest cafe after you have finished.

Enjoy a house steeped in over 400 years of history, with gardens that offer 40 acres of tranquillity. Built by Robert Cecil, in the grounds where Queen Elizabeth I spent much of her childhood, Hatfield House is home to centuries of historical treasures collected by the Cecil family. Hatfield House is open Thursday to Sunday until 31st August 2023.

The picture perfect Gardens date from... Read more

Heartwood Forest's 347-hectare (858-acre) site rises from what was once mainly agricultural land. It's so big that it's now the largest continuous new native forest in England; a place where everyone can find space, peace, wildlife and miles of beautiful woodland to explore.

Heartwood Forest is owned and managed by the Woodland Trust.

The site in the heart of Hertfordshire's... Read more

A spacious, quiet campsite by the county town of Hertford that you can enjoy all year round. This campsite, although large and spacious with some 245 pitches, offers many quiet and secluded pitches and there are lots of separate areas to choose from. The site is well laid out with well-maintained facilities including washing machine and dryers, inside dish washing area, an outdoor play area and dog walk.

Hertford Text Trail is a classic treasure hunt with a modern twist: clues are delivered via text message and answers submitted by texting back.

Our trails aim to help you explore the town in a new way, getting you off the beaten track and noticing small details, so a Text Trail is great whether you're local to Hertford or just visiting for the day.

There are 2 Text Trails... Read more

A Treasure Trail is a fun way to explore on a self-guided route, solving the sneaky clues set along the way.

Will you discover whodunnit on a detective mystery, reveal the location of the lost loot on a treasure hunt or crack the code on a spy mission? With over 1,200 Trails across the UK, you'll be spoilt for choice.

The Hertford detective mystery Trail begins in the... Read more

Hertfordshire Zoo is set in the beautiful surroundings of Broxbourne Woods in the heart of the Hertfordshire Countryside.

Home Farm Glamping is a boutique glamping site nestled into the village of Elstree. Our long-grass meadow is perfect for families looking to relax in nature and enjoy a night under canvas. Throughout our glamping season (which runs from April to October) we run activities, workshops and events which place a focus on wellbeing and connecting our guests with wildlife.

Located in the heart of Houghton Regis, Houghton Hall Park is a hidden gem - unlocking 42 acres of parkland, woodland and more to visitors and the local community. With woodland walks, a number of play features dotted throughout the park, a visitor centre, cafe and 3 hours free parking.