Codicote offers two distinct perspectives for a stay: its history stretches from the consecration of St Giles around 1111 to the use of The Pond House as a Red Cross hospital during the First World War. There are also historic timber-framed houses and two walking options described in different ways. You can decide whether to focus your stay more on church and architectural history or on routes through fields and hilly countryside.

Church History and Timber-Framed Buildings

St Giles was consecrated by the Bishop of Rochester around 1111. This approximate date provides a specific point of reference for Codicote’s history. The Pond House represents a different period: during the First World War, it was used as a Red Cross hospital. These two details tell of different periods and functions—a medieval church consecration and wartime use.

The timber-framed houses also offer a glimpse into different historical dating periods. The George and Dragon Restaurant is a former inn dating from the 16th century or earlier, with visible timber framing. The Goat Public House is a timber-framed inn dating from the late 16th or early 17th century, also with visible timber framing. What the houses have in common is their visible timber construction; the dates extend into the early 17th century and do not allow their construction to be placed in a precise order.

Walking Options and Landscape

The fourth section of the Hertfordshire Way leads from Codicote’s High Street via St Albans Road to Codicote Bottom Farm. It then runs through fields and woodland to Heath Hill. The route described therefore connects named points while moving between open countryside and woodland, though the entire route cannot be considered uniform in character.

Within this section, a stretch of two-thirds of a mile is described. It passes young plantations, parkland and farmland, and offers views of the hills around Codicote. This distance refers to that stretch, not to the total length of the fourth section. An official waymarker is currently missing at one point. Therefore, check the route conditions and waymarking before setting out.

Another option is the Codicote South-West Loop. The circular route is 4.3 miles (7 km) long and has a total ascent of 91 metres. It crosses the River Mimram twice and follows paths through hilly countryside. The river crossings and landscape add specific features of the route to the figures. You should also check the route conditions before walking this trail.

When comparing the figures, it is important to consider what each one refers to: the 4.3 miles is the total length of the Codicote South-West Loop, while the two-thirds of a mile describes only one stretch within the fourth section of the Hertfordshire Way. The figures therefore cannot be compared as two equivalent total distances. For planning, they answer different questions: How long is the circular route overall, and what kind of landscape characterises a particular part of the other route? The route descriptions also name different landmarks—on the Hertfordshire Way, the route via High Street, St Albans Road and Codicote Bottom Farm; on the Loop, the two crossings of the River Mimram.

Discover more destinations: Hoddesdon, Hitchin, Bayford, Waltham Cross, Knebworth, Markyate, Kings Langley, Meriden

For the main travel overview: Hertfordshire.