The beginning of the walk also takes us past St Mary's Church and through the cobbled streets and market of Hitchin itself, then moves out of town across open meadows before joining the river again. The Hiz rises from springs at Wellhead above Charlton and flows north to join the River Ivel, flowing through the market town of Hitchin past its church and giving it its name. The spring is fed from the chalk hills of the Chilterns and provides good quality water with little pollution. Look out for wildlife including the kingfisher, dragonflies, trout and crayfish. The open fields often have hares on them with many wildflowers. The walk can be cut short at Charlton, which could also be visited for its pub, The Windmill and for its old watermill.

England - Hertfordshire - Countryside

View a road map to the starting point of this walk.