HOOP photo gallery 4a: Wymondley Road to Charlton

These photos cover a largely urban and suburban section of the Hitchin Outer Orbital Path as it travels along the Ippollitts Brook, then crosses the Stevenage Road to plunge through houses to the edge of town. From there, it follows a well-made path past fields to the village of Charlton.

Click on any thumbnail to see an enlarged version. You can then scroll through the pictures and their captions using the arrows that appear on the edges, or by using your mouse wheel.

: The Brook disappears under the railway embankment

: You can ignore this path to Ashbrook

: The HOOP heads into a quiet brookside path behind the houses

: An improvised bridge over the Brook

: Des res

: WalkWalkWalk.co.uk’s Andy has happy memories of playing here as a child

: The secret path behind Brook View, Ninesprings Way and Oakfield Avenue

: Polite notice

: Railings at the end of the Brook walk

: The old sign’s getting a bit battered now

: The Brook emerges from under the Stevenage Road

: Head up the road and prepare to cross after the first houses

: Turn off the Stevenage Road onto Blackhorse Lane

: The road lacks pavement in places but is fairly quiet

: Old brick and not-so-old brick meet

: Blackhorse Lane ends with a fine old farm building

: The path crosses the B656 London Road

: Waymarking the route into Newlands Lane

: Wilderness by the side of the road – not the route itself

: Cross the road to Gosmore and head down Brick Kiln Lane

: An easy well-maintained path

: Meadows south west of town

: Not the route: this path goes to Maydencroft Manor

: Another alternate path – this one into Priory Way

: Summer blooms

: Rampant greenery

: Sloes and blackberries grow wild

: Barbed wire fence

: Red poppies and blackened grasses make an artistic contrast

: The view west, as Charlton grows nearer

: The beer garden and the Hiz at the Windmill in Charlton

Adventures in outdoor swimming

Over the summer we've got a few wild and not so wild swimming adventures planned - we'll add them here as they happen. Learn more here.