Nomansland Common Walk
Hertfordshire
Nomansland Common sits on a dry chalk valley south of Harpenden, its thin, stony soil too poor for farming and left instead as common land used for grazing, sport and recreation for centuries, mostly used today for dog walking with no livestock to keep a dog on a lead for. This circuit of around 4km crosses the common's open southern grassland, used for dog walking, horse riding and model aircraft flying, before entering the wooded northern half, which has a well known old climbing tree popular with children. The Wicked Lady, a 17th century coaching inn named after the highwaywoman Katherine Ferrers, sits on the common's edge. The ground is flat and easy throughout on grass and woodland tracks.
This is a dog friendly walk, and the common is described as mostly used for dog walking, with open grassland giving plenty of room for a dog to run and the woodland offering shade and scent in summer. There is no livestock grazing the common today, so off lead time is straightforward for a dog with reasonable recall, though model aircraft fly from a dedicated area, so keep dogs clear of that part when flying is under way. The Wicked Lady pub on the common's edge is a good spot to finish a walk, and Harpenden and Wheathampstead both have further dog friendly pubs and cafes a short drive away.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 4.0 km (2.5 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 1 hr 10 min
- Walk Type
- Historic, Woodland
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- High
- Livestock Risk
- None
- Facilities
- The Wicked Lady pub on the common's edge; further pubs and cafes in Harpenden and Wheathampstead.
- Parking
- Roadside parking around the common; a small car park near The Wicked Lady.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Nomansland Common Walk, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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All dog friendly stays in HertfordshireFrequently Asked Questions
Is Nomansland Common Walk dog friendly?
Nomansland Common is very well suited to dogs and earns a solid 8/10 on our dog friendly rating. The common is described as mostly used for dog walking today, with open grassland giving plenty of space to run and a wooded northern half offering shade and interesting scents. The Wicked Lady pub sits right on the common's edge, making it a convenient and welcoming spot to round off the walk.
Can dogs be off lead at Nomansland Common Walk?
Yes, dogs can generally be off lead here. There is no livestock grazing the common, so there's no requirement to keep dogs on a lead across the grassland or woodland tracks. The one thing to be aware of is that model aircraft fly from a dedicated area of the common, so it's worth keeping dogs clear of that spot when flying is under way.
What should I know before visiting Nomansland Common Walk with my dog?
The circuit is around 4km on flat, easy ground across grass and woodland tracks, so it suits most dogs and owners without any tricky terrain to navigate. Parking is available roadside around the common or in a small car park near The Wicked Lady pub. If you'd like to extend the day, both Harpenden and Wheathampstead are a short drive away and have further dog friendly pubs and cafes to explore.
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