May Bank Holiday

25th April 2022

... Comments

Yes, it’s official, Spring is here, the days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer. This year, more than ever, it is also the season for Bank Holidays. The Easter Bank Holidays are now behind us, the Jubilee Bank Holidays are only a few weeks away and in between you have got another day off, the May Day Bank Holiday on Monday 2nd May.

It is only one day this time, but if you do not want to stay home all day either gardening or playing board games (although I can recommend “Ticket to Ride”). But if you’d like to be out and about for the day but the idea of travelling far or spending the day stuck in a traffic jam with unhappy children and lack of bathroom facilities doesn’t appeal then why not do something locally?

There is a wide and varied selection of activities and attractions in and around the Herford and Ware area and here are just a few. Some are a little expensive, some are very cheap and some are free.

For animal lovers:

Paradise Wildlife Park, near Broxbourne. It is a little expensive (in my opinion) but a good local day out if you like zoos.
Foxholes Children’s Farm just outside Hertford. Ideal for younger children and is easier on the pocket. They have among other things pigs, donkeys, alpacas, goats and guinea pigs and at the moment cute little spring lambs.

For the energetic and adventurous:

The Edge Outdoor Activities at Westmill farm just outside Ware. They have 9 different activities ranging from archery, shooting and a climbing wall to a ropes course. There is also the H2O rampage aqua park, an inflatable obstacle course, on the same site.

For the quiz lovers and problem solvers:

Hertford Mystery Treasure Trails for adults and children. You can download the trails from their website and do them at your own pace and whenever you like. They are good fun and you get to know the town better and get some exercise. The cost is around £10 per trail and each trail is around 2 miles.
Ware Spy Mission Treasure Trail for adults and children. A similar offering to the Hertford trail but from a different company, you download the mission from their website and again it’s around the £10 mark.

For art lovers:

The Hertford Arts Trail. This is a free art exhibition that’s on until 7th May on a trail through various shops, cafes and other venues around Hertford Town centre. So plenty of time for a sit down and a coffee as well as looking at the art displays.

For history buffs:

Historic Hertford Guided Walks. There is one on the Monday 2nd May starting from Salisbury square at 2pm. You do have to prebook at the Tourist Information Centre in The Wash opposite the Hertford Theatre. Tickets are £7.

For countryside lovers:

A very pleasant walk with views “under the park and over the park”. Park refers to Hartham Common and the Meads between Hertford and Ware. Start in Hartham and follow the River Lea towpath towards Ware, that’s “under the park”. Leave the towpath at the 1st bridge into The Priory at Ware and turn left past Ware Lido and follow the road passed Glaxo until you reach a crossroads and turn left into Park Road. Then follow the footpath signs “over the park” for views of Ware and Hertford. The footpath finishes in Bengeo, follow the signs to St Leonards church then the footpath back to Hartham.
Other good local countryside walks if you like lakes, wildlife and birdwatching are Panshanger Park (to the west of Hertford just off the A414) which has a reasonable size car park (costing a flat rate of £2.50) and Amwell Nature Reserve between Ware and Stanstead Abbots, there is limited on road parking in Amwell lane or Hollycross Road.

For Star Gazers:

Bayfordbury Observatory. Although this is part of Hertfordshire University, they do have open evenings for the public at various times throughout the year. If you want to get a ticket, you need to keep a constant watch on their website as they get booked up very quickly when new dates are made available.

About the Author