Balls Wood is a 58.5-hectare (145-acre) nature reserve located in Hertford Heath, East Hertfordshire, characterized by its diverse woodland, open rides, and numerous ponds. The area features ancient coppiced hornbeams, ash, and field maple, alongside a network of wide, sunny paths that support abundant wildlife and flora. This varied terrain and natural beauty make Balls Wood suitable for several sports like road cycling, hiking, touring cycling, jogging, and more.
Balls Wood offers numerous routes…
151
Routes
4.5
(259)
Average rating
3587
People visited

4.7
(44)
114
hikers
6.35km
01:42
80m
80m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(1)
15
hikers
4.92km
01:16
30m
30m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(2)
8
hikers
4.33km
01:06
10m
10m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.5
(2)
61
hikers
3.87km
01:01
40m
40m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(3)
43
riders
84.9km
03:45
580m
580m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.7
(9)
162
riders
55.0km
02:31
440m
440m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(1)
133
riders
49.3km
02:07
320m
320m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.7
(3)
101
riders
43.8km
01:56
320m
320m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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5.0
(3)
40
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
42
riders
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(2)
45
riders
6.57km
00:25
20m
20m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

40
riders
41.7km
02:31
290m
290m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.7
(10)
31
riders
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(4)
10
riders
32.3km
02:04
230m
230m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

17
riders
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
11
riders
48.5km
02:36
220m
220m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.0
(1)
49
runners
8.29km
00:52
60m
60m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

29
runners
5.73km
00:36
20m
20m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

22
runners
6.19km
00:39
30m
30m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

18
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.8
(6)
57
riders
52.6km
02:39
80m
80m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(4)
12
riders
17.3km
00:58
100m
100m
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(2)
7
riders
15.7km
00:55
100m
100m
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.0
(1)
9
riders
48.6km
02:36
260m
260m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Balls Wood is a 58.5-hectare (145-acre) nature reserve located in Hertford Heath, East Hertfordshire. It is characterized by diverse woodland, open rides, and numerous ponds, managed by the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust.
Balls Wood offers opportunities for Road cycling, Hiking, Touring cycling, Jogging, Mountain biking, and Gravel biking. The varied terrain and natural features make it suitable for a range of outdoor activities.
Yes, Balls Wood features waymarked trails such as the Hornbeam Trail and the White Admiral Trail, which are suitable for hiking and jogging. More information can be found in the guide Hiking around Balls Wood.
While the wood itself has wide rides suitable for touring, the broader East Hertfordshire region around Balls Wood offers road cycling opportunities. Explore routes in the guide Road Cycling Routes around Balls Wood.
Yes, the wide, open rides within Balls Wood are suitable for touring cycling. The natural surroundings enhance the experience for cyclists. Discover options in the guide Cycling around Balls Wood.
Balls Wood is a haven for wildlife, including breeding birds like great spotted woodpeckers and sparrowhawks. Insects such as white admiral butterflies and emperor dragonflies are common, alongside wildflowers like bluebells and early purple orchids.
Yes, Balls Wood provides varied terrain and natural beauty for runners, with trails like the Hornbeam Trail and White Admiral Trail. Detailed running routes are available in the guide Running Trails around Balls Wood.
Yes, Balls Wood offers options for dog-friendly activities. Specific routes and considerations for walking with dogs can be found in the guide Dog-friendly hikes around Balls Wood.
Balls Wood is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 64,000 visitors sharing their experiences. Routes in the area have an average rating of 4.51 out of 5 stars.
Balls Wood features diverse woodland with ancient coppiced hornbeams, ash, and field maple. It also has a network of wide, sunny 'rides' and over 20 ponds, supporting a rich variety of flora and fauna.
Balls Wood offers varied terrain, including waymarked trails that can be suitable for different skill levels. For easier hiking options, consult the guide Easy hikes around Balls Wood.
Komoot provides guides specifically for traffic-free cycling. Information on such routes can be found in Traffic-free bike rides around Balls Wood for road cycling and Traffic-free bike rides around Balls Wood for touring cycling.
Balls Wood is managed by the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust. Their official website is hertswildlifetrust.org.uk, and they can be reached by phone at 01727 858901.

