HERTFORD

Looking for new touring destinations? Get the lowdown from the locals! This month, a historic town near the capital

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Who are you?

Monica Sadler, touring enthusiast and festival lover, along with husband Nigel.

Where are you a local authority?

Hertford, in Hertfordshire, which is only about an hour north of London.

Why are you a local authority?

We originally stumbled across Hertford by sheer chance, while we were cycling from a campsite in neighbouring Welwyn. We fell in love with it so much that we moved here within six months and love everything it has to offer.

What do you love about it?

Mainly that you're never far away from nature within a short walk of the beautiful, characterful town centre.

Hertford Castle has lovely grounds to amble around. The town has four rivers running through it, making for great walks, excellent birdwatching and water activities such as kayaking and paddleboarding. You can walk from Hertford all the way to Ware along the Lee Navigation towpath.

By contrast, the town centre boasts a huge variety of independent shops, good restaurants, buzzing nightlife, theatre and events to enjoy all year round.

Frequent and fast train services take you into central London in just an hour from Hertford North or Hertford East, making this a very convenient base for exploring the many attractions of the capital.