Markyate, Flamstead & Gaddesden

Markyate, Flamstead and the Gaddesdens form a collection of villages and hamlets in the northwest of Dacorum, bordering Bedfordshire. The area is defined by its position on the ancient chalk ridge of the Chiltern Hills, with the A5 road historically shaping its development. Land use is a mix of arable farmland, managed woodland and scattered residential settlements, creating a distinct rural character within the borough's boundaries.

The local landscape is characterised by gently rolling fields, hedgerows and pockets of mature beech woodland typical of the Chilterns. The River Gade and its tributaries run through the parishes. The area includes the historic estates of Ashridge and the National Trust's Bridgewater Monument, which sits within ancient parkland. Parish churches, such as St. Leonard's in Flamstead, are focal points in these longstanding communities.