Autumn walks in Hertfordshire

[bendmeoverbackwards]

Any good suggestions please? It's our anniversary tomorrow and not much we can do but dh and I thought we'd have a nice walk somewhere and takeaway coffee and cake.

I thought about the Ashridge Estate (been before) and I also saw something about a walk in Welwyn Garden City along a disused railway line.

Anyone done this walk? Or any other nice suggestions please?

[Glittertwins]

But don't park in Aldi - you probably know all about the issues there. Park down on the industrial estate where parking is free. The Nickey Line can be accessed via a small path from the road on the left just after the council tip.

[Glittertwins]

@Onedropbeat

Park near the midland pub in Hemel Hempstead and there is the start of the Nicky line there.

Or you can join further up where the Aldi is in Hemel

Yes, exactly that!!

[bendmeoverbackwards]

@PrayingandHoping

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ashridge-estate/features/ivinghoe-beacon-at-ashridge-estate

Its spectacular. Used constantly for films and tv!! Most recent massive films I know of is Fantastic Beasts and last Star Wars (when watching we sit there trying to find it 🤣)

Wow that looks amazing, thank you.

[Onedropbeat]

Park near the midland pub in Hemel Hempstead and there is the start of the Nicky line there.

Or you can join further up where the Aldi is in Hemel

[INeedNewShoes]

The ground at Ivinghoe Beacon end doesn't tend to be too muddy as the chalk seems good at draining water away but the path just between the bottom of the Beacon Hill and up towards the Ashridge Estate is almost impassibly muddy at the moment (over the top of DD's (3.5) boots it turns out ).

@Glittertwins
@Standrewsschool

I see you've suggested the Nickey Line. I keep meaning to do this with DD and bikes but I'm never sure where to park. Any suggestions? I'd have a preference to park at the Hemel end.

[PrayingandHoping]

@Glittertwins amazing!

Seeing them tiptoe around in shock that it's not clean pavement is hilarious!

[Glittertwins]

@PrayingandHoping

Ashridge has "accessible" routes which are hard cored and not muddy (although still hilarious when the white trainer brigade arrive!)

The route from ashridge to the beacon is hard cored

The beacon will be slippy but not boggy

I've seen people attempt a walk around in high heeled boots, almost as good as white trainers!

[Onedropbeat]

We do ashridge most days . Lots of chestnuts this time of year

Also like just walking along the canal in Berkhamsted

I’m not a fan of the Rickmansworth aquadrome

Dunstable downs is good for views but especially windy with the weather at the moment

[PrayingandHoping]

Ashridge has "accessible" routes which are hard cored and not muddy (although still hilarious when the white trainer brigade arrive!)

The route from ashridge to the beacon is hard cored

The beacon will be slippy but not boggy

[ScrambledSmegs]

Ashridge is bloody rammed all the time at the moment around the monument (where the cafe is) but there are still quieter paths around. It's also a bit quieter if you walk down towards the management college and Little Gaddesden. Squidgy underfoot though.

Wendover Woods is just over the border into Bucks, has a massive car park (not free but reasonable) and some great walks.

Tring Park is very lovely and hilly but parking limited. No cafes there but plenty in Tring itself. There are lots of pay & displays in Tring but it's a bit of a walk to even get to the park (but worth it).

If you're local to the area there's a brilliant footpath map created by the Berkhamsted Citizens Association, I really recommend getting it. It saved my sanity in lockdown mark 1.

[PiratePenguin]

www.riverver.co.uk/walks/ Forgot to add link!

[Cherrysoup]

Ash ridge very muddy when it’s rained lots, as is Whippendell. Beautiful, tho. Opposite Ashridge, there’s more walks plus a herd of black (?) deer. Brilliant field of snowdrops along there in February.

[PiratePenguin]

Ver Valley walks are circular. We did quite a few during lockdown 1.0. Very well sign posted.

[Gazelda]

@Wigeon

Rickmansworth aquadrome - assume the lovely cafe is open for takeaway but double check.

Dunstable Downs (think technically it might be in Bedfordshire but it’s not that far from us in Herts), think there’s a National Trust cafe.

Some lovely lovely walks around the Chess Valley way - just west of Watford/near Rickmansworth. Can’t immediately think of a coffee option - could pop into Rickmansworth after.

Yes, the cafe in the park is open for takeaway. (Ricky Aquadrome)

Also, walk along the canal from Watford to Hunton Bridge and stop off at the lovely Bean Here cafe.

Ashridge, Cassiobury Park and Dunstable Downs are also faves.

I fancy doing the Ebury Way walk sometime. I've heard it's a good cycle route too.

[YellowandGreenToBeSeen]

Sorry OP - think it’s about 15km or so. May be a little less.

[bluewindows]

I'm so interested in this too.

[Nowthereistwo]

Pangshanger Park last week as the clouds were clearing

[Nowthereistwo]

Since you mentioned WGC, Pangshanger Park is beautiful, it has free parking but no cafe. It has a c.500 year old oak tree, large lakes and bits of the old manor house still standing.

Cole Green Way is the disused railway line you mentioned. We like cycling along here with the children as it's flat, but i think there is better places to walk, especially as the Cowper Arms pub isn't open half way to Hertford.

[Wigeon]

Agree with parking at Cassiobury Park (Gade Ave car park, free for 2 hrs but you still need a ticket, or not that expensive if you stay longer), walk through the park to Whippendell or along the canal, or both. Two cafes in the park (Daisy’s and the Cha Cafe), and a barge has just moored up and also started doing takeaway drinks and snacks, just by the canal on the right as you walk from the park to the woods.

[Wigeon]

Rickmansworth aquadrome - assume the lovely cafe is open for takeaway but double check.

Dunstable Downs (think technically it might be in Bedfordshire but it’s not that far from us in Herts), think there’s a National Trust cafe.

Some lovely lovely walks around the Chess Valley way - just west of Watford/near Rickmansworth. Can’t immediately think of a coffee option - could pop into Rickmansworth after.

[00100001]

www.facebook.com/groups/hertfordshire.walks/

[Standrewsschool]

Tring - walk along canals
Tring

Sr Albans - walk around lake at Verulam park
St Albans

Harpenden - walk along Nicky lane disused railway
Harpenden

[Glittertwins]

You can park the car mid way between the Beacon and the monument end of Ashridge. We often do this, walk up the beacon, down the other side towards Ashridge & get scones from the cafe (if still open for takeaways) and walk back.
There are tons of paths crisscrossing the estate. Lots of public paths around the golf courses, Cassiobury woods, the old Nickey Line between Harpenden and WGC

[PrayingandHoping]

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ashridge-estate/features/ivinghoe-beacon-at-ashridge-estate

Its spectacular. Used constantly for films and tv!! Most recent massive films I know of is Fantastic Beasts and last Star Wars (when watching we sit there trying to find it 🤣)

[SomethingNastyInTheBallPool]

@bendmeoverbackwards It’s nice in summer, with tables out in the nicely landscaped garden. Not quite so nice at the moment, where they’ve just got some tables out back by the bins!

But the food’s fine and there are plenty of other places in the park to sit and eat it.