Brookmans Park Newsletter - A hill climb, old coaching road and secluded valley

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A hill climb, old coaching road and secluded valley

Environment - Walks

Walk One - 4.5 km (3 miles)

Walk One This walk runs south along the old coaching road that was once the main route between North Mymms and South Mimms. After a short climb along a bridleway through woodland, the way opens up with views across a rural valley surrounded by rolling wooded hills. The route includes footpaths edged by hedgerows rich in wild flowers. There's an option for refreshments at two pubs, the Woodman, The Old Maypole, or the Water End Cafe.

Follow the red dots on the map above. The map above is only a sketch and not to scale. A key has been added to help people follow the maps. There is an alternative route with green dots if you want to visit a pub or avoid the field of cows. To help you with this walk you might want to buy an Ordnance Survey Explorer E182 map for St Albans & Hatfield or click on www.streetmap.co.uk, or www.multimap.com and print the resulting pages. If you would like to comment on any of the walks for the benefit of others, please use the forum discussion thread on the walks.

Park in the lane, just before North Mymms Church. Please don't park in the Church car park, because it is frequently used.
Start by walking south along the lane towards North Mymms Training Centre.
After about 500m, this paved part of the lane turns sharp right and your way is straight ahead, through a gate and along a bridleway.
After 300m the path, which starts flat, veers slightly to the left and starts to climb steadily through Cangsley Grove.
This climb lasts for almost 1km through rich woodland until the path opens out into a wide vista across a valley few will be familiar with. Rolling hills surround this peaceful spot and this is a good place for a short stop to enjoy the view.
Almost immediately on your left there is a small footpath going along the south side of Cangsley Grove and then almost doubling back heading north east.
This path soon reaches another path to the right where you have the option of heading south a short way to view the Swallow Holes. This path is sign posted to Black Horse Lane. Your way is straight ahead.
The path turns slightly left but mainly continues in a straight line becoming wider as it approaches Home Farm and the side of the A1(M).
100m further on you reach a footbridge over the A1(M). Here you have a choice of crossing over to Water End and entering the hamlet for refreshments at the Woodman, the first pub you reach, or the Old Maypole, a few metres further on.
If it is muddy or there is a 'Bull in field' sign, you can walk along the lane and back to St Mary's church.
Even if you don't cross the footbridge to the pub, your journey continues from the west side of the bridge. Just beyond the footbridge look out for a clearing in the hedge on the left. There is step stile leading into a field and across to another step stile leading to a cart-track by North Mymms Cricket Club.
Turn right along this cart track and you will see the Church ahead of you. Cross another field, go through a bachelor gate and you are back on the lane where you parked your car.

Note: This is a collection of short walks all based around local pubs. All are in the region of three to four miles long and are fairly easy if you are able to cross step stiles, negotiate bachelor gates, traverse the occasional muddy path, and manage small hills. Boots and wet weather gear, a bottle of water, a snack, and the correct map for the area are recommended. Ordnance Survey Explorer E182 map for St Albans & Hatfield covers this area. The maps on this site are only sketches. The Brookmans Park Newsletter can take no responsibility for paths that have been fenced off or closed since this series of walks was published. Some signs, stiles, and gates might also have been damaged or overgrown since these walks were published. Feedback is always welcome. If you have any comments, please e-mail this site, or, if you would like to comment on any of the walks for the benefit of others, please use the forum discussion thread on the walks. As with all these walks, please do check the pub opening hours before setting off to make sure you are not left disappointed.