Chiltern Walks: Berkhamsted and Bourne End
The Grand Union between Berkhamsted and Bourne End
Start & Finish: Berkhamsted Station, Station Approach, Berkhamsted HP4 2AR
Distance: 11.9 km (7.3 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 144m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Berkhamsted to Bushfield Road: 5.8 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Grand Union Canal Circular Walk Berkhamsted-Tring, Hertfordshire Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Grand Union Canal Towpath, Chilterns Cycleway, Berkhamsted 6 Circular
Pubs / Cafes on route: Lots in Berkhamsted Town Centre, plus 3 on the Grand Union Canal within the first 1 km. The Anchor and The White Horse (3.7 km in)
Map: Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
Links: Berkhamsted, Grand Union Canal, Bourne End
The Hertfordshire Way offers an incredible opportunity to circumnavigate one of England's home counties, revealing its hidden charms and surprising variety. This circular long-distance footpath, stretching around 273 km (170 miles), guides walkers through the county's most picturesque landscapes, proving that green spaces are never far, even in this area close to London. We walked the Chilterns part of the Hertfordshire Way in 15 sections over a couple of years. We used my “Greater Chilterns” definition that takes the trail from the River Lea near Wheathampstead to the River Colne near Garston. This route is one of those 15 circular walks.
The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.
For this walk we parked at Berkhamsted Station and picked up the Hertfordshire Way heading east along the Grand Union Canal. Follow the canal towpath for 3.3 km then cross over it on the Sharpes Lane bridge. Continue along Sharpes Lane in a southerly direction to the A4251 London Road and take a left onto it toward Bourne End. Take the footpath on the right opposite Bourne End Village Hall to continue along the Hertfordshire Way in a southerly direction.
After ~2km from leaving the London Road you’ll reach Hempstead Road where you’ll leave the Hertfordshire Way. Take a right off Hempstead Road onto a footpath that crosses the golf course in a roughly westerly direction to Upper Bourne End Lane. Take a left onto the lane then first right onto another path that heads in a north-westerly direction across fields to cross over the Bourne Gutter stream. Shortly after crossing the stream follow the path that heads north over the A41 and leads back to the A4251 London Road. Take a left to return to Berkhamsted Town Centre. Take a right onto Lower Kings Road to return to the station.
