Posts tagged Hertfordshire

Walking The Hertfordshire Way through the Chilterns

Beyond the stunning rural vistas, the Hertfordshire Way is a journey through history and charming local life. The route intentionally keeps mostly to the quiet countryside but thoughtfully incorporates visits to a handful of attractive, historic villages and two major centres: the county town of Hertford and the ancient city of St Albans, with its stunning cathedral and Roman heritage. Along the path, you'll encounter a mix of landscapes, from the fringes of the Chiltern Hills near Tring, to the wide views around Royston, and the peaceful valleys further east.

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. The part of the trail that runs through the Chiltern Hills National Landscape (formerly “AONB”) is much shorter and runs from Markyate to Berkhamsted.

Point to Point: Walking the Hertfordshire Way in the Chilterns

Start: River Lea crossing near Wheathampshead, AL4 8NJ
Finish: River Colne crossing near Garston, WD25 9AW
Distance: 81.5 km (51 miles)
Elevation change: + 874m / - 893m. Net -19m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Maps:
- St Albans & Hatfield Map | Hemel Hempstead & Welwyn Garden City | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 182
- Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
See individual section posts linked below for other links.

Walking the Hertfordshire Way in the Chilterns in 15 walks

If you’re not up for a 82 km walk in one go, you can take in the Hertfordshire Way in the Surrey Hills in 15 walks of between 8 and 14 km each. We chose this option, completing all 15 sections over 4 years from 2021 to 2025. The advantage of this option is exploring more of the villages and side paths close to the route.

As the complete Hertfordshire Way is a circular route you can walk it in either direction. The roundels on the route show whether you’re heading clockwise or anti-clockwise on either side of the footpath posts. For our short walks linked below we did a mix of clockwise and anti-clockwise and I’ve indicated the direction in the list below. If want to complete them in a consistent direction you’ll need to reverse the route for some of them.

Each number refers to a circular walk below. Base map: Esri Topo via RideWithGPS

Section 1: Coleman Green and Wheathampstead

Start & Finish: East Lane Car Park, 13 East Lane, Wheathampstead, St Albans, AL4 8SB
Distance: 9.1 km (5.7 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 99m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Hammonds House Farm to the River Lea: 4.15 km
Hertfordshire Way Direction: Clockwise

Section 2: Sandridge and Heartwood Forest

Start & Finish: Nomansland Parking, Ferrers Lane, St Albans, AL4 8EG
Distance: 12.3 km (7.7 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 106m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Chilwickbury to Hammonds House Farm: 5.5 km
Hertfordshire Way Direction: Clockwise

Section 3: St Albans and Childwickbury

Start & Finish: Verulamium Car Park, 39 St Michael's Street, St Albans, AL3 4SW. Alternative parking and public transport options in St Albans
Distance: 14.3 km (8.9 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 122m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Redbournbury to Childwickbury: 10.6 km
Hertfordshire Way Direction: Clockwise

Section 4: Redbourn and Redbournbury

Start & Finish: Free car park on West Common, Redbourn, St Albans, AL3 7ND
Distance: 9 km (6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 74m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Redbourn to Redbournbury: 4 km
Hertfordshire Way Direction: Clockwise

Section 5: Flamstead and Redbourn

Start & Finish: Free car park on West Common, Redbourn, St Albans, AL3 7ND
Distance: 11.4 km (7 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 98m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Flamstead to Redbourn: 4.2 km
Hertfordshire Way Direction: Clockwise

Section 6: Flamstead and Markyate

Start & Finish: Flamstead Recreation Ground, St Albans, AL3 8BS
Distance: 12 km (7.5 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 135m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Babies Wood to Flamstead: 4.3 km
Hertfordshire Way Direction: Clockwise

Section 7: Great Gaddesden and Gaddesdon Row

Start & Finish: Hemel Hempstead Garden Centre, Piper's Hill, Great Gaddesden, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 3BY
Distance: 9.1 km (5.7 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 116m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Great Gaddesden to Babies Wood: 4 km
Hertfordshire Way Direction: Clockwise

Section 8: Great Gaddesden and Ashridge

Start & Finish: Hemel Hempstead Garden Centre, Piper's Hill, Great Gaddesden, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 3BY
Distance: 9.3 km (5.8 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 153m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Great Gaddesden to the Ashridge Estate: 4 km
Hertfordshire Way Direction: Clockwise

Section 9: (Ashridge Boundary Trail Route 2) Ashridge Golf Club and Moneybury Hill

Start & Finish: Ashridge National Trust Car Park, Aldbury, Berkhamsted, HP4 1LU
Distance: 8.2 km (5.1 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 94m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Pitstone Common to east of Ashridge House: 4.9 km
Hertfordshire Way Direction: Clockwise

Section 10: Aldbury & Ashridge

Start & Finish: Tring Station, Tring, HP23 5QR
Distance: 7.8 km (4.8 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 138m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Pitstone Common to Tom’s Hill: 6.15 km
Hertfordshire Way Direction: Both

Section 11: Cow Roast and Berkhamsted Common

Start & Finish: Free parking by the Cow Roast Recreation Ground, Tring, HP23 5RE
Distance: 11.9 km (7.3 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 140m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Tom’s Hill to Berkhamsted Common: 3 km
Hertfordshire Way Direction: Anti-clockwise

Section 12: Berkhamsted Castle and Common

Start & Finish: Berkhamsted Station, HP4 2AJ
Distance: 10.4 km (6.5 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 119m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Berkhamsted Common to Berkhamsted Castle: 4 km
Hertfordshire Way Direction: Anti-clockwise

Section 13: 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
Hertfordshire Way Direction: Anti-clockwise

Section 14: Boxmoor to Kings Langley

Start: Hemel Hempstead Station, London Road, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 9BQ
Finish: Kings Langley Station, Station Road, Kings Langley WD4 8LF
Distance: 12.8 km (7.9 miles)
Elevation change: +154m / - 175m. Net -21m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Bovingdon to Kings Langley: 10 km
Hertfordshire Way Direction: Anti-clockwise

https://www.richardgower.com/blog/kingslangleyaldenham

Section 15: Kings Langley to Aldenham

Start: King’s Langley Station, Station Road, Kings Langley, WD4 8LF
Finish: St. John The Baptist Church, Church Lane, Radlett, Watford, WD25 8BE
Distance: 10.4 km (6.5 miles)
Elevation change: +126m / -119m. Net +7m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: King’s Langley to Aldenham: 10.4 km
Hertfordshire Way Direction: Anti-clockwise

Back to Chiltern Walks Index

Richard gower10 December 2025Trek, National Trust, Hertfordshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: King's Langley to Aldenham

Start: King’s Langley Station, Station Road, Kings Langley, WD4 8LF
Finish: St. John The Baptist Church, Church Lane, Radlett, Watford, WD25 8BE
Distance: 10.4 km (6.5 miles)
Elevation change: +126m / -119m. Net +7m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: King’s Langley to Aldenham: 10.4 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Hertfordshire Way, Abbey Line Trail, St. Bernard’s Way, Manor Stroll
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 6, 61
Pubs / Cafes on route: None
Map: St Albans & Hatfield Map | Hemel Hempstead & Welwyn Garden City | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 182
Links: King’s Langley, Bricket Wood, River Colne, Aldenham

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.

We parked at the end of the route at Aldenham and took an Uber to the start of the walk at King’s Langley. You can also do it by a combination of a bus to Bushey and a train to King’s Langley but it was a mid-winter’s day and we were short on time.

Exit from the eastern side of King’s Langley station and walk north past the car park to reach Egg Farm Lane. Take a right to follow the lane up the hill and over the M25. At 1.5 km into the walk you’ll reach a path junction at the corner of a field. Take a left to follow the field-edge path in a north easterly direction. Take a right onto Bedmond Road then a left onto Love Lane. Keep heading east as Love Lane turns into a path crossing fields. Keep following the Hertfordshire Way until you reach Chequers Lane.

Briefly follow Chequers Lane in an easterly direction then take the first path on the right heading south to High Elms Lane. Take a left to follow High Elms Lane to the A405 North Orbital Road. Take a right to find the underpass then cross under the A405. Follow Bucknalls Lane in an easterly direction, crossing over the M1 bridge. Near the end of Bucknalls Lane before it becomes Oaks Path, take a right to keep on the Hertfordshire Way through Bricket Wood into the Munden Estate.

Once in the Munden Estate look out for the path on the right cutting diagonally across the estate in a southerly direction. This will lead you onto a footbridge over the River Colne. This is the eastern boundary of the “Greater Chilterns Area” and nearly the end of the Chilterns section of the Hertfordshire Way. After the Colne continue following the Hertfordshire Way for 1.7 km until you reach St. John The Baptist Church in Aldenham Village.

Hertfordshire Way next section clockwise: Chiltern Walks: Boxmoor and Kings Langley

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Richard gower6 December 2025Trek, Chilterns, Hertfordshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Coleman Green and Wheathampstead

Walking through Devil’s Dyke, Wheathampstead

Start & Finish: East Lane Car Park, 13 East Lane, Wheathampstead, St Albans, AL4 8SB
Distance: 9.1 km (5.7 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 99m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Hammonds House Farm to the River Lea: 4.15 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Hertfordshire Way, The Romans and Nomandsland, Devil’s Dyke and Nomansland, The Old Railway and River Lea, Lea Valley Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 6, 57, Ayot Greenway
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in Wheathampstead at the start and finish plus the John Bunyan pub at Colman Green (5.5 km in)
Map: St Albans & Hatfield Map | Hemel Hempstead & Welwyn Garden City | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 182
Links: Wheathampstead, Nomansland Common, Heartwood Forest, Devil's Dyke, Wheathampstead Station, River Lea

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 the free car park on East Lane, Wheathampstead. Be careful not to use the car park next to it that is for customers of the Bull Pub. Walk in a southerly direction down Wheathampstead High Street, continuing onto the B651 “The Hill” for approximately 2 km until you reach the corner of Nomansland Common. Take a left onto a footpath just before Drovers Lane and follow it in an easterly direction through fields, across Coleman Green Lane and into Heartwood Forest. After passing through the farm buildings at Hammonds House farm you’ll reach the Hertfordshire Way at Hammonds Lane.

Take a left onto the Hertfordshire Way, following it in an east/north-easterly direction. After ~300m leave take the footpath on the left to leave Hammonds Lane but keep on the Hertfordshire Way. Follow the edge of the woods for ~700m then take a left to leave the tree line and continue along the Hertfordshire Way across the fields to Coleman Green. Just under 1 km from Coleman Green take a right onto Devil’s Dyke Lane. You can continue along the Lane, but I highly recommend finding the path on the right running through Devil’s Dyke. This is the remains of a prehistoric defensive ditch which is generally agreed to have been part of the defences of an Iron Age settlement belonging to the Catuvellauni tribe of Ancient Britain.

At the end of Devil’s Dyke Lane cross over Marford Road and continue along Sheepcote Lane until you reach the River Lea. The river is the boundary of what I call the Greater Chilterns Area and and is the final part of this series of walks along the Chilterns part of the Hertfordshire Way. There’s one final surprise in this walk though. North of the River Lea take a left onto the Ayot Greenway. This is part of a disused railway path that connects Wheathampstead to Welwyn Garden City. We’re following a short section of it as it runs parallel to the River Lea to the remains of Wheathampstead Station. The Station is worth a visit as it’s been nicely preserved with information boards describing its history. After the station walk down Station Road to cross over the River Lea and back to the start of the walk.

Hertfordshire Way next section clockwise: Wheathampstead and Ayot St Lawrence
Hertfordshire Way next section anti clockwise: Sandridge and Heartwood Forest

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Richard gower8 November 2025Trek, Chilterns, Hertfordshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Sandridge and Heartwood Forest

Edge of Heartwood Forest, towards Childwickbury

Start & Finish: Nomansland Parking, Ferrers Lane, St Albans, AL4 8EG
Distance: 12.3 km (7.7 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 106m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Chilwickbury to Hammonds House Farm: 5.5 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Hertfordshire Way, The Romans and Nomandsland, Ver Valley Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 6
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several pubs and a cafe in Sandridge at 8 km in.
Map: St Albans & Hatfield Map | Hemel Hempstead & Welwyn Garden City | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 182
Links: Childwickbury, Sandridge, Heartwood Forest, Nomansland Common

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 the free parking area on Nomansland Common off Ferrers Lane. Take the footpath heading west from the parking area and, after approximately 800m, take the southern footpath through the woods towards Round Wood. Keep heading in a south westerly direction along the field edge until you reach the railway embankment. Take a right to follow the right hand edge of the railway until you reach Ayres End Lane. Take a left to pass under the railway line, then the first path on the right to follow a path that bypasses Ayres End Lane and joins the Ver Valley Walk.

Follow the Ver Valley Walk in a south westerly direction. Carefully cross over the A1081 Harpenden Road and take a right into Childwickbury. Here you’ll join the Herfordshire Way. Take a left in Childwickbury village to follow the Hertfordshireway back to the A1081 Harpenden Road. Turn right onto the A1081 then carefully cross over to follow the Hertfordshire Way in an easterly direction to Sandridge.

Sandridge village is a good place to stop for a rest at 8 km in. There’s a few pubs and a cafe so it’s well-served for a small village. After Sandridge continue to follow the Hertfordshire Way in a north-easterly direction until you reach the junction with the Romans and Nomansland trail at Hammonds House farm. Leave the Hertfordshire Way here and follow the Romans and Nomansland trail in a north-westerly direction through the farm. Eventually you’ll cross the Wheathampstead Road back onto Nomansland Common and the final short section back to the car park.

Hertfordshire Way next section clockwise: Coleman Green and Wheathampstead
Hertfordshire Way next section anti clockwise: St Albans and Childwickbury

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Richard gower11 October 2025Trek, Chilterns, Hertfordshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: St Albans and Childwickbury

Start & Finish: Verulamium Car Park, 39 St Michael's Street, St Albans, AL3 4SW. Alternative parking and public transport options in St Albans
Distance: 14.3 km (8.9 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 122m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Redbournbury to Childwickbury: 10.6 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Hertfordshire Way, Ver Valley Walk, River Ver Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 6
Pubs / Cafes on route: Many in St Albans Town Centre
Map: St Albans & Hatfield Map | Hemel Hempstead & Welwyn Garden City | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 182
Links: Redbournbury, St Albans, Childwickbury, River Ver

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 the Verulamium Car Park on the western edge of the town. The location is great for the walk but it’s also expensive. There’s other parking and public transport options in St Albans though.

Most of this walk is in the countryside to the north of the city, however there’s a “bonus” loop of 2.5 km that takes in St. Alban’s Cathedral, Fishpool Street and Verulamium Park. It’s worth doing but if you want to skip it the main section of the walk is around 11.5 km. My advice is to do the main section first then have a rest in one of the city’s pubs and cafes then do the small loop before returning to the car park.

For the main section of the route, exit the car park on the western side onto St Michael’s Street then take a right onto the A4147 Hemel Hempstead Road. It’s a busy route into the city but the pavement is safe enough and it’s a short distance. After the roundabout carefully cross over and take the first lane on the left heading into farmland in a north-westerly direction. Follow this path through fields, woods and a golf course to the small village of Childwickbury.

Continue through Childwickbury until you reach the A1081 Harpenden Road. Take a left onto the A1081 and follow the pavement for 1.2 km then take a left onto Beesonend Lane. Follow the lane for 2 km in a south-westerly direction until you reach a T-junction with a path that runs parallel to the river Ver. Take a left to follow this path in a southerly direction to the A5183 Redbourn Road.

Cross over the road and enter a gate into the Gorhambury Estate. Follow the path through the estate until you reach the A4147 Hemel Hempstead Road. Cross over the road to return to St Michael’s Street and the car park. Note that Gorhambury is a private estate with permissive paths running through it. The gate from the A5183 was locked when we were there so we had to take a less interesting diversion along the A5183. Check the Gorhambury Estate website for details of any closures.

Hertfordshire Way next section clockwise: Sandridge and Heartwood Forest
Hertfordshire Way next section anti clockwise: Redbourn and Redbournbury

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Richard gower4 October 2025Trek, Chilterns, Hertfordshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Redbourn and Redbournbury

Start & Finish: Free car park on West Common, Redbourn, St Albans AL3 7ND
Distance: 9 km (6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 74m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Redbourn to Redbournbury: 4 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Hertfordshire Way, Chiltern Way, Ver Valley Walk, River Ver Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): Nickey Line
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Cricketers of Redbourn at start and end
Map: St Albans & Hatfield Map | Hemel Hempstead & Welwyn Garden City | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 182
Links: Redbourn, Redbournbury, Redbournbury Mill, River Ver, Nickey Line

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 the free car park on West Common near the cricket club. Walk along the tree-lined avenue in a south-westerly direction then take a right onto Flamsteadbury Lane. Take a left onto Ben Austins (road) and then a right onto the footpath next to house number 13. When you reach the field corner take a left to follow the Hertfordshire Way in a south-westerly direction along the field-edge. Keep following both the Very Valley Walk and Hertfordshire Way to pass through the grounds of St Mary’s Church, across Hemel Hempstead Road and onto the Nickey Lane disused railway.

Take a left onto the Nickey Line and follow it for 1.8 km until you reach a path junction just after crossing over the River Red. Take right at this path junction to leave the Nickey Line to stay on the Hertfordshire Way. Follow the Hertfordshire Way in a south-easterly direction for 2.6 km as it runs parallel to the River Ver. Approximately 0.5 km south of the Redbournbury Watermill leave the Hertfordshire Way to cross over the River Ver into a cow field. There’s a section of stepping stones where you can cross an arm of the Ver after the footbridge.

Cross the cow field and over the A4183 Redbourn Road then onto Punchbowl Lane. Follow Punchbowl Lane in a south-westerly direction for 3.3 km then take the footpath on the right to follow the Ver Valley Walk across fields in a northerly direction. Keep on the Ver Valley Walk heading north for approximately 3 km back to the start at West Common.

Hertfordshire Way next section clockwise: St Albans and Childwickbury
Hertfordshire Way next section anti clockwise: Flamstead and Redbourn

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Richard gower27 September 2025Trek, Chilterns, Hertfordshire, EnglandComment

Ales & Trails Creative Juices 10k

When: September 21st 2025
Where: Creative Juices Brewery, Woodoaks Farm Cottages, Denham Way, Maple Cross, Rickmansworth WD3 9XQ
Organiser: Racing Line Running
Distance: 10 km
Elevation: +/- 189m
Course: 3 loops either side of the M25 starting at Woodoaks Farm and reaching to Philipshill Wood
Other routes touched (Walk): Chiltern Way, Chiltern Heritage Trail
Other routes touches (Cycle): Chiltern Heritage Trail Milton Route
Finish time: 1 hour, 38 seconds

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Richard gower21 September 2025Run, 10k, Hertfordshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Flamstead and Redbourn

Start & Finish: Free car park on West Common, Redbourn, St Albans AL3 7ND
Distance: 11.4 km (7 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 98m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Flamstead to Redbourn: 4.2 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Hertfordshire Way, Chiltern Way, Ver Valley Walk, River Ver Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 57
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Spotted Dog or The Three Blackbirds in Flamstead at 6.5 km in and several options in Redbourn at the start and end.
Map: St Albans & Hatfield Map | Hemel Hempstead & Welwyn Garden City | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 182
Links: Flamstead, Redbourn, River Ver

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 the free car park on West Common near the cricket club. Walk along the tree-lined avenue in a north-easterly direction to Redbourn High Street. Cross over onto Watersend Road, following the River Ver Trail as it runs parallel to the River Ver. After 5km you’ll reach the M1 junction. This isn’t a pleasant section and be careful as you navigate the motorway underpass and cross the roundabout on the western side. Once across the junction you’ll be back into quieter farm and woodland on the 1 km section to Flamstead. You’re now over half way into the route and it’s a good chance to stop for a rest in either the Spotted Dog or Three Blackbirds.

At the junction of Flamstead High Street and Chapel Road you’ll pick up the Hertfordshire Way heading south along Trowley Hill Road. Approximately 0.5 km south of the Three Blackbirds you’ll take a footpath on the left as Trowley Hill Road curves to the west. Continue along the Hertfordshire Way initially in a southerly direction then curving towards the east. You’ll cross over the M1 again, but this time it’s a lot easier as it’s over a traffic-free bridge. Continue along the Hertfordshire Way back to the start at West Common, Redbourn.

Hertfordshire Way next section clockwise: Redbourn and Redbournbury
Hertfordshire Way next section anti clockwise: Flamstead and Markyate

Back to Chiltern Walks Index

Richard gower23 August 2025Trek, Chilterns, Hertfordshire, EnglandComment

Ales & Trails 3 Brewers 10k

When: July 27th 2025
Where: The 3 Brewers of St. Albans, The Potato Shed, Symondshyde Farm, Symondshyde Lane, Hatfield AL10 9BB
Organiser: Racing Line Running
Distance: 10 km
Elevation: +/- 110m
Course: 2 lap loop of farmland to the north of the Brewery.
Other routes touched (Walk): Hertfordshire Way, The Romans and Nomansland Trail
Finish time: 57 minutes, 43 seconds

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Richard gower27 July 2025Run, 10k, Hertfordshire, EnglandComment

Greater London OS Trig Pillars

If you’ve searched for or stumbled across this page then you probably already know what an OS Trig Pillar is. If you don’t then this article from the Ordnance Survey is a good place to start.

There were 30 OS Trig Pillars built in Greater London of which 24 are still in place. Of these some are on private land and are visible from a distance but not reachable. There’s a further 14 Trig Pillars that are outside of Greater London but inside of the M25. Special mention goes to TP9117 North Ockenden which is inside Greater London but outside of the M25.

I completed my mission to visit all accessible and visible Trig Pillars within Greater London and the M25. The definition of accessible is somewhat subjective though as some that I’ve listed as accessible are just off the public right of way. Looking at the logs, there’s others who have successfully bagged ones I’ve listed as inaccessible but I’ve taken a more risk-averse approach and avoided trespassing, causing damage or scaring animals. Always check the logs on Trigpointing.uk to see how easy it is to access a pillar.

The Map

Click on each icon to see the Trig Pillar name and a link to the page on Trigpointing.uk

The Spreadsheet

The Photos: Greater London Trig Pillars

No photo for TP5676 - Riddles Down

TP0884 - Arkley Resr

TP0425 - Banbury Resr

TP1037 - Barn Hill

TP1252 - Belmont

TP0432 - Berwick Pond Road

TP2145 - Chessington

TP7121 - Dagnam Park New

TP2802 - Dog Kennel Hill

TP3311 - Garland Hill

TP3939 - Hilly Fields

TP4024 - Horsenden Hill

TP4122 - Islips Manor Park

TP4218 - King George V Resr

TP4378 - Layhams Farm

TP5231 - One Tree Hill Recreation Ground

TP5486 - Pole Hill

TP5488 - Pollards Hill

TP5674 - Richmond Park

TP5724 - Romford Common

TP6393 - The Kiln

TP6515 - Tomkyns

The Photos: Inside M25 but outside of Greater London Trig Pillars

TP1536 - Botley Hill

TP2138 - Chelsham Court

TP3982 - Holmshill

TP4287 - Knockholt Beeches

TP5078 - Netherwild Farm

TP5210 - Ockley Hill

TP6700 - Wake Arms

TP6775 - Wattons Green

TP7054 - Woodoak Farm

TP6792 - Well Hill

The Log Sheet

If you would like a PDF version of my manual Greater London OS Trig Pillars Log Sheet, please BuyMeACoffee and let me know on the Contact Page. It’s a table of all Greater London Trig Pillars, plus a separate page for those outside of London but inside the M25. You can track your date completed and there’s space for your own Notes. It’s simple and you could easily make one yourself, but let me know if you want a copy of mine. 20% of each virtual coffee goes to one of the Causes that I support and the rest goes toward the running of this website.

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Richard gower21 July 2025Trek, Trig Pillar, London, Middlesex, Kent, Surrey, Essex, Hertfordshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Flamstead and Markyate

Approaching Flamstead with rain clouds behind

Start & Finish: Flamstead Recreation Ground, St Albans AL3 8BS
Distance: 12 km (7.5 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 135m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Babies Wood to Flamstead: 4.3 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Hertfordshire Way, Chiltern Way, Ver Valley Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): Chilterns Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Spotted Dog or Three Blackbirds at the start in Flamstead. Several in Markyate, just off route at 2.8 km
Map: St Albans & Hatfield Map | Hemel Hempstead & Welwyn Garden City | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 182
Links: Flamstead, Markyate

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 the free parking at Flamstead Recreation Ground off Hollybush Lane. From pick up the Hertfordshire Way on a footpath heading west, just south of Friendless Lane. Follow the path onto Friendless Lane then take a path on the right to cross farmland in a north-westerly direction to Markyate.

The Hertfordshire Way takes a loop around Markyate following Pickford Road and Buckwood Road then takes a southerly course across fields to Roe End Lane. Take a right onto Roe End Lane then a left onto a track to reach Beechwood Park Drive. Shortly after Beechwood Park School take a right to cross fields and woodland in a southerly direction until you meet the Chiltern Way at Gaddesden. Take a left onto the Chiltern Way and follow it in a north-easterly direction back to Flamstead.

Hertfordshire Way next section clockwise: Flamstead and Redbourn
Hertfordshire Way next section anti clockwise: Great Gaddesden and Gaddesdon Row

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Richard gower7 June 2025Trek, Chilterns, Hertfordshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Great Gaddesden and Gaddesden Row

Crossing the River Gade at Great Gaddesden

Start & Finish: Hemel Hempstead Garden Centre, Piper's Hill, Great Gaddesden, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 3BY
Distance: 9.1 km (5.7 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 116m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Great Gaddesden to the Babies Wood: 4 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Hertfordshire Way, Chiltern Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Chilterns Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: Hemel Hempstead Garden Centre cafe at the start and end
Map: Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
Links: Great Gaddesden, Gaddesden Row, River Gade, Gaddesden Place

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 Hemel Hempstead Garden Centre off Piper’s Hill (road). It’s for customer parking but if you visit the cafe or buy something from the shop and come back before closing time they’re unlikely to mind. The actual start of the walk is at the corner of Piper’s Hill (road) and Church Meadow (road). Just to the south-west of this corner you’ll find a small lane on the left heading in a south-easterly direction. Follow this to cross over the River Gade and the B440 Leighton Buzzard Road. Be very careful on this road as the crossing is on a corner and cars can pass by very fast.

Once over the B440 follow the Chiltern Way in a north-easterly direction through the grounds of Gaddesden Place. If it looks familiar to you it’s because it’s been the location of many films and TV series. Stay on the Chiltern Way until you reach the small hamlet of Gaddesden Row. Shortly after Gaddesden Row leave the Chiltern Way to follow a path heading in a north-westerly direction along the left hand edge of Newland’s Wood and Babies Wood to join the Hertfordshire Way at Beechwood Lane. Be careful here as it’s also the corner of a Hertfordshire Way junction where you have 2 options to follow it. Take the left hand option to follow it in a westerly direction along Dean Lane.

About half-way along Dean Lane take the footpath on the left to keep on the Hertfordshire Way in a southerly direction to Jockey End. Take a left onto Gaddesden Row (road) then a right to follow the Hertfordshire Way in a south-westerly direction back to Great Gaddesden. Again, be careful when crossing back over the B440. After crossing back over the River Gade you’ll reach Church Meadow (road). Follow this in a southerly direction to return to the start.

Hertfordshire Way next section clockwise: Flamstead and Markyate
Hertfordshire Way next section anti clockwise: Great Gaddesden and Ashridge

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Richard gower5 April 2025Trek, Chilterns, Hertfordshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Great Gaddesden and Ashridge

Start & Finish: Hemel Hempstead Garden Centre, Piper's Hill, Great Gaddesden, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 3BY
Distance: 9.3 km (5.8 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 153m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Great Gaddesden to the Ashridge Estate: 4 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Hertfordshire Way, Ashridge Boundary Trail,
Other routes touched (cycle): Chilterns Cycleway, Iknield Way Riders Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: Hemel Hempstead Garden Centre cafe at the start and end
Map: Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
Links: Great Gaddesden, Ashridge Estate, Nettleden

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 Hemel Hempstead Garden Centre off Piper’s Hill (road). It’s for customer parking but if you visit the cafe or buy something from the shop and come back before closing time they’re unlikely to mind. The actual start of the walk is at the corner of Piper’s Hill (road) and Church Meadow (road). Walk up Church Meadow in a northerly direction then continue as it curves round in an anti-clockwise direction. Near the end of Church Meadow take the footpath on the right after house #20 to follow the Hertfordshire Way in an west / north-westerly direction.

The Hertfordshire Way will join St Margaret’s Road near the entrance to the Amaravati Buddhist Monastery. Continue along the road keeping the monastery on your left. Just over 1 km along St Margaret’s Road take a path on the left to cross a field to the bottom of a valley, take a right to follow the valley bottom path to reach Nettleden Road. Cross over the road to pass through a small patch of woodland to join the Ashridge Boundary Trail. At this point leave the Hertfordshire Way to follow the Ashridge Boundary Trail heading south.

Follow the Ashridge Boundary Trail for ~3 km until Highridge Farm Camping then take a left to reach Nettleden Road. Take a right onto Nettleden Road then a left onto Pipers Hill. Follow Pipers Hill in a north-easterly direction all the way back to Great Gaddesden.

Hertfordshire Way next section clockwise: Great Gaddesden and Gaddesdon Row
Hertfordshire Way next section anti clockwise: Ashridge Boundary Trail Section 2

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Richard gower22 March 2025Trek, Chilterns, Hertfordshire, England, National TrustComment

Chiltern Walks: Boxmoor and Kings Langley

Start: Hemel Hempstead Station, London Road, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 9BQ
Finish: Kings Langley Station, Station Road, Kings Langley WD4 8LF
Distance: 12.8 km (7.9 miles)
Elevation change: +154m / - 175m. Net -21m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Bovingdon to Kings Langley: 10 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Way, Grand Union Canal Circular Walk Kings Langley - Hemel, Hertfordshire Way, Red Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): Grand Union Canal Towpath
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Bell Inn Bovingdon (3.9 km in), several in Kings Langley, just off route at the end.
Map: St Albans & Hatfield Map | Hemel Hempstead & Welwyn Garden City | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 182
Links: Hemel Hempstead, Boxmoor, Bovingdon, Kings Langley

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.

Unlike most our walks on the Hertfordshire Way this is a point-to-point walk rather than a circular. The start and end are at railway stations on the same line so it’s a quick train journey to get from the start to the end. We parked at Kings Langley Station and got the train to the start at Hemel Hempstead. Check train times in advance for any delays or cancellations.

From Hemel Hempstead Station we took the southern exit and walked along the path that connects to the Chiltern Way. Take a left onto the Chiltern Way to continue walking south. After 800m leave the Chiltern Way to take the Red Walk path on the right towards Bovingdon. Once in Bovingdon you’ll have reconnected with the Hertfordshire Way which you’ll follow in an anti-clockwise direction all the way to Kings Langley Station.

Hertfordshire Way next section clockwise: Berkhamsted and Bourne End
Hertfordshire Way next section anti clockwise: Kings Langley to Aldenham

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Richard gower15 March 2025Trek, Chilterns, Hertfordshire, Canal, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Cow Roast and Berkhamsted Common

Start & Finish: Free parking by the Cow Roast Recreation Ground, Tring, HP23 5RE
Distance: 11.9 km (7.3 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 140m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Tom’s Hill to Berkhamsted Common: 3 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Way, Grand Union Canal Circular Walk Berkhamsted-Tring, Hertfordshire Way, Ashridge Boundary Trail, Rangers Ramble
Other routes touched (cycle): Grand Union Canal Towpath, Chilterns Cycleway, Berkhamsted 6 Circular
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Artisan at the start and finish
Map: Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
Links: Cow Roast, Berkhamstead Common, Berkhamsted

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 the free parking spot next to the recreation ground at Cow Roast. Cross over the A4251 Trig Road to reach Cow Roast Lock. Cross over the canal and follow The Chiltern Way along Wharf Lane. Take the path on the left to continue on the Chiltern Way crossing over the railway footbridge and climb the hill into the Ashridge Estate. When you meet the Hertfortshire Way take a right to follow it for 3 km into Berkhamsted Common.

Once you’re 5km into the walk from Cow Roast lock take a right to leave the Hertfordhshire Way to follow the Ashridge Boundary Trail in a southerly direction. When you reach Northchurch Lane, leave the Boundary Trail to take a path on the left towards Bridle Lane. Follow Bridle Lane onto Billet Lane then cross the railway line and over the Grand Union Canal. Once on the southern side of the canal follow the tow path in a westerly direction back to the start at Cow Roast.

Hertfordshire Way next section clockwise: Aldbury & Ashridge
Hertfordshire Way next section anti clockwise: Berkhamsted Castle and Common

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Richard gower8 March 2025Trek, Chilterns, Hertfordshire, Canal, England, National TrustComment

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 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.

Hertfordshire Way next section clockwise: Berkhamsted Castle and Common
Hertfordshire Way next section anti clockwise: Boxmoor to Kings Langley

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Richard gower1 March 2025Trek, Chilterns, Hertfordshire, Canal, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Aldbury & Ashridge

Start & Finish: Tring Station, Tring, HP23 5QR
Distance: 7.8 km (4.8 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 138m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Pitstone Common to Tom’s Hill: 6.15 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Grand Union Canal Circular Walk Berkhamsted-Tring, The Ridgeway, Hertfordshire Way, Chiltern Way, Ashridge Boundary Trail, Foresters Walk, Rangers Ramble
Other routes touched (cycle): Chilterns Cycleway, Tring 5 Circular, Berkhamsted 6 Circular
Pubs / Cafes on route: Church Farm Cafe (1.5 km in), The Greyhound (1.7 km in), Poppies Cafe (1.8 km in), Ashridge National Trust Cafe (2.7 km in)
Map: Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
Links: Aldbury, Ashridge Estate, Ashridge National Trust Estate, Tring Station

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 Tring Station then followed the Ridgeway along station road for 300m to where the Hertfordshire Way crosses the road. Take a left to follow the Hertfordshire Way in a north easterly direction to Aldbury. This a a classic Chiltern Village that’s featured in several films and TV shows. There’s also a good selection of places to stop for a drink. My favourite is the Church Farm cycle cafe.

After Aldbury continue along the Hertfordshire Way up the hill and into the National Trust Ashridge Estate. At around 250m past the National Trust cafe and visitors’ centre leave the Hertfordshire Way to take a right onto the Rangers Ramble. Follow this in a southerly direction until you reach the Hertfordshire Way again. Take a right to to follow the Hertfordshire Way out of the National Trust Estate and back to Trig Station.

Hertfordshire Way next section clockwise: (Ashridge Boundary Trail Route 2) Ashridge Golf Club and Moneybury Hill
Hertfordshire Way next section anti clockwise: Cow Roast and Berkhamsted Common

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Richard gower16 February 2025Trek, Chilterns, National Trust, Hertfordshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Phillipshill Wood and Hanging Wood

Start & Finish: Junction of Chalfont Lane and Shire Lane, Chorleywood, Rickmansworth, WD3 5NT
Distance: 8.4 km (5.2 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 87m
Chilterns Heritage Trail Section Covered: Carpenters Wood to Newland Gorse: 3.5 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Heritage Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Heritage Trail Milton Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: None
Map: Chiltern Hills East Map | High Wycombe, Maidenhead & Rickmansworth | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 172
Links: Chorleywood, Phillipshill Wood, Hanging Wood

This is part of a series of short circular walks in the Chilterns. It’s a part of a series of 17 walks that, between them, cover the 83 km of the Chiltern Heritage Trail. Created as a Millennium project, this trail links the towns and parishes within the district, offering stunning scenery, charming villages, and points of historical interest. 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 the side of the road near the junction of Chalfont Lane and Shire Lane. Start by walking in a southerly direction down Shire Lane until you get to a T junction in the path after 1.5 km. Take a right then follow the Heritage Trail as it curves up to the north-west. Don’t take the left hand path following the Heritage Trail, instead continue north to a path junction where you can take a left to follow the path through the woods to Nightingale Lane.

Take a right onto Nightingale Lane, then right into Roughwood Lane. Be careful on the short walk along Roughwood Lane as it’s a fast road without a pavement. There’s a wide verge to walk along though. Follow Roughwood Lane to the junction with Burtons Lane, then cross over to follow Lodge Lane to the entrance of Lodge Farm Estate. Take a right into the estate, following the path to the railway line. After the tunnel under the rail line, take a right to follow the path through Old Hanging Wood to reconnect with the Chiltern Heritage Trail. Take a right to cross back under the railway line and follow the Heritage Trail back to the start.

Chiltern Heritage Trail next section clockwise: Chalfont St Giles and Newlands Park
Chiltern Heritage Trail next section anti-clockwise: Little Chalfont and Latimer

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Richard gower25 December 2024Trek, Chilterns, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment

Walking The Chiltern Way Part 6 - Shrub Hill Common to Chalfont St. Giles

Between Felden and Bovingdon shortly after sunrise

Start: Chaulden Adventure Playground, 106 Long Chaulden, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 2HX
Finish: The Village Green, Chalfont Saint Giles, HP8 4QF
Distance: 22.7 km (14.1 Miles)
Elevation change: +250m / -303m. Net -53m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Chiltern Way, Red Walk, Hertfordshire Way, Chiltern Heritage Trail, South Bucks Way
Other Routes Touched (cycle): Grand Union Canal Towpath, Chiltern Heritage Trail Milton Route,
Pubs / Cafes on route: Bell Inn Bovingdon (5.9 km in), Green Dragon or Bricklayer’s Flaunden (8.9 km in), Cock In Sarratt (13 km in). Red Lion Chenies (15.1 km in), Cafe at Van Hage Garden Centre (15.5 km in), Merlins Cave (at the finish)
Maps:
- St Albans & Hatfield Map | Hemel Hempstead & Welwyn Garden City | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 182
Links: Chiltern Way (Chiltern Society), Hemel Hempstead, Boxmoor, Bovingdon, Flaunden, Sarratt, Chenies, Chorleywood, Chalfont St Giles

This is the sixth of a series of point to point walks on the Chiltern Way. The full trail is a 134 mile (215 km) long distance path around the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). My friend Brian and I have been doing a section a year on or around the Winter Solstice since 2019. At the current rate we plan to be finished in December 2027. The Chiltern Way is well sign-posted however you should take a map or GPX route to keep on track and be prepared for all weathers. This post isn’t intended as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide.

Brian and I tend to see a lot of each other over the summer months then there’s a gap of a few months when I get distracted by longer holidays and peak busyness at work. The Winter Solstice hike is always a good opportunity to catch up on what we’ve missed in each others’ lives. This year’s Solstice hike was at the midway point between our 50th birthdays. As well as our normal check-in we spent the drive to the start to compare notes on which parts of our bodies were slowing down or wearing out. Fortunately there was nothing too dramatic this year apart from a few aches and twinges.

Picking up from Part 5 at Shrub Hill we headed south through the outskirts of Hemel Hempstead. Our first stop was the obligatory sunrise selfie, albeit not in the most scenic part of this year’s walk.

After 1.6 km we crossed over the Grand Union Canal, last seen at Cow Roast at the start of section 2. After the canal the route ascends up to Boxmoor, also following a section of the Hertfordshire Way until Flaunden. I had marked pub stops on the map at both Flaunden and Sarratt in the optimistic hope that one of them might be open for morning coffee. As per all other Soltrice Walks we were way too early. The first rest and food stop came right at lunchtime at the cafe in the Van Hage Garden Centre off the A404.

For the afternoon section we were in very familiar territory, close to our homes and on very familiar paths. After the A404 the route joins the Chiltern Heritage Trail, heading sound through Chorleywood, along Old Shire Lane and before curving round towards the west to Chalfont St Giles. The Merlin’s Cave pub, with an excellent fish and chips, was our end point for this section.

Previous section: Walking The Chiltern Way Part 5: Peter’s Green to Shrub Hill Common
Next section: Walking The Chiltern Way Part 7: Chalfont St. Giles to Marlow Bottom. Blog post coming in December 2025

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Richard gower20 December 2024Trek, Chilterns, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, England, CanalComment

parkrun LonDone+ and LonDone ++

“LonDone” is the name for completing the full set of 66 parkrun events in Greater London. There’s 2 other terms: “LonDone +” and “LonDone ++” that have been widely debated in the various parkrun social media forums.

LonDone + is generally seen as being all parkrun events within the M25. There are currently 15 parkrun events that are within the M25 but outside of Greater London or a total of 81 events within the M25.
Up to now I’ve ignored LonDone ++ as a lot of the definitions have felt a bit arbitrary. However, one definition that I like is that it includes events that are outside of the M25 but have a Voronoi area that crosses inside the M25. This includes a further 9 parkrun events making a total of 90 events that have part of their Voronoi area within the M25. Note that different parkrun apps have slightly different calculations for their Voronoi apps. For this page I’ve used the Voronoi map from the Running Challenges Chrome Extension.
LonDone+ and/or LonDone++ are also referred to as “Orbit-All”

See the main LonDone page for details of all parkrun events within Greater London.

Numbers exclude any events that are not open to the general public such as prisons or armed forces facilities.

LonDone +: parkrun events within the M25

Event (County, Region)

Aldenham (Hertfordshire, East of England)
Banstead Woods (Surrey, South East England)
Brooklands (Surrey, South East England)
Cassiobury (Hertfordshire, East of England)
Dartford (Kent, South East England)
Dartford Heath (Kent, South East England)
Egham Orbit (Surrey, South East England)
Gunpowder (Essex, East of England)
Hazelwood (Surrey, Middlesex, South East England)
Leavesden Country (Hertfordshire, East of England)
Nonsuch (Surrey, South East England)
Rickmansworth (Hertfordshire, East of England)
Roding Valley (Essex, East of England)
South Oxhey (Hertfordshire, East of England)
Swanley (Kent, South East England)

Note that the Egham Orbit course crosses under the motorway with a short section outside of the M25. I've included it in LonDone+ as the start, finish and majority of the course are within the M25.

LonDone ++: parkrun events with a Voronoi area crossing the M25

Event (County, Region)

Black Park (Buckinghamshire, South East England)
Brentwood (Essex, East of England)
Homewood (Surrey, South East England)
Lullingstone (Kent, South East England)
Mole Valley (Surrey, South East England)
Oaklands College (Hertfordshire, East of England)
Reigate Priory (Surrey, South East England)
Squerryes Winery (Kent, South East England)
St Albans (Hertfordshire, East of England)

Notes on recent changes

Thurrock’s Voronoi area extended across the M25 before the start of Ingrebourne Hill.
Jersey Farm’s Voronoi area extended across the M25 before the start of Oaklands College.

The images below show the Voronoi area for each of the LonDon ++ parkrun events in blue with the M25 as a red line.