From the car park go right into a lime avenue that crosses the common, continuing ahead on a path between high brick garden walls. At High Street bear right and head towards an old steel railway bridge. Just before it go left up steps to join the Nickey Line path, going right over the bridge. At a guidepost go left, on the River Ver Trail, and cross the bypass to continue ahead on a metalled track.
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Follow a field path alongside a hedge, then a hedged path beside a pony paddock to a kissing gate. Pass between stables and Hill Stream Barn to a hand gate. Cross the main road and go through a kissing gate. Follow the hedge, then via two kissing gates go along a hedged path which brings you to Redbournbury Watermill.
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From the watermill turn right up the lane back to Watling Street (A5183) and go left along the pavement. Shortly cross to Hill Farm Lane, a richly hedged narrow lane winding between cornfields and with glimpses of St Alban’s Abbey away to the left. Pass the access to the timber-framed Bohemia Hill Farmhouse of about 1600 and pass Bohemia House, bearing left up to a mini-stile. Cross the corner of a horse paddock to a kissing gate and across an arable field to reach a lane.
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Turn right along the lane and continue ahead, eventually passing under the roar of the M1 motorway to reach a T-junction.
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Turn right along the pavement to a lane, signed ‘Private Drive’. Follow this to a gravel drive to a farmhouse and converted barns. Go left, then right round a pony paddock to a stile. Head across an arable field to a guidepost, then descend and pass to the right of a tree clump, shortly descending to the farmyard of Woodend Farm. Pass to the left of an 18th-century tile-roofed barn and descend to a metal field gate.
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Beyond the gate go immediately right to rejoin the Nickey Line path. Follow this to bollards and go left along a lane to cross the main road, the B487, into Aubrey Lane. Past a car park on your right there is amid laurels a footpath sign. Go right, with the rampart and ditch of The Aubreys hill fort on your left. Cross the Aubrey Park Hotel drive.
Go through a kissing gate, then follow the path in wildflower-rich grassland beside the fort, then alongside the M1. At a kissing gate go right, the path parallel to a road. Join it to pass beneath the M1, then bear left to a kissing gate. Cross the corner of an arable field to another kissing gate. Go through this and bear left, then at garden fences bear right to walk to St Mary’s Church. From the church follow the lime avenue into Churchend. At its end bear half left on to West Common and follow a lime avenue back to the car park.
As Hertfordshire is so close to London, many of its towns have become commuter havens. St Albans, less than 19 miles (30km) from the capital, has retained its distinctive character, along with many historic remains.
From the car park go right into a lime avenue that crosses the common, continuing ahead on a path between high brick garden walls. At High Street bear right and head towards an old steel railway bridge. Just before it go left up steps to join the Nickey Line path, going right over the bridge. At a guidepost go left, on the River Ver Trail, and cross the bypass to continue ahead on a metalled track.
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1 of 7
Follow a field path alongside a hedge, then a hedged path beside a pony paddock to a kissing gate. Pass between stables and Hill Stream Barn to a hand gate. Cross the main road and go through a kissing gate. Follow the hedge, then via two kissing gates go along a hedged path which brings you to Redbournbury Watermill.
Â
2 of 7
From the watermill turn right up the lane back to Watling Street (A5183) and go left along the pavement. Shortly cross to Hill Farm Lane, a richly hedged narrow lane winding between cornfields and with glimpses of St Alban’s Abbey away to the left. Pass the access to the timber-framed Bohemia Hill Farmhouse of about 1600 and pass Bohemia House, bearing left up to a mini-stile. Cross the corner of a horse paddock to a kissing gate and across an arable field to reach a lane.
Â
3 of 7
Turn right along the lane and continue ahead, eventually passing under the roar of the M1 motorway to reach a T-junction.
Â
4 of 7
Turn right along the pavement to a lane, signed ‘Private Drive’. Follow this to a gravel drive to a farmhouse and converted barns. Go left, then right round a pony paddock to a stile. Head across an arable field to a guidepost, then descend and pass to the right of a tree clump, shortly descending to the farmyard of Woodend Farm. Pass to the left of an 18th-century tile-roofed barn and descend to a metal field gate.
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5 of 7
Beyond the gate go immediately right to rejoin the Nickey Line path. Follow this to bollards and go left along a lane to cross the main road, the B487, into Aubrey Lane. Past a car park on your right there is amid laurels a footpath sign. Go right, with the rampart and ditch of The Aubreys hill fort on your left. Cross the Aubrey Park Hotel drive.
6 of 7
Go through a kissing gate, then follow the path in wildflower-rich grassland beside the fort, then alongside the M1. At a kissing gate go right, the path parallel to a road. Join it to pass beneath the M1, then bear left to a kissing gate. Cross the corner of an arable field to another kissing gate. Go through this and bear left, then at garden fences bear right to walk to St Mary’s Church. From the church follow the lime avenue into Churchend. At its end bear half left on to West Common and follow a lime avenue back to the car park.
As Hertfordshire is so close to London, many of its towns have become commuter havens. St Albans, less than 19 miles (30km) from the capital, has retained its distinctive character, along with many historic remains.
