An old railway track, open common land, and swallow holes
7.5 miles (12 km)
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The path leading up to Redwell Wood Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
The walk starts outside the Galleria in Hatfield and heads south along the route of the old railway branch-line from Hatfield to St Albans. You will pass the restored station of Nast Hyde Halt, walk for almost two miles down a tree-lined byway, cross Colney Heath common, then climb the hill over to North Mymms across Potwell Valley with its meadows and swallow holes. Eventually you drop down to Water End and cross the swallow holes. At that point the route splits for those returning to Brookmans Park and Welham Green.
Directions
Catch the 610 Uno bus from Brookmans Park or Welham Green to the Galleria in Hatfield. As you approach the Galleria the bus swings left down College Lane and then takes another 10 minutes going round the University of Hertfordshire before returning and arriving at the Galleria bus stop, so you could jump off a stop before the Galleria to save 10 mins.
1: Head NW from the bus stop looking out for a sign on your left immediately after you cross the A1(M). Take this path, Hatfield footpath 184, and head SW for 200m with the A1(M) on your left until a path turns to your right under a road bridge. You are now on the Alban Way, which follows the route of the former Hatfield to St Albans railway line. Follow the path SW for 1.1km as it goes through a small housing estate and then crosses Ellenbrook Lane. Cross the lane and continue heading SW. Immediately after Ellenbrook Lane you will pass through the restored Nast Hyde Halt, one of the stations on the old line.
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Nast Hyde Halt on the Alban Way Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
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Nast Hyde Halt on the Alban Way Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
And a more recent video, shot in 2017 by Rediscovering Lost Railways.
Continue walking SW following the track until you see a byway on your left. This is Colney Heath BOAT 52 (byway open to all traffic), although it is also registered as Hatfield BOAT 26.
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The byway heading south from the Alban Way Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
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The footpath junction at east of Colney Heath and north of Roestock Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
4: Cross the road and turn left. Soon after the shops turn right to reach the common. You will see a coal post in front of you.
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A coal post at Colney Heath Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
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The gravel track leading SW from Colney Heath Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
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The gate leading south and south-east towards Coursers Road Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
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The gate leading from the common land to Coursers Road Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
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The footpath sign by the gap where the path crosses Coursers Road Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
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The track heading south from Coursers Farm Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
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The choice of the permissive path or official path 8 (permissive path recommended) Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
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Follow the way-marked signposts as you cross several fields and climb the hill Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
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Follow the way-marked signposts as you cross several fields and climb the hill Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
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Follow the way-marked signposts as you cross several fields and climb the hill Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
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The path leading NE to Potwells Valley with Redwell Wood on the right Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
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Potwells Valley looking NE over North Mymms Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
10: Just after the footbridge take the path on your left, North Mymms bridleway 82, as it climbs left and over the footbridge crossing the A1(M). Drop down to the other side where the path emerges on Swanland Road. Cross Swanland Road and walk SE down Warrengate Road until you reach The Woodman Inn.
11: Here you turn left on the North Mymms footpath 7 immediately after The Woodman Inn and follow it round over the swallow holes climbing through the woods at the other side to reach an open field.
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The swallow holes at Water End Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
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The swallow holes at Water End Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
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The point where those heading to Welham Green and Brookmans Park part ways Image by Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
* Those heading to Brookmans park turn right, follow the North Mymms footpath 8 round to the right with the field on your left and the hedgerow on your right. Head for the SW corner of this field and cut through the hedgerow to reach Bradmore Lane. Here you turn left and follow the lane to Station Road where you turn right, cross the railway bridge and return to Brookmans Park.
** Those heading to Welham Green turn left and follow North Mymms footpath 8 as it heads NE with the fields on your right and the hedgerow on your left. The path will go through a gap in the hedge before bending right and then continuing NE across a field to reach Station Road. Turn left on Station Road, then right on Bulls Lane, left on Holloways Lane, and then turn right on Dixons Hill Road to reach the railway station.