Hill climb, quiet valley, woodland
7.35 miles (11.8km)
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| Hawkshead Wood mentioned at point 18 Image copyright of Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
This walk is a mix of peaceful remote locations and sections walking alongside the busy M25 and A1(M) motorways. The reason we have included the two sections close to major roads is that it enables walkers to follow a loop that takes in the southern part of North Mymms Park. This is a fairly stretching hike with a total of 365 ft of ascent. Parts can be muddy after rain. It should take around two hours.
Directions
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| Map for Walk 85: North Mymms Park S Loop Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors An interactive map with KML and GPX data is embedded at foot of page |
- Start the walk in Brookmans Park village centre. Head west crossing the railway bridge and follow Station Road round as it heads north.
- When you reach Bradmore Lane on your left turn left and head west following the lane.
- At the first bend you will see a footpath on your right. This is North Mymms footpath 7 (marked in orange on the map above and below). The footpath should head north-west along through the crops. Unfortunately this way is sometimes muddy or, after crops have just been sown, not clearly defined. If the route is not clear (or muddy) return to Bradmore Lane and continue heading downhill until just after the second bend when you will see a footpath sign on your right.
- This is North Mymms footpath 8. Take this path for a short distance but when it starts to cross the field ahead, you keep left keeping the field on your right and the hedgerow on your left. Continue heading north-west and follow the path round to the left. Here you have the option of following an alternative route, marked in red on the maps above and below, which takes you past the swallow holes.
The detour past the swallow holes mentioned at point 4
Image copyright of Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
However this can be dangerous, and the path isn't great when wet, so best to ignore the first two white marker posts and head for the third, which is North Mymms footpath 32. - Turn left here and double back on yourself following footpath 32 as it dips down through the woodland to a small wooden footbridge over a small brook. Cross the bridge and follow the path, now North Mymms footpath 30, and head south-west until you emerge in a field.
- Here you turn left and follow the path round until you reach Swanland Road.
- Turn left on the path alongside Swanland Road until you reach the junction with Warrengate Road on your left.
- Cross Swanland Road and head for the bridleway sign on the west side of the road. This is North Mymms bridleway 82, which crosses the A1(M).
- Once over the A1(M) look out for a footpath sign on your left.
The footpath mentioned at point 9
Image copyright of Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
This is North Mymms footpath 6 which takes you north-west across a field (often grazed by sheep), to St Mary's Church Road in the distance. - Turn left on St Mary's Church Road and walk south following the road (North Mymms bridleway 2) until it bends to the right.
- Go though the gate and continue heading south along the bridleway ignoring a path to your left at the point where the track starts its climb up to Cangsley Grove.
- At the top of the hill you can enjoy the views to the south over Potwells Valley.
The bridleway mentioned at point 12
Image copyright of Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
Here you turn right on North Mymms bridleway 90 and head south-west keeping the woodland on your right and the field on your left.
The bridleway mentioned at point 12
Image copyright of Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
This bridleway soon becomes Ridge bridleway 44. - Continue heading south-west until you reach a gate on your left.
The gate mentioned at point 13
Image copyright of Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
Go through this gate and you are now on Ridge bridleway 10 with great views over to St Albans.
The view mentioned at point 13
Image copyright of Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
Continue along the bridleway as it drops down to Redwell Wood Farm. - Look out for a bridleway on your left between the farm buildings. This is Ridge bridleway 13. Continue following this track. You will see a footpath going off to your left (Ridge footpath 12) which you could take and cut across the field (shown in orange on the maps above and below), but this can be muddy, so you can also stay on the bridleway instead.
- Continue alongside the north side of the M25 for a short distance until you see a bridleway sign on your left (Ridge bridleway 41).
The bridleway sign mentioned at point 15
Image copyright of Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
- Turn left here and follow the path east for a short distance until it merges with another bridleway (Ridge bridleway 34) where you turn left and continue heading east until you reach Blackhorse Lane.
- Turn left on Blackhorse Lane and head south-east and then north-east until you reach a bend in the road and a triangle of grass.
- Here you turn left and then immediately right taking the path to the right of the cottage (Ridge restricted byway 11).
The cottage mentioned at point 18
Image copyright of Hertfordshire Walker released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
Follow this path uphill and through the pine trees of Hawkshead Wood before it drops down to the A1(M). - Cross the A1(M) on the footbridge and then cross Swanland Road and take the cut through to Warrengate Road.
- Here you turn left on Warrengate Road and head north-west past the pumping station and looking out for a footpath sign on your right (North Mymms footpath 11 - also known as Wise's Lane.
- Cross the footbridge over Mymmshall Brook (see if you can spot a kingfisher), then continue heading east and follow the path through Brick Kiln Wood. Go through a gate, turn right, cross a small footbridge and then turn left heading east with the hedge on your left and the field on your right until you reach a gate.
- Turn left here and follow the footpath over a footbridge and continue heading north along North Mymms footpath 9.
- When you reach Station Road turn right and head back to Brookmans Park.
