17.6 km (10.9 miles), Difficulty 3/10.
Through attractive common land, then a newly created Woodland Trust forest (Heartwood) to Sandridge for lunch. Then on through a pretty country estate (Childwickbury) to the ancient settlement of St Alban’s with its impressive Cathedral (worth a look), and the remains of Roman Verulanium (museum entry £6).
Lunch
There are 3 pubs in Sandridge serving food 12-2.30.
The 17th century Queens Head (tel 01727 855069) at 7 Church End .The menu caters for vegetarians and vegans. Booking ahead is advisable
The Green Man (tel 01727 854845)at 31 High Street.
The 400 year old Rose & Crown (tel 01727 859739) at 24 High Street A country pub with a beer garden. It specialises in cask ales.
The churchyard near the Queens Head would do for picnics.
Tea
The suggested tea place is the Cathedral Cafeteria, just inside the Cathedral, which is open daily until 4 pm.
An alternative is Abigails (tel: 01727-8560039) in the Village Arcade in the Cathedral precincts, which is open daily until 5 pm. Sadly, Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, below the cathedral, one of the ‘oldest’ pubs in England, has closed, a victim of Covid restrictions..
Trains
You want a return to Harpenden.
Get the Bedford-bound Thameslink at St Pancras at 10:05. You can also catch it at East Croydon 9:33, London Bridge 9:49, Blackfriars 9:56. Arrives Harpenden 10.35.
There are about 5 trains an hour returning from St Albans City.
There is also one train an hour from St Albans Abbey (xx:29) changing at Watford and requiring a different ticket.
Directions: here.
T=swc.351
4 comments:
Just wondering whether the lunch stop in Sandridge will be long enough for a pub lunch, or whether walkers should bring a packed lunch? Wouldn't want to bring nothing, and then lose the group after lunch because the pub takes longer than sandwiches in the churchyard
It’s difficult to say. Depends on how busy the pub is - it’s Sunday - and what the others want to do. Usually a large contingent of picnickers on a Sunday. And common for the group to divide into smaller clumps. Why not bring something as backup eg biscuits
Thanks, will do!
I've hung on before writing this up, to see if anyone else felt inclined to do so, seeing as I missed the original meet up (caught an earlier train and joined outside the station) and didn't go to the pub either!
I was told we were #12, I didn't think we were quite as many as that but may have missed a couple. The weather was #bright-and-dry all day, and despite the lower temperatures I was as warm as toast throughout, although my companion did notice that neither of us stripped off any layers at any point.
It seems this walk was easier going than others that day, as although there was more mud than usual on the route, this was easily circumnavigated except if you were being channelled through a gate.
At point no.9 the signpost to the bridleway was looked for and found lying face down under some branches, possibly due to the recent storms.
At Sandridge most headed for The Queens Head pub. It was still fairly early and my companion and I were up to walking straight on to St Albans. At Cheapside Farm we saw 2 white ostriches with pale blue eyes, who were quite happy for us to hang out with them for a bit, separated only by the wire fence. In the shed opposite there were plenty of cute lambs jumping about.
Along the approach to Childwickbury House there was a long avenue of daffodils just starting to come out, which will make a really cheerful sight in the weeks to come. There were some snowdrops and violets in places along the route. At the park in St Albans the lake had flooded its banks, making a long row of birds look like they were perching on water instead of the edge. The paths were still easily walkable.
My companion opted for tea at the abbey, and just before heading home I popped down Waxhouse Gate to check whether Abigails has now reopened. It has, and was full, although despite the sunshine no-one was outside in the garden - a reminder that, unless maybe you were a walker, it was still a bit too chilly for that.
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