After the first mile or so of this stage, this walk is mostly alongside the River Ver as it winds its way between Redbourn and St. Albans (Roman name Verulamium). As a result, any inclines are short and gentle with the exception of the final half mile in St. Albans which is a long but fairly gentle slope up.
The plan is as follows: Drive to Redbourn, about an hour’s drive from Staines.
Park, free of charge, in one of the following suggested locations:
- Hawkes Drive - what3words /// newly.woes.grew
- Lamb Lane - what3words /// firms.assume.rugs
- Small car park by the junction of North Common and Lybury lane - what3words /// tulip.invent.palace
- Small car park about half way along West Common - what3words /// length.into.frisay
Rendezvous at around 10:15 am in The Queen of Herts Teashop (https://what3words.com/regard.flops.moon) in Redbourn High Street for tea/coffee/toilets.
We start walking from The Queen of Herts tea shop at around 10.45 am.
We walk over Redbourn Common and then across the southern end of Redbourn to a pathway alongside the River Ver. We then follow that path along the river all the way to St. Albans, perhaps stopping briefly at Redbournbury watermill and bakery at around 2 miles.
At around 5 miles, we will stop for lunch in St. Albans at The Six Bells pub at 1 pm approximately.
We will need to order our lunches in advance. The Six Bells lunchtime snacks menu is here and the main course menu is here. Of course, eating in The Six Bells is not compulsory and anyone taking a packed lunch can eat it in nearby Bell Meadow (https://what3words.com/cargo.bats.wizard), which we will be walking through after lunch anyway.
After lunch, we walk another mile to a road called Holywell Hill at which point, depending on time and the way that the car shares are split, there may be the opportunity to explore some of St. Albans.
Those that don’t want to explore St. Albans can walk the final half mile up Holywell Hill to bus stop 12 (bus route 34) on St. Peter’s Street (what3words /// random.finest.lives) to catch the bus back to High Street, Redbourn. The 34 bus times at St. Peters Street stop are 14:00, 15:55, 17:25 and 18:35.
If bus times don’t suit for getting back to Redbourn, then there are several taxi companies operating in St. Albans and Uber also operates there.
It is recommended that car shares are worked out well in advance and any plans to explore St. Albans are coordinated between the people in each car.
The walk route can be viewed at https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=995455 from where the route GPX file can also be downloaded.
Please let Dick Beresford know whether you will taking packed lunch or eating at The Six Bells, and if the latter, what your menu choice(s) are. You can do this by clicking on the blue text next to "Organiser" at the top of this page. This will open a new page where you can type and send your message. Alternatively you can access Dick's contact details (if you know the members password) from this link: https://spelthornek2.u3asite.uk/walking-group-leaders-contact-details/
Leader: Dick B