The Alban Way’s Top Walking Routes in and Around St. Albans 8 Aug 2023
Walking With The Alban Way
If you’ve been following the Alban Way for a while now, you’ll know that we enjoy walking around St. Albans. We are so lucky that we are spoilt for choice and almost all routes have at least one great pub for post walk drink or two!
Here’s our guide to our favourite walks with some handy tips / recommendations along the way. If you have any issues finding a walk, you can message us @TheAlbanWay on Instagram. If you have a favourite walk, we’d also love to hear from you so please do drop us a message!
Shaw’s Corner
This is one of our favourite spots in Hertfordshire. A 7.6 mile circular walk passing Shaw’s Corner through woods, fields, passing cute cottages and The Brocket Arms for lunch. Shaw’s Corner is worth a visit just for the gardens alone in the summer.
Devil’s Dyke – Wheathampstead
This walk passes through an ancient battlefield, Devil’s Dyke, crosses two fords and villages you may not even be aware exist! The John Bunyan pub is on the route and is a handy put stop although the walk is only 4.5 miles long.
Brocket Hall
This walk starts and ends at The Queen’s Head pub in Sandridge, a cozy pub which does great roasts and gives a warm welcome. Passing through Brocket Hall and over this beautiful bridge, you also pass through Coleman Green and the John Bunyan pub.
Heartwood Forest
There are some lovely short walks through Heartwood Forest and most are suitable for those with little legs in tow. The Wicked Lady nearby is a lovely pub for a drink afterwards or visit The Potting Shed Cafe at Carpenters Nursery for a slice of cake and a cup of tea afterwards.
The River Ver Trail
The River Ver Project has created a series of short walks exploring the river and the surrounding area. Keep your eyes peeled for herons, newts, crayfish and all sorts of wildlife.
Sandridge Circular
This is a relatively flat, little legs friendly four mile walk which touches Heartwood Forest and crosses through Cheapside Farm. If you do this walk during the spring, have a quick look in the farmer’s barn for their new spring lambs, they are always the highlight of our walk! The Green Man pub and The Queen’s Head are both nearby for lunch and drinks afterwards.
Ivinghoe Beacon
This is one of our favourite walks! A 10 mile circular route with unbelievable views, our tip for this walk is to do the route backwards, take a picnic with you and enjoy the scenery for as long as possible from the top. This walk takes you through beautiful Aldbury, stunning woodlands, past heaps of wild garlic (take a plastic bag and pick some to make pesto at home later), through fields and up this centuries old route for walkers. The Greyhound pub at Aldbury is at the end of the walk for some lunch and a well deserved pint.
Munden Estate
This walk takes in Munden House, goes through woods and across fields. You can just do the shorter circular walk (5.5 miles) parking down School Lane just after the cottages on the right. With two pretty river crossings, it’s an ideal walk but do make sure you wear wellies in the in the as it gets very waterlogged! If you fancy lunch nearby, The Gate at Bricket Wood does fab food and has a lovely garden.
Childwickbury
Lovely Childwickbury is walking distance from St. Albans and this is a very easy route you’ll want to repeat again and again. This short loop which also crosses through the Pick Your Own Strawberries farm on Harpenden Road is perfect in the summer as the Rhododendrons that line the road are stunning and you can eat strawberries all the way home!
Ayot St. Lawrence
The Ayots are simply stunning and our favourite places to walk. This 6 mile walk takes in two churches and Shaw’s Corner plus the Brocket Arms which has outside tables and a ‘trot in’ service for those on horseback with a handy place to tie your horse up. Take some time to explore the churches, the ‘new’ church in particular is very impressive and has the most amazing outlook.
Rothamsted
This walk starts and ends at The White Horse in Harpenden and goes through Rothamsted Research Centre, the Nickey Line former railway and a bluebell wood. It’s a mix of walking through fields, woods and some roads but can be very muddy in winter. It’s a stunning walk and we almost always find ourselves the only people on the footpaths.
Gorhambury Estate
The Gorhambury being so easily accessible from St. Albans means this is a great walk to do on a whim. This 9.5 mile walk, which you can start from the gates to Gorhambury near St. Albans Museum in the park, has a refreshment stop that we love! Following the main road up to the house, this route goes towards Bedmond in a circular loop and has a pop up café on route for ice creams, coffee and cake.