Walk the Alban Way

GREENACRE 
WALKS 

 Walk the Alban Way

 
Sunday 28th October 2018 @ 11.30am

This is the fourth Greenacres Literary Walk of 2018. 

We have done this walk before but several people missed it first time around and there have been requests to do it again - so here we are. Anyway, Walk The Alban Way is a fabulous route with many changes of scenery and deserves to be revisited. We take the train from Mill Hill Broadway three stops up the line to St Albans City to discover the 'Alban Way'. We will meet in the car park of Mill Hill Broadway Station at 11-30am sharp. The entrance is in Bunns Lane. Everyone will need a cheap day return to St Albans City which costs £4-10 as part of a group booking.

The Alban Way used to be a single track railway that linked St Albans to Hatfield. Passenger numbers dwindled from the 1930s and the last passenger train ran in 1951. Goods trains lingered on until 1968. Today the line remains as a very pleasant greenway. We will explore the St Albans end of the line that has several bridges and other remnants of the railway including a platform at Hill End which was the station next to the Marconi Works and the intact station buildings of St Albans London Road (now used as a nursery school) which we will see on the last part of the walk..

We will stop for packed lunch in the Hill End Garden of Rest with more benches in the adjoining Longacres Park. After lunch we head east along the line for a further quarter of a mile before turning off, to walk south west through Highfield Park, then through a stretch of garden city suburb and a footpath across Verulam Golf Course where we will stop for refreshments and snacks. No pre-orders, everyone will pay for their own orders at the clubhouse bar. We expect to be at this point about 3-15pm, so it is more of a tea stop than a lunch stop.

After Verulam Golf Club we will head back to the Alban Way and see the River Ver and the amazing Watercress Wildlife Association Nature Reserve that is a real haven for birds and other wildlife and has ponds, mini orchard, woodland area, butterfly meadow, bridges and a bog. From here just under a mile past London Rd station buildings, along Alban Way and back to the St Alban City station for our finish. This is a fabulous walk with lots of different landscapes and features along the 4.9 mile length - something for everyone, we hope. 

There will be poetry readings along the way!

 Meet Mill Hill Broadway station car park in Bunns Lane. Sunday 28th October at 11-30am for an 11.45am start.

(Those from St Albans/Hatfield meet St Albans City Station 12.10pm)

PRACTICAL MATTERS:

As already stared everyone needs a cheap day return to St Albans City which is £4-10 per person as part of a group ticket. Pay on the day. 

Don't be late at the start, we have a train to catch.

Please bring a packed lunch and bottle of water, there are no eateries along the way until we get to Verulam Golf Club.

Most of the route is flat and level and smooth surfaced.

There is one drop out point along the way, 2.6 miles into the walk.  The no 84 bus runs every 15 minutes to St Albans station in one direction and back to Barnet in the other. If you want to drop out here, please let us know in good time and we will see that you get to the right bus stop.

At the finish we will catch the train back to Mill Hill Broadway. We estimate that we will be at St Albans City Station around 4-45pm.

For more information: 020 8346 5503

The Woodbridge Walk

GREENACRE 
WALKS 

 The Woodridge Walk

 
Sunday 16th September 2018 @ 11.45am

This is the third Greenacres Literary Walk of 2018. 

There's a distinctly autumnal feel in the air now but the weather forecast for Sunday at the moment, is perfect for walking - 22 degrees, cloudy, sunny and dry. Darlands Lake now has some water in it though Folly Brook is mostly dry. There may be more water this weekend after recent rain. The Woodridge Walk is totally car-free, we only cross 2 roads on the whole route, and most of it is through open countryside. A lot of this walk is in 'the middle of nowhere' so there is only one drop out point which is roughly half way round the loop. If you like unspoilt green spaces and water - this one is for you though there are places where the going is a bit bumpy with uneven ground and tree roots so, you do need to be sure footed for this one. 

There will be poetry readings along the way!

 Meet outside Woodside Park Station, Sunday 16th September at 11-45am for an 12 midday start.

PRACTICAL MATTERS:

There is a stretch of uneven path along Folly Brook and there are tree roots across the path in places. This may be a walk for the more sure-footed amongst you. The stretch from Darlands to Totteridge Lane is smooth and firm though it is uphill. The pace, as always, will be leisurely.     

We recommend that you bring a packed lunch and bottle of water.  We're in the middle of nowhere, no eateries on our route so bring your own food with you. We pass The Orange Tree pub but we will not stop as it is very busy on Sunday afternoons and there's no outside seating from September 1st onwards. We can stop outside for those that need a toilet stop. These are the only toilets on our route other than those inside Woodside Park tube station at the start. We'll have a refreshment stop at Laurel Pond.

    

There is only one drop out point along the way. This is at Totteridge Lane, which is exactly 2 miles from the start. The 251 bus runs along Totteridge Lane back to Totteridge and Whetstone tube. Let us know if you need to drop out and we will get you to the right bus stop.

We estimate that we will finish the walk by 4-45pm at Sussex Ring. This is very close to Woodside Park tube station and even closer to the 221 bus. 

This is a good walk if you like open countryside, brooks, lakes, ponds and natural green spaces. Plenty of fresh air and no motor cars. It's very pretty around Darlands and the ponds - lets hope for good walking weather on  the day. If anyone would like a route map, please get in touch. 

For more information: 020 8346 5503