Walk 74: North Mymms North-East Loop

3.5 miles (5.7 km) with 55m of total ascent

The path across North Mymms Park to Tollgate Road

A circular walk from St Mary's Church, North Mymms through North Mymms Park and over to Welham Green via the old Dellsome Lane. Then dropping south over the fields to Water End and back to North Mymms parish church.

Directions

Map for Walk 74: North Mymms North-East Loop
Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker
Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors
There is an interactive map below these directions

Those with GPS devices can download GPX or KML files for this walk. We've added What3Words location references for those who use that system. If you print these walks you might want to use the green PrintFriendly icon at the bottom of these directions to delete elements such as photographs.

Park near St Mary's Church North Mymms or on St Mary's Church Road (location - https://w3w.co/lung.atoms.scope).

1: Walk through the churchyard and past the left side of the church then turn slightly to the right looking out for a path on the left leading NW down to two gates (location - https://w3w.co/branded.bleak.assets).

Take this path, North Mymms footpath 29 and continue heading NW. The path crosses the drive into North Mymms Park and enters another field. Cross this field still heading NW until you reach a footbridge over the River Colne (location - https://w3w.co/drape.elaborate.frost).

Take the wooden footbridge over the River Colne

Continue heading NNW, still on North Mymms footpath 29, through attractive parkland until you reach Tollgate Road (location - https://w3w.co/eagles.honest.courier).

Follow the way markers as you walk NW through North Mymms Park

2: Cross Tollgate Road and go through the gate on the other side.

Turn left after the gate and head NW

Here you turn left and walk NW for 200m along a permissive path that follows Tollgate Road until it reaches a footpath heading ENE (location - https://w3w.co/ready.turned.escape). Take this path, North Mymms footpath 55, and continue for 520m through the fields walking to the left of the line of trees that mark the route.

A line of trees and markers indicate the route NE across the fields

3: When you reach the A1(M), turn left on North Mymms footpath 52 for 55m and head NW to wooden steps (location - https://w3w.co/hammer.bath.region) leading up to a bridge over the A1(M).

Cross the bridge and turn left on the other side , still on North Mymms footpath 52, and head N for 350m until you reach the old Dellsome Lane (location - https://w3w.co/losses.puddles.deed).

4: Turn right on Dellsome Lane, still North Mymms footpath 52, and follow it round to your right and head E and SE for 1km until you reach the houses in Welham Green (location - https://w3w.co/suffer.normal.modes).

Follow Dellsome Lane S and SE to Welham Green

5: Continue down Dellsome Lane until you reach Knolles Crescent on your right (location - https://w3w.co/exit.relate.closes). Walk round the crescent until you reach Dixons Hill Road (location - https://w3w.co/stray.paid.plug) where you turn right and head SW for 320m.

6: When you reach Dixons Hill Close (location - https://w3w.co/kite.jolly.money), turn right and follow the road round to the left looking out for a footpath on your left (location - https://w3w.co/horns.tried.people). Take this path, North Mymms footpath 31, and head SSE for 100m to Dixons Hill Road (location - https://w3w.co/union.fear.agents).

7: When you reach Dixons Hill Road you will see North Mymms footpath 31 continues almost immediately opposite. Follow this footpath SSE across the fields for 210m before it turns SSW and continues for another 280m until you reach a footpath junction (location - https://w3w.co/thigh.trim.doctor).

The footpath from Dixons Hill Road to Water End

8: Here you turn right on North Mymms footpath 30 and head W for 100m to reach the cycle track running along the east side of Swanland Road (location - https://w3w.co/never.humid.rainy). Here you turn left.

9: After 190m you will reach the top of Warrengate Road, look out for the bridleway sign on the opposite side of Swanland Road (location - https://w3w.co/foam.calm.fresh). This bridleway, North Mymms bridleway 82 goes over a footbridge above the A1(M). Take this bridleway which heads N then W over the bridge.

10: At the other side of the bridge look out for a footpath on your left (location - https://w3w.co/extra.riches.slide), this is North Mymms footpath 6. Go through a gate, and then turn diagonally to your right walking ENE back to St Mary's Church.

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Interactive map

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Walk 73: Hatfield to Brookmans Park North-West Linear

7.6 miles (12.3 km) with 136m total ascent

The path leading up to Redwell Wood

The walk starts outside the Galleria in Hatfield and heads south along the route of the old railway branch-line from Hatfield to St Albans. You will pass the restored station of Nast Hyde Halt, walk for almost two miles down a tree-lined byway, cross Colney Heath common, then climb the hill over to North Mymms across Potwell Valley with its meadows and swallow holes. Eventually you drop down to Water End and cross the swallow holes before crossing the fields to Brookmans Park.

Directions

Map for Walk 73: Hatfield to Brookmans Park North-West Linear
Click on the map for a larger version
Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker
Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors
There is an interactive map below these directions

Those with GPS devices can download GPX or KML files for this walk. We've added What3Words location references for those who use that system. If you print these walks you might want to use the green PrintFriendly icon at the bottom of these directions to delete elements such as photographs.

Catch the 610 Uno bus from Brookmans Park or Welham Green to the Galleria in Hatfield (location - https://w3w.co/dollar.grand.hurls). As you approach the Galleria the bus swings left down College Lane and then takes another 10 minutes going round the University of Hertfordshire before returning and arriving at the Galleria bus stop, so you could jump off a stop before the Galleria to save 10 mins.

1: Head NW from the bus stop looking out for a sign on your left immediately after you cross the A1(M). Take this path, Hatfield footpath 184 (location - https://w3w.co/supporter.lively.limbs), and head SW for 200m with the A1(M) on your left until a path turns to your right under a bridge (location - https://w3w.co/allows.goat.lifted).

You are now on the Alban Way, which follows the route of the former Hatfield to St Albans railway line.

Follow the path SW for 1.1km as it goes through a small housing estate and then crosses Ellenbrook Lane. Cross the lane and continue heading SW. Immediately after Ellenbrook Lane you will pass through the restored Nast Hyde Halt, one of the stations on the old line.

Nast Hyde Halt on the Alban Way

It's worth stopping here to explore the community effort that has preserved some of this railway history.

Nast Hyde Halt on the Alban Way

The video below, shot by North Mymms resident and photographer, Ron Kingdon in 1968, shows this line when it was operating.

Continue walking SW following the track until you see a byway on your left. This is Colney Heath BOAT 52 (byway open to all traffic), although it is also registered as Hatfield BOAT 26 (location - https://w3w.co/quick.retail.engage).

* At this point you could make a short detour to The Plough at Sheepshyde by continuing WSW for 210m before taking a path on your left and head SSW for 330m to the pub.

The byway heading S from the Alban Way

2: Turn left and follow this byway as it weaves its way SW and SE for 620m until it crosses the A414 North Orbital Road (location - https://w3w.co/vase.unwanted.civic).

Follow the byway on the other side of the A414, now Colney Heath restricted byway 51, and head SSE and S for 830m. It becomes a gravel road at the point where a large concrete cube blocks the byway but you continue until you reach a footpath intersection just before a new estate of houses (location - https://w3w.co/name.privately.senses). If you reach the houses you have gone too far.

The footpath junction at E of Colney Heath and N of Roestock

3: At this intersection take the path that goes off to your right, Colney Heath footpath 24 and follow it as it bends to your left heading SW behind the backs of the houses.

Continue for 500m with the houses on your left and the field on your right. Follow this path over a number of fields, still heading SW, until you reach Colney Heath High Street (location - https://w3w.co/ground.struck.pepper).

* At this point you could take a short detour to visit The Crooked Billet by turning right and heading NW along the lane for 430m.

4: Cross the road and turn left. Soon after the shops turn right to reach the common. You will see a coal post in front of you (location - https://w3w.co/ports.invest.humans).

A coal post at Colney Heath

Head SW and climb the path to reach Coursers Road. Here you turn right, cross the bridge, and take the gravel track on your right (location - https://w3w.co/cove.dimes.front).

The gravel track leading SW from Colney Heath

Continue heading SSW down this track for 230m until you reach a wooden gate on your left leading to another part of Colney Heath Common (location - https://w3w.co/alarm.builds.tins).

The gate leading south and SE towards Coursers Road

5: Take this path and head SE, diagonally across the field for 200m. You will come to a gap in the hedgerow (location - https://w3w.co/trials.tones.jars) and your way is ESE to your left with the hedgerow on your left and the field on your right. You are aiming for the wooden gate in the far corner of the field.

The gate leading from the common land to Coursers Road

Go through the gate and turn right heading S with Coursers Road on your left and the field on your right.

The path bends round following Coursers Road and you continue, now walking SW for 300m on Ridge bridleway 32, until you reach a path on your left which crosses Coursers Road and enters Coursers Farm (location - https://w3w.co/tiger.dinner.crowds).

The footpath sign by the gap where the path crosses Coursers Road

6: You are now on Ridge footpath 8. Follow the white markers with yellow arrows through the farm until you leave the farm buildings behind and have a track ahead of you (location - https://w3w.co/memory.moment.wished). On your right will be an industrial site with machinery. You continue straight heading S.

The track heading south from Coursers Farm

7: When you reach a group of portable buildings and containers (location - https://w3w.co/valley.chip.things) you turn left (see image below) and follow the white sign which is marked 'permissive path' and follow this SSE then WSW for 600m looking out for a footpath on the left (location - https://w3w.co/hammer.deflection.given).

Take the permissive path and head SSE

Turn left and head SSE on Ridge footpath 8 crossing several fields. There are way-marked post set up to guide you (see image below).

Follow the way-marked signposts and cross several fields

At one point, close to the top of the hill, you take a right turn followed by a left turn and then continue through the crops.

Follow the way-marked signposts and climb the hill

You will pass through a field that had grazing shire horses the day we did this. They were friendly.

8: When you reach the buildings at top of the hill (location - https://w3w.co/oven.shadow.carry), turn left and follow the Ridge bridleway 10 NE.

At this point there are some great views over the Hertfordshire countryside to the NW and W. You can see St Albans cathedral on a good day. Continue NE. On your right is Redwell Wood.

The path leading NE to Potwells Valley with Redwell Wood on the right

9: Follow the path through the woods until you reach a gate opening out a great view to the NE over North Mymms (location - https://w3w.co/words.cared.heave). This is Potwells Valley. There is an interesting feature about the geology of this area on the North Mymms History Project in a feature entitled The Natural History Around Water End.

Potwells Valley looking NE over North Mymms

Continue heading NE, now on Ridge footpath 29 as it drops down the hill to reach a crossing in the track (location - https://w3w.co/ballots.froth.tuned).

Cross the track and continue heading NE now on North Mymms footpath 44 to a wooden footbridge. Cross the bridge and then climb though the field to a gate leading to North Mymms bridleway 91 running NE alongside the S of Cangsley Grove (location - https://w3w.co/crib.leave.sides).

Turn right on this path and continue through the woods. You will cross another track, and continue NE, now on North Mymms bridleway 1 for 1.2km until you reach a track (location - https://w3w.co/backed.rocks.switch) running along the W side of the the A1(M). This is North Mymms BOAT 5. Here you turn left and head N until you reach Tollgate Road (location - https://w3w.co/simple.bench.oils). Turn right on Tollgate Road and head N walking under the footbridge.

10: Just after the footbridge take the path on your left (location - https://w3w.co/weep.tools.agrees). This is North Mymms bridleway 82, as it climbs left and over the footbridge crossing the A1(M). Drop down to the other side where the path emerges on Swanland Road. Cross Swanland Road and walk SE down Warrengate Road until you reach The Woodman Inn (location - https://w3w.co/task.wonderfully.cares).

11: Here you turn left on the North Mymms footpath 7 immediately after The Woodman Inn and follow it round over the swallow holes climbing through the woods at the other side to reach an open field (location - https://w3w.co/horses.winner.again).

The swallow holes at Water End

The swallow holes at Water End

12: At the open field turn right then follow the North Mymms footpath 8 round to the right with the field on your left and the hedgerow on your right. Head for the SW corner of this field then cut through the hedgerow to reach Bradmore Lane (location - https://w3w.co/whips.forks.trout). Here you turn left then follow the lane to Station Road where you turn right, cross the railway bridge and arrive in Brookmans Park.

Interactive map

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Walk 72: Essendon to North Mymms Linear

7.8 miles (12.5 km) with 158m of total ascent

The bridleway between points 4 and 5

This walk starts in the village of Essendon, drops down to the Lea Valley, follows the Lea Valley Walk W for about a mile before heading S through the rolling countryside between Essendon, West End, Wildhill, and Bell Bar.

Directions

Map for Walk 72: Essendon to North Mymms Linear
Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker
Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors
There is an interactive map below these directions

Those with GPS devices can download GPX or KML files for this walk. We've added What3Words location references for those who use that system. If you print these walks you might want to use the green PrintFriendly icon at the bottom of these directions to delete elements such as photographs.

This walk has two possible end points, one in Brookmans Park, the other in Welham Green. The walk makes use of the Centrebus shoppers service 201 to reach the start point. The service operates between North Mymms and Welwyn Garden City via Wildhill and Essendon on Tuesdays and Fridays (with the exception of public holidays). The current timetable is embedded below these walk directions.

At the time of writing, the bus leaves Welham Green station at 09:23 and reaches Bradmore Green in Brookmans Park at 09:28. Please check departure times at the Centrebus site because they might have changed. Ask the driver to give you a shout when you reach Essendon village centre. Alight just past the cricket ground and close to the church.

The Lea Valley Walk bridleway mentioned in point 3 below

1: Walk NW along Essendon High Road, past the church, and turn left on West End Lane heading W until you reach the last house on your right. Take the footpath on your right immediately after the house (location - https://w3w.co/funded.memo.awards). This is Essendon footpath 5, and follow it NE across a field for 350m to Essendon Hill.

2: Cross Essendon Hill and turn left following the footpath alongside the right-hand side of the road as it drops down hill and heads N for 650m.

The bridleway off Essendon Hill

3: At the right-hand bend at the bottom of the hill, cross the road and go down the bridleway on your left (location - https://w3w.co/trunk.estate.rats). This is the Lea Valley Walk, also Essendon bridleway 6. Follow it W for 1.4km until you reach a bridleway on your left (location - https://w3w.co/holds.sugars.ranges).

The path heading S from Essendon bridleway 6

4: Take this bridleway, Essendon bridleway 10, as it climbs up from the Lea Valley heading S and SSE for 1.5km until it reaches West End Lane (location - https://w3w.co/grew.flag.milky).

5: Turn right on West End Lane and follow the road round until you reach The Candlestick (location - https://w3w.co/breed.backup.bucket).

Take the footpath immediately before the pub, Essendon footpath 13, and follow it heading ESE for 430m along the side of the building, through a wooded area and into an open field. Continue along this path with the hedgerow on your left and the field on your right until you reach a byway (location - https://w3w.co/retail.vets.wire).

The footpath heading SE from the Candlestick

6: Turn right on the byway, Essendon BOAT 14 (byway open to all traffic) and follow it first S then SW for 1.1km until you reach West End Lane (location - https://w3w.co/fake.loaded.moss).

7: Turn left on West End lane and follow it S, WSW and then SSE for 750m down to Wildhill where you turn left and walk E for 120m to The Woodman (location - https://w3w.co/join.allows.broker).

8: Take the footpath just beyond The Woodman car park, Hatfield footpath 84, via the gate at the S end (location - https://w3w.co/chips.shave.translated).

Head SSW for 240m, cross the field, go over a footbridge, through another gate, across another field, another footbridge and turn left emerge into a large field via a third gate (location - https://w3w.co/snap.fuzzy.gave).

Turn right and head SW and then SSW for 200m keeping the field on your left and the hedgerow on your right until you reach a gap in the hedge (location - https://w3w.co/slam.watch.zones).

9: Go through the gap and head diagonally to your right heading first W then SW for 220m keeping the field to your left and the hedge to your right as you climb the hill.

The path now turns SSW for 130m cutting diagonally through the crop to reach the top of the hill (location - https://w3w.co/begins.papers.torch).

At the top of the hill follow the path SSW for 270m with the woodland on your right until the path reaches Grubbs Lane (location - https://w3w.co/song.remind.small).

10: Turn left and and head SE for 75m looking out for a footpath on the right (location - https://w3w.co/stroke.fight.jabs).

Take this footpath, Hatfield footpath 83, as it heads SW for 750m as it cuts through the crop, goes over a footbridge, cuts diagonally across the next field, to a small copse where it becomes North Mymms footpath 66).

As you go through the woodland look out for the remains of a WWII Tet turret on your right (location - https://w3w.co/prompting.fact.casual).

Continue across a third field and emerges on Woodside Lane by the garage on the A1000 (location - https://w3w.co/stored.crisis.barks).

11: Cross The Great North Road with care and take the lane opposite, Bell Lane.

* If you want, you can stop for refreshments at The Cock Of The North to your left or The Dutch Marketplace, also on your left.

Continue down Bell Lane SSW for 460m until the lane bends to the left (location - https://w3w.co/fight.tested.level).

12: Take the footpath on the right, North Mymms footpath 33, and head NW and then W with the woods on the left and the fields on the right for 1.1km until you reach Bulls Lane (location - https://w3w.co/chins.lush.dairy).

Turn left along the footpath running along the S side of Bulls Lane and head W for 420m until you pass under the railway bridge.

13: At this point you have the options of going to Brookmans Park station or Welham Green station.

• For Brookmans Park take the footpath on your left, North Mymms footpath 34 (location - https://w3w.co/strain.region.spell). Follow this path for 450m, first SSE, then SW through woodland, down some steps, over a brook and on to reach Station Road (location - https://w3w.co/hosts.refers.reap). Turn left on Station Road and follow it SE for 980m to Brookmans Park station (location - https://w3w.co/frozen.much.cigar). There are several options for refreshments in the village including the local pub, Brookmans.

• For Welham Green continue W for 300m along Bulls Lane to Holloways Lane (location - https://w3w.co/easy.moon.record). At this point you could continue heading W along Bulls Lane and turn right on Station Road to visit the Sibthorpe Arms (location - https://w3w.co/hoping.engage.pulse), but if you don't need refreshments head NE on Holloways Lane for 450m, then turn right on Dixon Hill Road for 120m to Welham Green station (location - https://w3w.co/chase.beard.goals).

Interactive map

201 service timetable (as of July 2020)

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Walk 50: Bayford - North Mymms Linear

8.6 miles (13.8 km) with 224m total ascent

Bayford Wood

A linear walk from Bayford station going through Bayford, across fields and through woodland to Howe Green, over the golf course to Essendon, via West End, down to Wildhill via a secluded byway, and west over the fields via Bell Bar to Brookmans Park or Welham Green.

Directions

Note: This walk crosses over a golf course

Map for Walk 50: Bayford - North Mymms Linear
Click on the map above for a larger version
Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker
Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors
There is an interactive map embedded below the directions

Those with GPS devices can download GPX or KML files for this walk. We've added What3Words location references for those who use that system. If you print these walks you might want to use the green PrintFriendly icon at the bottom of these directions to delete elements such as photographs.

1: Leave Bayford station (location - https://w3w.co/bossy.grab.remind) then head WNW and then NNW along Brickendon Lane for 600m. There isn’t a footpath along this road, but you can walk along the grass to the side of the road in places.

Continue until you reach a road junction with Ashdene Road going off to your left. Your way is almost straight on for 630m down the road that heads NW (with the village pond on the left). This road passes houses on the left and heads towards the church on the bend. At the left-hand bend continue with the road (taking care because there is no footpath) as it bends again, this time to the right by a cottage.

2: Immediately after the cottage you will see a footpath sign on your left (location - https://w3w.co/wins.bound.zooms). Take this path, Bayford footpath 4, for 330m heading W through some paddocks, up the slight hill to some trees.

Keep NW looking out for a path on your left (location - https://w3w.co/ideal.amuse.arts). Take this path, Bayford footpath 3, and head WSW for 260m first through the crops and then SW through Bayford Woods. Follow the path downhill to a footbridge.

3: Cross the footbridge and climb the hill to reach a field (location - https://w3w.co/pasta.joke.twin). When you get to the field turn left on Little Berkhamsted footpath 6, and head SW for 190m following the path through a gap in the hedge and head W up the hill with the hedgerow on your right and the field on your left until you reach a track (location - https://w3w.co/small.year.tiles). Turn right on this gravel track, Little Berkhamsted footpath 24, and head N for 120m towards a large house.

4: Just before you reach the house take the bridleway on your left, Little Berkhamsted bridleway 21 (location - https://w3w.co/price.sung.scam) and continue WSW and then SW along this path for 280m until you reach a track (location - https://w3w.co/carry.frost.many), which is also Little Berkhamsted bridleway 20, where you turn right and head NW for 140m.

You will pass a large house on your right and, soon after the track heads NNW for 150m, past some cottages on your right. Continue until you see a footpath on your left (location - https://w3w.co/gained.wins.brains). Take this path, Little Berkhamsted footpath 5, and head W for 260m until it emerges on Robins Nest Hill (location - https://w3w.co/fade.faster.keen).

5: Turn left on the footpath that runs alongside Robins Nest Hill and head S for 110m until you reach a cottage on your right. Immediately after the cottage you will see a footpath on your right (location - https://w3w.co/vest.honest.pounds).

Take this path, Little Berkhamsted footpath 3, and head SW for 190m with Culver Wood on your right, and then head NW for 270m passing farm buildings on the right and continue until you reach a field (location - https://w3w.co/libraries.elbow.judge). Cross a stile, climb the hill and head W for 300m over the field with the large tree on your right until you reach a stile at the other side (location - https://w3w.co/save.pigs.gifted).

6: Cross this stile, turn right and head NW for 35m on Little Berkhamsted bridleway 18 until it becomes a lane and bends to the left heading W for 200m passing cottages on your left. When you reach a cottage on your right, look out for a path on your left as the lane bends to the right (location - https://w3w.co/solved.events.spices).

At this point the path splits but converge again so it doesn't matter which you take. But if you keep to the left you can follow Little Berkhamsted bridleway 27 and head down the hill for 330m with the quarry on your right until you reach Essendon Golf Course (location - https://w3w.co/robe.shrimp.chips).

7: Head W across Essendon Golf Course on Essendon footpath 3 for 530m until you reach the primary school in Essendon village (location - https://w3w.co/flood.jokes.animal). Continue SW along School Lane for 280m past the community centre until you reach the B158, Kentish Lane (location - https://w3w.co/policy.give.finger).

8: Cross Kentish Lane and turn left heading W for 70m until you reach a footpath on your right heading across Essendon Cricket Club (location - https://w3w.co/owners.probe.remind).

Follow this path, Essendon footpath 13 WSW for 620m first through a gate at the back of the cricket club, through woodland, down a hill to a footbridge across a Essendon Brook. Cross the bridge and follow the path W up the hill for 240m until you reach a crossing in the tracks (location - https://w3w.co/sums.holds.ranch). This is Essendon BOAT 14 (byway open to all traffic).

* At this point there is the option of taking a detour to The Candlestick (location - https://w3w.co/posed.papers.wake) for refreshments. To do this turn left on the BOAT for 20m and then take the footpath on your right and head NW for 430m.

9: If you are not visiting The Candlestick, turn left and continue S down the BOAT for 516m before it swings SW at a footpath junction and continues for another 610m until it emerges on West End Lane (location - https://w3w.co/rats.trying.upgrading). Here you turn left and head S, then SW and SSE for 750m until you reach Wildhill. Turn right and head E for 120m to The Woodman.

10: Take the footpath just beyond The Woodman, Hatfield footpath 84, and walk through the pub’s car park leaving via the gate at the S end (location - https://w3w.co/varieties.belong.fairly).

Head SSW for 240m, cross the field, go over a footbridge, through another gate, across another field, another footbridge and turn left to a gate before reaching a field (location - https://w3w.co/flops.worked.crops).

Turn right and head SW and then SSW for 200m keeping the field on your left and the hedgerow on your right until you reach a gap in the hedge (location - https://w3w.co/slam.watch.zones).

Go through the gap and head diagonally to your right heading first W then SW for 220m keeping the field to your left and the hedge to your right as you climb the hill. Follow the path as it turns SSW and heads uphill for 130m cutting diagonally through the crop to the top of the hill (location - https://w3w.co/bottom.humble.space).

Follow the path SSW for 270m with the woodland on your right until you reach Grubbs Lane (location - https://w3w.co/tries.wipes.dose).

11: Turn left and and head SE for 75m looking out for a footpath on the right (location - https://w3w.co/senior.wished.blitz).

Take this footpath, Hatfield footpath 83, as it heads SW for 750m and cuts through the crop, goes over a footbridge, cuts diagonally across the next field, to a small copse where it becomes North Mymms footpath 66).

As you go through the woodland look out for the remains of a WWII Tet turret on your right (location - https://w3w.co/prompting.fact.casual). Continue across a third field and emerges on Woodside Lane by the garage on the A1000 (location - https://w3w.co/asks.flute.coherent).

12: Cross The Great North Road with care and take the lane opposite, Bell Lane.

* At this point you can stop for refreshments at The Cock Of The North (location - https://w3w.co/ridge.feed.hoping) to your left or The Dutch Nursery.

Continue down Bell Lane heading SSW for 460m until the lane bends to the left. Here you take the footpath on the right, North Mymms footpath 33, (location - https://w3w.co/fight.tested.level) and head NW and then W with the woods on the left and the fields on the right for 1.1km until you reach Bulls Lane (location - https://w3w.co/combining.rank.assume).

Turn left along the footpath running along the S side of Bulls Lane and head W for 420m to the railway bridge (location - https://w3w.co/indeed.corner.wished).

13: At this point you have the options of going to Brookmans Park station or Welham Green station.

* For Brookmans Park go under the railway bridge and take the footpath on your left, North Mymms footpath 34 (location - https://w3w.co/staple.pram.patch). Follow this path for 450m, first SSE, then SW through woodland, down some steps, over a brook and on to reach Station Road (location - https://w3w.co/eaten.walks.composers). Turn left on Station Road and follow it SE for 980m to Brookmans Park station (location - https://w3w.co/limbs.value.ozone). There are many options for refreshments in the village including the local pub, Brookmans.

* For Welham Green continue W for 300m along Bulls Lane to Holloways Lane (location - https://w3w.co/organs.single.sleeps). At this point you could continue heading W along Bulls Lane and turn right on Station Road to visit The Sibthorpe Arms (location - https://w3w.co/racks.varieties.lows), but if you don't need refreshments head NE on Holloways Lane for 450m, then turn right on Dixon Hill Road for 120m to Welham Green Station (location - https://w3w.co/amuse.equal.dash).

Interactive map

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Walk 22: The North Mymms Way

11.8 miles (19 km) with 234m total ascent

The path along Foxes Lane near Welham Green mentioned in point 13 below

A half-day walk, keeping, as close as possible using public footpaths, bridleway, byways, permissive paths, and quiet lanes to the boundary of the historic parish of North Mymms in south Hertfordshire, which is mentioned in the Domesday Book. Allow four to five hours.

The idea for the North Mymms Way came to me as I was writing an article for The North Mymms History Project about a centuries-old tradition called 'Beating The Bounds'.

It involved a 17.5 mile walk along the parish boundary to visit, and ceremonially claim on behalf of the parish, various landmarks along the way.

Beating the bounds in August 1950
Image courtesy of the Images of North Mymms collection

Beating The Bounds last happened in the '90s. So I thought it would be nice to create a long-distance walk which did something similar. Unlike the original route, which followed the actual parish boundary, much of which is on private land, this walk keeps to footpaths, byways, and lanes.

North Mymms Parish Council (NMPC) has published a free brochure based on this walk, which I have embedded at the foot of these directons.

Fly over the route before you set off

If you want to check what sort of landscape the long version of this walk covers before setting off you can view a short 3D video of the route below. It's created using the free version of Relive.

Directions

Map for Walk 22: The North Mymms Way
Click here or on the map above for a larger version
Created on Map Hub by Hertfordshire Walker
Elements © Thunderforest © OpenStreetMap contributors
There is an interactive map at the foot of this page

Those with GPS devices can download GPX or KML files for this walk. We've added What3Words location references for those who use that system. If you print these walks you might want to use the green PrintFriendly icon at the bottom of these directions to delete elements such as photographs.

For those travelling by car, there are three free parking spots marked on the map with a blue and white marker They are:

• in the North Mymms Parish Council car park off Jonas Way, Brookmans Park (location - https://w3w.co/complains.decay.fishery)
• along St Mary's Church Road (location - https://w3w.co/light.forgot.hike)
• at the top of Black Horse Lane (location - https://w3w.co/fine.bonus.impose).

For those travelling by train, the route passes both Brookmans Park and Welham Green stations. And for those travelling by bus there are a number of bus routes serving the area. Please use the Intalink service to find bus timetables. There is restricted parking in Brookmans Park and Welham Green and surrounding roads (check signs), but you can pay to park in the station car parks.

1: Starting in the village of Brookmans Park, cross the railway bridge then head N along Station Road for 160m.

North Mymms footpath 9 heading S alongside Station Road

2: Just before you reach Bradmore Lane on your left, look out for a footpath on your left (location - https://w3w.co/horses.save.drop). Take this path, North Mymms footpath 9, then head S through a tunnel of trees and bushes.

3: After 590m you will reach a footbridge over Raybrook (location - https://w3w.co/sooner.unwanted.chops). Cross the brook, turn right at the gate, then follow North Mymms footpath 11 W for 300m with the field on your left and Raybrook on your right. At the end of the field, cross the footbridge on your right. As soon as you have crossed the bridge, turn left then head for a gate leading to a continuation of the footpath through woodland (location - https://w3w.co/refers.change.driver). This is known as Wise’s Lane, although it is no more than a footpath. Continue W along this footpath for 570m until it dips downs, becomes a wooden elevated walkway, emerges at a concrete bridge across Mymmshall Brook (stop here to try to spot a kingfisher), and ends on Warrengate Road (location - https://w3w.co/keep.decreased.swing).

4: Turn left on Warrengate Road then head S for 600m until you reach the last house on your right (location - https://w3w.co/desk.chart.wing). Here you turn right and walk up to Swanland Road.

5: Cross Swanland Road then take the byway directly opposite. This is North Mymms restricted byway 83, which turns sharp left then leads round to a footbridge over the A1(M). At the other side of the motorway, head SW along North Mymms restricted byway 3 heading up the hill and through pine woods for 1.7km until you reach a cottage on the right (location - https://w3w.co/kept.boats.voter).

6: Here your way is sharp right heading N and uphill for 720m until you reach a cottage on your left just before a clearing (location - https://w3w.co/shelf.jolly.woke). Walk on past the cottage and continue along North Mymms bridleway 2 for 1.8km as it heads N and dips down the secluded Potwells valley and up over a hill, through Cangsley Grove, then NNE through woodland to join St Mary’s Church Road and St Mary’s church (location - https://w3w.co/nurse.outfit.places) on the left.

7: Turn left into St Mary’s churchyard then continue past the left side of the church until you reach the W entrance in the tower (the second door).

St Mary's Church, North Mymms

Here you will see a footpath on your left heading through the gravestones (location - https://w3w.co/stress.gather.spell). It is marked with small green posts and leads down to a metal gate into the grounds of North Mymms Park.

The footpath from St Mary's Church

Follow this footpath, North Mymms footpath 29, for 300m heading NW as it crosses parkland, then over the drive to North Mymms House, and then across a footbridge over the River Colne (location - https://w3w.co/drape.elaborate.frost).

Continue heading NW for 370m following the marker posts until you reach a gate leading to Tollgate Road (location - https://w3w.co/hungry.assume.congratulations).

8: Cross the road then turn left on a permissive path that runs NW inside the field and along the E side of Tollgate Road for 200m until you reach another metal gate (location - https://w3w.co/riders.labels.gallons).

Here you turn right and take North Mymms footpath 55 heading NE for 520m across the field passing a line of oaks and continue until you reach the side of the A1(M). Turn left and head NW for 70m walking with the A1(M) on your right. Climb a set of wooden steps (location - https://w3w.co/uses.resort.myself) up to the bridge over the A1(M).

9: Cross the bridge then turn left heading diagonally NNW along North Mymms footpath 52 for 360m  until you reach the hedgerow in the distance (location - https://w3w.co/losses.puddles.deed). This field is rarely cultivated and can be a mass of red poppies in June.

Poppies in the field described in point 9 above

10: Go through the gate then turn right. The bridleway (formerly Dellsome Lane) veers right. Ignore the first path on the left, and keep going until you reach a second path after 380m (location - https://w3w.co/prep.bets.times). Take this byway, North Mymms restricted byway 22, and follow it as it weaves its way NE. At the point where the path emerges in an open field you continue straight along a footpath heading NE, now on North Mymms footpath 23, with the field on your left and the hedgerow on your right. You might want to pick up a stick to push back encroaching nettles.

11: After 790m you will emerge on a footpath from Welham Green to Hatfield (location - https://w3w.co/torch.vent.damage). Turn right on this path, North Mymms footpath 20, and head S until you reach Pooleys Lane on the outskirts of Welham Green.

12: Turn left on Pooleys Lane then follow the road as it veers right, looking out for a path on your left after 240m (location - https://w3w.co/admire.branded.cabin). This path leads to Travellers Close on the Welham Green industrial estate. Continue along Travellers Close until you reach a T-junction with Travellers Lane. The railway line will be straight ahead. Turn right, and, keeping the railway on your left, head SSE until you reach Dixons Hill Road (location - https://w3w.co/bind.ridge.calms).

13: Cross Dixons Hill Road then turn left towards the station. Cross the bridge over the railway then turn right on Foxes Lane (location - https://w3w.co/pigs.when.monkey), which is a BOAT (byway open to all traffic). You will see a caravan park on your right and one on your left. Continue along North Mymms BOAT 84 for 500m until the track turns right (location - https://w3w.co/globe.noon.breath). You now head S then SE for 640m, still on North Mymms BOAT 84, until you reach Bulls Lane (location - https://w3w.co/help.limbs.cheeks).

14: Turn left on Bulls Lane then follow it E and ESE for 650m until you reach a T-junction with Bell Lane in Bell Bar (location - https://w3w.co/found.loops.couches).

15: Turn right on Bell Lane then head S and then NE for 610m as the lane climbs to the A1000.

16: Just before you reach the A1000 (The Great North Road) take the footpath on the right, North Mymms footpath 68, which is a gated road called The Drive (location - https://w3w.co/oppose.margin.panels). Turn right here then continue along The Drive heading SSW for 170m until you reach the top of Pine Grove (location - https://w3w.co/digits.cheese.sentences). Directly ahead of you to the right you will see a footpath running behind Chancellor's School. Take this continuation of North Mymms footpath 68 until you reach Brookmans Park Golf Club on Golf Club Road (location - https://w3w.co/rank.point.activism).

17: Turn left on Golf Club Road then head S until you reach the crossroads with Brookmans Avenue, Georges Wood Road, Mymms Drive, and Golf Club Road (location - https://w3w.co/caged.towns.wooden).

18: Head straight across the junction and continue S for 330m down Mymms Drive passing Moffats Lane on your right. Continue past The Grove on your right and then look out for a footpath on your right between the houses (location - https://w3w.co/shell.seats.puts). This is not a public footpath but is a permissive path leading to the woodland of Gobions Open Space, a North Mymms Parish Council public space.

19: Follow the path SSW through the woodland for 330m until you reach Gobions Pond. Here you turn left then head S towards a gate (location - https://w3w.co/tubes.casino.union). This is one of the entrances to Gobions Wood, a Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust reserve. Again this is a permissive path maintained by the trust.

Yellow flag and water lilies on Gobions Pond in June

20: Walk down this path, still heading S, with the fields on your left and hedgerow on your right. When you enter the wood continue heading S and cross a wood and steel footbridge. Once over the other side, turn right and cross a shorter wood and steel footbridge.

21: Shortly after the second bridge look out for a gate on the left leading to a permissive path (location - https://w3w.co/flip.bravo.brands). Take this permissive footpath then head S for 220m with the hedgerow on the left and the field on the right until you reach a gap in the hedge on your left (location - https://w3w.co/dark.events.demand). Go through the gap and head diagonally SE on North Mymms footpath 11 towards Folly Arch, keeping to the right of the arch until you reach Hawkshead Road (location - https://w3w.co/change.island.spices).

22: Turn right on Hawkshead Road then head W for 320m along the N side of the road past Boltons Park Farm. After passing the farm cross the road then go through a gate leading to a permissive path running parallel to Hawkshead Road heading W (location - https://w3w.co/tone.rather.hails). This path has been created for the benefit of Royal Veterinary College (RVC) students. North Mymms Parish Council was given permission to use this path for the North Mymms Way.

23: After 520m the path rejoins Hawkshead Road at the junction with Hawkshead Lane and Bluebridge Road. Here you turn left, cross Hawkshead Lane, then take another permissive path on the right which turns left then heads W along the N side of Hawkshead Lane inside the field (location - https://w3w.co/robe.wanted.libraries). Continue heading W for 370m until you reach the railway bridge.

24: Cross the railway bridge then take the first footpath on your right (location - https://w3w.co/school.makes.blur), North Mymms footpath 11, then walk N with the railway on your right. Continue on this path for 380m until you reach a footpath n your left (location - https://w3w.co/remote.pill.signal).

25: Take this footpath, a continuation of North Mymms footpath 11, and descend down a steep flight of steps heading NW through bushes to Raybrook at the bottom. Continue heading NW for 300m with the fields on your left and the brook on your right until you reach the gate you went through towards the start of the walk (location - https://w3w.co/jets.swim.second). Turn right on this footpath, North Mymms footpath 9, then head NNE for 550m, retracing your steps back to Station Road where you turn right, cross the railway bridge and return to Brookmans Park.

Interactive Map

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North Mymms Way brochure

This walk was first mapped out, written and published in 2011, and was one of a collection of local walks on the former walks section of the Brookmans Park Newsletter which I set up and edited. All those walks have since been moved here to Hertfordshire Walker.

In late 2017, I suggested that North Mymms Parish Council (NMPC) adopt The North Mymms Way as an official way-marked path. I was invited to give a presentation to councillors setting out the route and the features of the North Mymms Way.

Shortly after, NMPC decided to recognise the route, make it an official long-distance footpath, and publish a brochure to be available free of charge. That brouchure is embedded below.

The brochure is available at several locations in the parish, including the council offices in Welham Green, Brookmans Park library, Potterells Medical Centre, and various pubs and community meeting places.

To see the leaflet in full screen view hover over the image below then click on the grey 'pop-out' button at the top right of the iamge.

For those who prefer to follow the walk on their smartphones you can download free GPX or KML files for this walk.

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