Sarratt walks

A rewarding, scenic country walk exploring several commons and villages along with an attractive river valley. Good pubs!

Starts at Two Brewers Inn, Chipperfield. Passes thru' Kings Langley where we join the Grand Union Canal for a short distance. Then thru' Bedmond & Potters Crouch before descending past the Roman wall into Verulamium Park and past St Albans Cathedral to finish at St Albans Abbey Station.

This walk visits Rickmansworth and Croxley Green, whose current size and character owe much to the arrival of the Metropolitan Railway. The varied route includes woodland, fields, a moor designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a village green, rivers and a canal.

This walk explores the picturesque Chess Valley and the pretty village of Chenies with its Tudor manor house, 15th century church and village green. It climbs to Church End, Sarratt, passing through the churchyard of the 12th century church. There are fine views of the valley and the river Chess.

This walk starts at Ricky Aquadrome with its 3 lakes and goes along a delightful stretch of the River Chess, through Whippendell Woods (particularly nice in mid April when the bluebells are out), to Cassiobury Park with its 2 cafes and voted one of the 10 best parks in Britain and along short stretches of the River Gade and Grand Union Canal. Do allow plenty of time for exploring the many interesting features on this walk.

This walk gives you the opportunity to experience the abundance of wildlife in the beautiful Colne Valley across many different types of habitat. It’s a wonderful location for all ages to explore and enjoy with the possibility of spotting rare migrating birds.

This Chilterns walk takes in parts of the Chess Valley walk at the start and end of the route and a section of the Chiltern Way in between. There is a variety of scenery with undulating landscapes, pastoral scenes of grazing animals, fields of wild flowers in summer, a cricket pitch, a golf course, a quarry, two churches and the shallow chalk stream of the River Chess.

This walk along the River Chess starts from Little Chalfont in Buckinghamshire and walks east through pleasant surroundings before turning west to Chenies and a return to the start.

This circular walk is very peaceful and part of the Chess Valley Walk. The short walk from Chalfont & Latimer station will take you through neat Metroland streets, with mock 1930’s Tudor jostling with Art Deco suburban dwellings within easy reach of London and the countryside. Hemmed in on all sides by the pressures of London and urban overspill, the charming Chess Valley is a haven of solitude in outstanding Chilterns countryside.

Starting from Hemel Hempstead Station this is a walk which can be enjoyed without a car. The station is right on the edge of the town so virtually all the route is through the open country, much of it through Boxmoor Trust land, on the plateau of the Chilterns and along the Grand Union Canal. There are lots of reminders of the history of the area from 1594 through WWII. If you are lucky you may see a couple of rare farm breeds kept on Trust land and some interesting birds along the canal.

This walk demonstrates that modern Hemel Hempstead and its environs have much more to offer than cynics would have you believe.

A linear walk from Chesham to Wendover climbing to the top of the Chiltern escarpment with spectacular views over the Oxford plains from the top of Coombe Hill. The Chiltern Hills are the main point of interest - you walk up one side, to the shoulder, then back down to civilisation. The physical nature of the geography and geology makes this walk feel bigger than it is.

A tough walk through the rolling Chiltern Hills taking in Chess Valley Walk, Chilterns Way and Hertfordshire Way. Starts in Old Amersham, near St Mary's Church. Big climb up to pass Martyrs Memorial on the hill above Amersham, then through Chiltern Forest, Latimer, Flaunden and Chipperfield Common to finish at the Two Brewers Inn, Chipperfield.

This wonderful, varied walk takes in ancient field patterns and hedges, old earthworks and the home of a famous author, as well as looking at the work carried out by Chiltern Society volunteers.

A walk through lovely Chiltern scenery with lots of interest on the way - a Norman Castle, WW1 trenches, a vineyard, canal and more.

The stage starts at St Albans Abbey Station. Soon joins River Ver Path for 0.65 miles. Climbs to join the Alban Way (old railway line) all the way to and thru' Hatfield. Passes Mill Green Mill and follows Welwyn Centenary Walk thru' a golf course & The Commons Nature Reserve, then joins the Cole Green Way (old railwayline) to Hertford. Goes thru' the old part of this county town, taking in the castle and grounds, then joins the River Lea Navigation to just north of Hertford East Station.

This is the first section of a 12 mile walking route which follows the River Pinn from Pinner to Uxbridge. Of all Middlesex's 'lost rivers' the River Pinn is perhaps the most visible.

This walk is over the undulating plateau of the Chiltern dip slope, through the parklands of some of the 18th Century mansions which dot the Chilterns. Although the land is now more given over to arable agriculture, the landscape is still greatly influenced by the great designers, including Capability Brown. A walk with great views over the Gade valley and a revelation of the life style of baronets and local squires in the 1700s and the lesser houses of their tenants.

This walk explores some of the hamlets of the Chilterns which, although close to Hemel Hempstead retain their remoteness in their quiet locations. It goes over the typical chalk uplands of the Gade valley and up to the beechwoods of the National Trust Ashridge estate. It passes charming 17th century cottages, a vineyard, a Buddhist Temple and long established churches. The country truly merits its AONB designation.

Adventurous walk with steep hill climbs and a winding woodland path.

Easy level walking and solid underfoot throughout.

Easy walking with some mild hill climbs and busy road. This is the Route 1.

A route to the South of Redbourn with gentle hills, good views and pleasant walking through the Ver Valley and water meadows. On a fine day you might see families taking a dip at the ford! A minor detour is possible to look at Redbournbury Mill.

The highlight is a visit to Cholesbury Camp, a well-preserved Iron Age hillfort now managed by the Chiltern Society. You will also discover a fascinating history that includes historic buildings, a generous vicar and a local hero who fought at the Battle of Trafalgar.

This is a short urban walk exploring another of the 'lost landscapes of Middlesex'. The Yeading Brook rises at Headstone Manor and can be tracked all the way to Ruislip Gardens. This walk starts and finishes in West Harrow, and follows the most attractive section of the river through two pretty linear parks : The Yeading Brook Open Space and Streamside Recreation Ground.

This short Hertfordshire walk explores the pleasant countryside to the south east of Jockey End and follows the Hertfordshire Way to descend into the Gade Valley and the village of Great Gaddesden. The return route leaves the valley following the Chiltern Way for the return to the start.

The Wealdstone Brook is one of the lost rivers of Middlesex. It's a short urban walk, one of my 'lost landscapes' routes around the Harrow area. Ironically, there is no trace of the river left in Wealdstone itself, where it has all been culverted. However, it meanders very prettily through Woodcock Park in Kenton, surrounded by grassy banks and willow trees. This is the best bit! There are further glimpses of it along the route of this walk.

A pleasant walk from Harpenden Common down to Redbournbury Mill, along the River Ver and then up to Childwickbury Manor and back to Harpenden.

This is a short urban walk exploring the 'lost landscapes of Middlesex'. I was recently introduced to a secret park which I never knew about, and realised this must be the summit of the original Sudbury Hill before it was swallowed up under the tide of suburban housing. The walk visits Elm Park and also takes you past the Harrow School sports fields. It starts and finishes near Harrow School, Harrow-on-the-Hill.

From picturesque Aldbury you follow the Ridgeway to Ivinghoe beacon, returning via the Ashridge boundary trail and the Chiltern Way. You can enjoy the contrasts between the two LDPs: airy ridges on the Ridgeway and the patchwork of woods and fields on the Chiltern Way.

A walk through the largest continuous new native forest in England. We’ve chosen a route that features some of the best scenery throughout the year and has a magnificent display of bluebells in spring.

National Trails and Long Distance Paths crisscross the Chilterns in this area. This Circular Walk makes use of short stretches of at least five such to provide a beautiful and varied walk through Chiltern woodland, on Chiltern chalk downs with wide vistas from the scarp edge of the hills, along a stretch of the historic Grand Union Canal, and through one of the prettiest villages in Hertfordshire.

The National Trust Estate at Ashridge is one of the best places in the country to see bluebells in spring. This gentle walk will take you through carpets of this beautiful plant, and also looks at the history of the estate. There are wonderful views over the valley from Duncombe Terrace.

Visit some of the quieter parts of the Ashridge Estate on the way to Hudnall Common and Little Gaddesden.

Stroll along the waterside and look for waterbirds on this gentle 13km walk. Starting at Tring railway station, it takes in College Lake nature reserve, a section of the Grand Union Canal and three reservoirs.

Enjoy scenic views, wooded valleys and ancient parkland on this 10km circular walk through the Chilterns. Starting in Tring, the walk takes in Dancersend nature reserve and the Ridgeway National Trail.

Experience the Ridgeway and Chiltern Way on a walk linking the woods of Ashridge with the woods above Tring Park across the Bulbourne Valley (Tring Gap).

This walk follows the ancient Ridgeway with stunning views from the tops of both Pitstone Hill and Ivinghoe Beacon, before returning through the beautiful woodland of the National Trust’s Ashridge Estate.

A walk suitable for families round the scenic Burnham Beeches National Nature Reserve, which is particularly colourful in spring and autumn, but well worth a visit at any time of year.

The good thing about London is that you do not need to go far to track down some exceptionally decent walks. Take Horsenden Hill for instance: who would have thought that you could walk through meadows, a farm, a forest and along a Canal, all within a London postcode and accessible by tube? And you can! A walk through Horsenden Hill will definitely make you forget you are in the city.