21/07/19 - London Countryway - Stage 17 - St Albans to Brookmans Park

Distance - 8 Miles
Start - St Albans
Finish - Brookmans Park
Geocaches - 5
Pub - The Woodman, Waters End
Previous Stages - Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4, Stage 5, Stage 6, Stage 7, Stage 8, Stage 9, Stage 10, Stage 11, Stage 12, Stage 13, Stage 14, Stage 15, Stage 16


Plenty of route options on Stage 17 of the London Countryway. 

Keith Chesterton's original book had a loop over the top of St Albans and seemingly taking in Hatfield Airfield.    That's long gone and is now a business park.  I'm not going anywhere near a place of previous employ.

Des De Moor has two options - both finishing at Welham Green Station.

The now missing Dick Bowman website, where I had the foresight to download the GPX's, has us ending at Keith's original location - Brookmans Park. 

This is the one we take and it couldn't be easier to walk on a Sunday morning, although it won't get the pulse racing in terms of views, variety or places of interest.   I do it a slight disservice.   You have to play human frogger proficiently to get across the four lane race track that is the A414 North Orbital Road.

After a more than comfortable night in Lenny Henry's favourite Hotel Chain, we work our way through town.   Down the main street, past the museum and head east along Victoria Street.   More pubby landmarks to point out to Mrs M and its great to see the Horn, a top music venue, still apparently going strong.   Tribute bands, The Smyths and a Bit of A Blur, would certainly be attended, if we didn't live 130 miles away.

Our aim - and our path for the majority of this walk - is the Alban Way - A 6.5 mile disused railway line.   The shade offered means we are more than happy to put up with annoying cyclists dinging their tinny bells at us.

Another St Albans Landmark

Alban Way - with one those bell ringers approaching

But the shade is more than worth it

Dead straight, dead flat walking on tarmac is surrendered at Sleapshyde.  Probably early anglo saxon for "Sleepy Village".   The thatched pub, the Plough, looked a delight but hardly likely to open its doors at 10am on a Sunday morning.

Another one slips the net

Our reward for a terrifying crossing the insanely busy A414 is a "green tunnel" to Colney Heath and ultimately North Mymms Park.

Safely across the A414 

And into North Mymms Park for a team Photo

and North Mymms Church

Fortunately, we have a footbridge over the A1(M), which leads to the tiny hamley of Water End.

When Keith wrote the book, he mentioned the two pubs here - next door to one another.   Alas, the Old Maypole has bit the dust - even if it does proudly display its "Best in the West" signage in the wall.   Ever one to look into the history of dead pubs, www.beerintheevening.com reveals that it "never recovered from the manslaughter".

Interesting,

It's 11:40am and we wonder whether to wait the expected 20 minutes for the opening of the Woodmans Inn.   It's a nice day and they have lovely outdoor seating, so we take off rucksacks only to notice the door is open and Mrs M to exclaim "there's people in there, with pints".

Woodman Inn, Water End, with the Old Maypole a couple of buildings along.

A rare example of an 11:30am opener on a Sunday.   Super.

Its only half a mile along a delightful path called Wise's Lane to Brookmans Park.

Half hourly trains to the Smoke and a two day adventure on the London Countryway comes to a close.