10/05/25 - London Spiral - Stage 19 - Hadley Wood to Carpenders Park

A Day-Saving Bushey Backstreet Boozer

Not sure what occupation the designers of the London Spiral have, but it's surely not route creation. This is a walk that I have to double-check to make sure I haven't plotted it incorrectly. But no, they really did want me to walk up Wagon Lane at the day's start. A country lane, with no pavements and the worst of Hertfordshire boy racers. I would say that at least 40% of the walk is similar.

If it wasn't for Bushey's Swan pub, I would be questioning what I am doing with my life.

Absolutely nothing of interest until reaching Elstree and Borehamwood, where I walk the high street expecting to find refreshment. I am not exaggerating when I say that barber shops outnumber pubs by more than a ten to one. The two pubs, Pick and Shovel and the Alfred Arms, both look too dull for even me. And my head was too sweaty to get a haircut. Instead, I get to learn about the British Film Industry though the many information boards dotted along.

A frankly terrible picture of Elstree Studios

Haircut, not pints - and Elizabeth Taylor

Aldenham Country Park offers some relief. In an attempt to lure families, they have re-created it as 100 Aker Wood and setup a number of Winnie the Pooh artifacts to hunt for. Of course, someone has set up an Adventure Lab Cache, so I try my best not to look suspicious among the families and gathering the clues. I dread to think what I would react if I were out with grandchildren and I saw myself loitering around.

100 Aker Wood

If there is one place that the solo man of advancing years is welcome, it's the pub. I checked the opening hours on Google Maps. To be honest, I expected little from a back street pub emblazoned with "Sky Sports" banners. But there was nothing else in the Good Beer Guide anywhere near.

Of course, it was a gem. Along a terraced street, with some outdoor patio seating, I was unable to take an external photo. The beauty is inside.

Proper

The ubiquitous Timothy Taylor Landlord was in fine condition. Taken outside with an elderly gent who called me brother and moaned about the price of a pint. He could spot a target audience who was prepared to not only listen but to join in. 

£5.40.

Not long before I was whisked back to Euston, where I could have given him something to really moan about.

Walk Information

Distance - 13 Miles

Start - Hadley Wood Station

Finish - Carpenders Park Station

Areas Walked - Elstree, Borehamwood and Bushey

Geocaches - 10

Pubs - 1

Previous Walks - 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, Stage 17, Stage 18  

14/03/20 - Chiltern Chain Walk - Stage 5 - Wendover Woods

Distance - 13 Miles
Geocaches - 10
Walk Inspiration
Pub - Kings and Queen, Wendover
Previous Stages - Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4

Today was meant to be the Bermondsey Beer Mile. For reasons that I cannot spell, I wouldn't have been a completer.

STATEMENT ON COVID-19 & FOURPURE

We want to update you on the impact of the health pandemic and how it will affect our people & our venue. Unfortunately from today we will also be closing our taproom for the immediate future. See blog for more details. https://t.co/iUJAcqi3d1

— Fourpure Brewing Co. (@fourpurebrewing) March 14, 2020

Instead, I'll use the opportunity to walk the 5th Stage of the Chiltern Chain walk and get a Tick from the Good Beer Guide that may well be the last for a while. Who would have thought #CloseThePubs would be a thing?

Today's ramble starts at Wigginton, visited briefly on the last leg. A free car park at the village swings far more appealing than the official start at Wendover Woods visitor centre, where the car parking is eye watering.

Most of the kids here were called Hugo, so I guess they can afford it

This is a pleasant enough walk - challenging in length and on good paths.   Its just a bit samey and with no refreshment places to stop at en route. The first half is through the Ridgeway Woodlands, high on a ridge, with expansive views over the vale of Aylesbury. I can bring pictures of trees or views or to save space, a bit of both.

Tress and Views at a Geocaching GZ

A break from the trees, as we drop to the valley floor, before I'm back in trees in Wendover Woods.  Despite the parking costs, it's very popular.

A short break from the woodland

Returning to the start requires following Grim's Ditch for 4 miles.   No one quite knows what the Ditch was used for and taking photos is pointless.  Best to explain.  An anglo saxon earthworks where a trench of around 2ft was dug and the earth stacked up on one side. Its arrow straight. When its not full of mud and water, there is an occasional Geocache.   May have been a boundary marker but no one can say for certain. Still marked on the OS Map.

Enough of the history and into Wendover for refreshment. A toss up between the Good Beer Guide entries of the King and Queen or the Pack Horse.

King and Queen Wins this time

As of 3pm on a Saturday Afternoon, the evening St Patricks Day celebrations were still taking place.  It's doing better than Birmingham or London, although I hear Manchester are stoically pressing on.

Through that front portal, you have a choice of going left to the bar or right to the bar/restaurant.  You'd be hard pushed to tell which one I chose from the this picture postcard perfect view of a comfortable drinking area.

Bar/Restaurant

Eavesdropping had to occur when I heard a chap asking the bar man if he had heard what had happened to John after his week at Cheltenham races?  I was there on Thursday and on tenterhooks as to whether he had developed an uncontrollable dry cough.

Turns out he had drank 15 pints a day for four days and isn't very well.

Panic over for now.

If this is going to be the last pub blog for a time - the Irish Public are demanding a closure to all pubs and the UK cannot be far behind - then I go out for now with a magnificent Timothy Taylor Landlord.

See you on the other side.

The Guvnor

08/02/20 - Chiltern Chain Walk - Stage 4 - Pitstone Hill

Distance - 12.5 Miles
Geocaches - 5
Walk Inspiration
Pub - The Robin Hood, Tring
Previous Stages - Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3


Tring must have one of the handiest railway stations for the Rambler. The shortest of walks and you are out onto the magnificent Ridgeway, climbing gently to the escarpment highs for views and a real sense of remoteness.

300m to the Ridgeway - Sidetracked Geocache Available

Climbing the Ridgeway - ignoring distractions

Ridgeway Views

Walking in the South East

Excellent walking, heading North to Incombe Hole, before circling through Clipper Down to walk under the Bridgewater Monument - the starting place for Stage 3.

Aldbury is the next Joy.   I had choices for post walk refreshment - here or Wiggington. However, arriving at the Station at 8:34am, I knew I couldn't time either of them for opening hours. Don't worry, Blogfans, I still have a suitable plan.

Aldbury - looking pretty through the trees

And it doesn't disappoint

Its picture perfect place of English Village Harmony.   A large pond, reflecting the pretty buildings - two pubs - the posher looking Greyhound or the more down to earth and excellently named Valiant Trooper and a busy general stores, where a high concentration of muggle shoppers stopped Geocaching.

Very pretty and used for several film and TV locations - I'll look out for it next time I watch Bridget Jones II.  Well worth the walk back uphill into the woods.

Heading west, I cross the canal at Cow Roast - the pub looking most forlorn, encased in metal fencing and no doubt awaiting demolition.   The Greyhound at Wittington is just opening at 12:01pm but not quite offering enough appeal to convince me to ignore the Good Beer Guide Tick awaiting me at the other side of Tring Park.

Tring Park - A detour from the original route - but there are GBG Ticks to be had in town

A quick walk up Tring High Street - dominated by an impressive Church and the closing stages of a farmer Market and I am in the Robin Hood.

Tring Church

The Robin Hood

Perfectly functional local pub - with all the expected Fullers range available. You know you are in good hands when the ESB is served in the ceremonial chalice.

And there's more for the discerning beer tourist.   Tring Brewery is housed in a farmhouse a short stroll away.  The shop provides amble stocks of Side Pocket for a Toad and refillable growlers.

Tring Bewery

Get your refillable growlers

A good half hour of road walking back to the Station and another excellent leg of the Chiltern Chain Walk completed.

28/12/19 - Chiltern Chain Walk - Stage 3 - Ivinghoe Beacon

Distance - 13.5 Miles
Geocaches - 12
Walk Inspiration
Pub - The Kings Arms, Tring
Previous Stages - Stage 1, Stage 2

The answer to the question "Where do Hertfordshire folk go for an Xmas Walk" is surely Ashbridge. It's a National Trust Area of Outstanding Beauty. Ample parking, although you need to be there early. Plenty of Geocaches and fine woodland, hillside paths.

I'm back on the Chiltern Chain Walk... a collection of 20 walks covering the area. I was meant to be doing 4 stages a year.   Its a symptom of too much going on and bad planning when I reveal that this is the first time I have made it in 2019. Must do better in 2020.

My start is Bridgwater Monument, a doric arch built in honour of a canal-man. Only on my return to a computer screen do I determine that you can climb the 107 internal stairs.   Again, I must plan better in 2020.

Bridgwater Monument

There's two main features for the walk.   I completed the Ridgeway nearly 4 years ago and this is the first time I have revisited it.   Heading north from Bridgewater Monument, I work my way over the broad tracks in Moneybury hill to pick up the final stretch of the Ridgeway at Incombe Hole.  December murk put pay to any decent views but even on a dull day, its an unbroken vista over middle England.

Incombe Hole, looking over Buckinghamshire

The final stretch of the Ridgeway

The remainder of the walk is nearly all woodland and common land.   Most of it on muddy forest tracks.   Makes for reasonable walking but there are only so many photos of tress that you can take.

Trees Everywhere

If the trees did become monotonous, there's a high amount of Geocaches in the area - with plenty of puzzle caches.   The Xmas period provided me with enough downtime to complete a crossword and a Sudoku to provide the co-ordinates for two and I was pleased to find the actual treasure, after making a diversion from the planned walk.  The final find of the day was a touch amusing... I could see a large group of adults and kids spread over a wide period.  They didn't look close enough to GZ to be caching but that was the only possible explanation for multiple generations turning over logs in woodland.   Making a walk up find in front of an audience is as heroic as my life gets.

Unless you include the relentless pursuit of Good Beer Guide ticking.   The walk, if you excluded the tea hut at the start, had no civilisation at all.   The nearest GBG pub was a couple of miles away down in Tring.   Of course, I was heading that way.   I'd just walked 13 miles and had a thirst on.

The Kings Arms is a handsome boozer.   I would describe it as "backstreet" but its really not far from the pretty town centre.

Regal, yet Back Street

Traditional inside, it was all wood paneling and beer adverts from yesteryear.   Separate rooms for the darts players, the drinkers and the diners.  But of course, the regulars all sit around the bar.  It wouldn't be normal if they didn't.

Wood Paneling and Bar Hangers

An interesting collection of LocALE hand pulls.   A first for me from the Leighton Buzzard Brewing Company.  A Restoration X, stuffed into a Marstons Deep 61 glass.  £4.20.

The Robin Hood is the 2nd Good Beer Guide entry in town.   I'm sure I will get there on the next leg of the Chiltern Chain Walk.  Hopefully before Xmas 2020.

Parting Shot

21/09/19- London Countryway - Stage 19 - Broxbourne to Theydon Bois

Distance - 12 Miles
Start - Broxbourne
Finish - Theydon Bois
Geocaches - 5
Pubs - The Crown - Waltham Abbey, Kings Oak - Epping Forest, The Bull - Theydon Bois
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, Stage 17, Stage 18


The London Countryway is moving towards its end.   With three legs to go, I enter Essex, the final county.

There's no better description for today's leg than "A walk of two halves".

The first half is a four mile stretch southbound on the Lea Valley County Park.  I've walked the River Lea from Source to Mouth, so know exactly what to expect.  If you haven't, imagine a relentless canal, with an arrow straight path dissecting water filled gravel pits to the opposite side.   Throw in lunatic cyclists with their painfully annoying bells and you'll be rather pleased to reach Waltham Abbey.

Lea Valley Country Park in a Picture

Waltham Abbey is a place of interest - lots of history and interesting buildings with a chance of a refreshment stop.  Arriving before the sun has passed the yard arm, I choose the first pub available, the Crown.   Would have been a risk to ignore an 11am opener.   No doubt the McMullens Country Bitter was the first pull of the day and the only thing in its favour was it was not the worst pint of the day.   After navigating the town, I learn that although from the same Brewery, the Welsh Harp looked a more interesting building - separating the church from the market square.   It dripped ancient history.  One for another day.

Marking the entry into the final county

A Rare 11am Opener

What you get for being first in

Impressive Church in the Abbey Grounds

The M25 has been added since Keith Chesterton wrote the guide.  It's kind of fun reading him use terms like "if it will be built".   I wonder if the same will happen with HS2 in the future?

Once the motorway is bridged, its a short section of countryside, before reaching Epping Forest.

Out the other side of Waltham Abbey

The forest is picked up at the Visitor Centre, where there is fine looking, rambling monster of a pub.  You can see by the skies in the pictures that it's summer's final hurrah and with plenty of time available, it would be rude not to stop.

Kings Oak

Not wanting to risk a Greene King IPA, I think I've played it safe by going reassuringly expensive.  Yet somehow, they cannot even keep Stella Artois well.   Headless, soapy, with a scummy top.   At least they kindly filled my water bottle for the last few miles.

The second half of this walk proves a delight, the mighty trees offering plenty of shade and broad rides taking me all the way to Theydon Bois.   Only one photo required, so you can get the drift.

Perfect Place to walk in an Indian Summer

Theydon Bois, the penultimate stop on the Eastbound Central Line, offers a couple of choices for refreshment.   The Bull, a Charles Wells Pub, proved the correct choice and the one closest to the Station.   Low ceilings inside, lovely garden outside and a good pint of Youngs Bitter saved the beer day out.

Charming Theydon Bois

I'm back on the trail in October for another unvisited town.   Brentwood.  Who knows what I'll find.

03/09/19 - The Half Moon, Hitchin

Distance - 7 Miles
Geocaches - 11
Good Beer Guide Tick 420 - The Half Moon


I consider myself a bit of an of an expert in this part of Hertfordshire.  I spent 13 years working for a company with its head office in Hatfield and spent many evenings exploring the area.   In order of entertainment found...  Hatfield (still carry the mental scars of a soulless new town),  Stevenage, Hertford, Ware and  the Jewel in Hertfordshire's Crown - St Albans.   That became the de facto standard for overnight stays.

Hitchin always escaped me and despite its lack of pubs, I really enjoyed the historic market town with a considerable amount of high end restaurants.   There is a single Good Beer Guide Pub, which I will come to after an evening walk, where I discovered exactly how close we are getting to the end of British Summer Time.

Geocaches present a decent 7 mile walk to the South West.   The landscape is mainly agricultural, but the paths were good. 

The OS Map suggests there is a pre-walk drink to be had in Charlton, but sadly the campaign to save the Windmill failed.

Community Action

Another Dead Soldier

After many fields, I arrived at Great Offley where the Red Lion was open for custom.   I knew I didn't have enough daylight to warrant a stop, regardless of how much I wanted to explore this bastion of patriotism.

Free House

Lanes take me back to Hitchin civilisation, but not before the single battery power mini torch came out to help with route finding.  8.20pm and its time for bed.

Evening Walking coming to an end for 2019

Pitch black by the time I find the Good Beer Guide 2019 Entry that is The Half moon.   Initial signs of high cask turnover are very promising.

Supplies

The Half Moon by Night

A real surprise to walk into a packed pub on a Tuesday evening.   The reason - Quiz Night.   The prizes must be out of this world.   Not a free table to be had and I was not the only one forced to hover at the glass return point as the Quiz Master read out the answers to round 1.

I scored a high percentage on a literature round, where I could only shout "Hunter S Thompson" as the answer to the question, who invented the style of journalism known as Gonzo.

I continued to hover at the place where leaning was an impossibility, nursing a very decent pint of Youngs Special.   How would I fare in the 2nd round?

Nil Points, so I went in search of food, keeping Hitchin 8th best restaurant open longer then they expected.

I'm back next Tuesday. 

Its a toss up between geocaching in the dark or getting into the Half Moon early to enter a team of one into the quiz.

17/08/19 - London Countryway Stage 18 - Brookmans Park to Broxbourne

Distance - 12.6 Miles
Start - Brookmans Park
Finish - Broxbourne
Geocaches - 4
Pubs - Woodman and Olive, White Bear and The Bull at Broxbourne
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, Stage 17


The London Countryway is taking me to some mysterious places.   I'm not exactly sure where Brookman's Park is, but the first observed bus "labelled Luton" provides a small clue.   If the walk doesn't pan out, I can always take advantage of public transport and see the Baggies who are playing there today.

Wherever it is, it's prime commuter territory for the City Big Wigs.   The long avenue to the golf course (say no more) is resplendent with massive houses, no two architecturally the same, with the only common ground found by the high end German cars parked on the two entrance driveways.

The walking is OK.   We're not hitting the heights of the Southern Section and you know when your blog is in trouble when the only things of interest to describe are a radio transmitter and a water tower.  There's some decent agricultural footpaths and the first village, Newgate Street or Ponsbourne (as the Church labels itself) is pretty enough.   Shame its only 11am, as the Coach and Horses looked much more promising than the pubs I did find open later.

Hertfordshire Agricultural Footpaths

Ponsbourne Church, Newgate Street

Coach and Horses remains undiscovered due to 11am arrival

Ponsbourne Park House

Wormley Woods is a pleasure to walk.   Ancient Woodland, boardwalks for the boggy bits and in August, home to an awful lot of dragon flies.   I'm following Dick Bowman's GPX Files and all I am going to say is he got badly lost.   There's a West-East stretch along what looks like a path on the OS Map but is actually a badly overgrown ditch.    Future London Countrway'ers should stick to the present Authority on the route - Des De Moor.  I survived and felt this should be rewarded with a pint.

Woodland Selfie

Lovely walking over the boggy bits

The OS Map shows a big blue cup of joy at Wormley West End.   My map is old and pubs are dying at an alarming rate, so this is no guarantee of refreshment.   But the building is there, even if its is now a Greek Restaurant.   I know this, as they have appended "& Olive" to the original name "The Woodman".

I hope the food is better than the beer.

Christmas is just around the corner.  It's August.

No ales on but you do get charged £5.10 for flat Italian Lager

Not to worry, I'll soon be in Broxbourne - where very early signage (I am at least 2 miles away) tells me it was the home of the Kayaking in the Olympics.  I simply have to navigate Baas Hill Common, cross the A10 and drop down to the village.   Really, I should be following the New River to the Station but a) I have this ear marked for a future walk and b) I need to see what Broxbourne has to offer the weary foot traveler.

The New River Path - for another day.

I am the only man in the White Bear who doesn't have a Ralph Lauren polo shirt on but I get away with it as they are all Arsenal fans and Arsenal are on the TV.   The only real ale on is Doom Bar but as the Cask Marque accreditation next the front door says "Expired", I join my Gooner friends in a Stella.

Dress Code, Ralph

Over the road is a McMullens tied house, the Bull.   I know really feel that I am in Hertfordshire.   A chainy pub but the County Bitter was pint of the day.

McMullens Bull

I'm rather looking forward to the next leg - where I will have my first visit to Waltham Abbey.   A place that I've wanted to visit since reading the first chapter of Iain Sinclair's London Orbital.