The way points of this bicycle route:
A circumnavigation of St Albans using as many off-road paths as possible. I started here but you can start anywhere! It's a strenouos route, especially in wet weather or when crops are high so best used a bit at a time.
Cross the St Albans - Harpenden Rd to the cyclepath opposite and go L.
Turn into the main entrance to Childwickbury ('chiddikbry') and follow the road straight on to a white gate.
Go through the white gate and on down the drive. Beware of the speed bumps
DON'T follow the drive right through the white gate (private, to Shaffords Farm). Look for the path into the trees between the drive and the entrance to Chilwickbury Goat Farm, where the nice cheese on St Albans market comes from.
The track through the trees emerges into a field, with a clear path.
The Batchwood Hall golf course is on the left.
The track narrows here. Don't go down too fast or you're sure to meet a runner or dog-walker coming the other way!
Look out for cars on the left! (it's a one-way road) Turn R down the drive. The speed bumps are OK to go fast.
Cross Batchwood Drive and turn right over the roundabout. If the traffic bothers you, turn L towards St Albans, then R into Branch Road, then R into St Michaels and follow the road back to Bluehouse Hill.
Going down Bluehouse Hill, you should be safe on the road but if the traffic bothers you there is a path alongside the road on the left or take the diversion described.
Cross Bluehouse Hill into Gorhambury drive. It may be easier to use the pedestrian crossing.
Another gated, private road but open to walkers & cyclists at most times. Closed on a few days, when I suggest continuing up Bluehouse Hill, towards Hemel, then down Bedmond Lane to rejoin the route at Appspond. Peer through the fence on the left to see the Roman theatre.
Francis Bacon's house on the right
On the left a cottage with a classical pillared front facing Gorhambury house (and probably some noisy dogs as well).
Under the M10 and across the St Albans-Hemel road, into Appspond Lane
Straight across into Blunts Lane. If thirsty, the Hollybush is a few hundred yards to the left.
R into Noke Lane
Turn R into Noke Lane, signed 'To Watford'
Cross the A 405 to Lye lane. A large central reservation means only having to worry about traffic one way at a time.
Passing Spielplatz, one of the first naturist camps in the UK.
Cross over the section of M25 used for part of the Superman movie before it opened.
Turn L to follow Lye Lane
Sharp right over the railway bridge.
The Gate. Another good refreshment spot
Pass by Smug Oak Lane and turn L into Drop Lane
At the bottom of the hill there are steppingstones across the river. Ignore these and enter the field on the right and follow the track to a bridge.
Turn left across the bridge over the Ver and across the field beyond. Can you see any crayfish under the bridge?
Right would take you to Watford, so turn Left here.
Turn left along path beside the road. Watch out for brambles.
Cross the road towards the entrance to an industrial estate. Go left a short way on the pavement and onto a path to the left of the buildings
Turn left on meeting the railway. Nowhere else to go!
Turn right over the railway bridge and keep going....
Take the small track to the right of the entrance to the Anglers gate.
Narrow track. Beware of nettles in June!
Tunnel under M25. This floods when it rains, but never (!) deep and rarely other than flat underwater.
Short climb up into the field here. Follow the hedge on the right.
Take the right fork here. Left goes direct to St Albans via Napsbury lane.
Carefully turn right onto Shenley lane.
Just OVER the bridge across the Ver, take the small path left into Broad Colney Lakes nature reserve.
Turn right under the Willow trees (leaving the river on your left) or cross the river to the Green Dragon for refreshment
Turn Right for 100 yards then left into Lowbell lane.
Left into Lowbell Lane.
IMMEDIATELY under the London Colney bypass (A1081/A6), turn sharp left & down onto a track. No signs. This path across the Tyttenhanger (Willow Farm) estate is really a permissive footpath but big enough for cycling as long as you give way to pedestrians. It is too nice to resist including on the route. (and there's no good alternative)
You are now entering Willows Farm agri fun centre.
Turn right onto a small bridge over the gravel pit's conveyor belt.
Go straigth on into Colney Heath
Look for a footpath signpost marking a gap in the undergrowth and turn L into Coursers Rd.
Cross roundabout to Roestock Rd
Turn L off Roestock Road into a gateway for Roundhouse Farm, with a signpost 'Public Restricted Byway'.
At the end of the road veer right into a winding earth track between trees.
The North Orbital (A405). You may have to be patient for a gap in the traffic here but there is a big central reservation to make it easier.
Follow the field track on to an earth track between trees.
Turn L onto the St Albans Way towards Smallford
After the bridge turn R into a car park and onto Station Road
Follow Station Rd to the roundabout at Hatfield Rd.
Cross Hatfield Road into Oaklands Lane
Take the second R towards the old PO Radio Station
After 100yd turn R into a bridleway
Turn R on reaching the gravel pit fence.
Turn R and cross the gravel pit entrance into more wooded bridleway.
Emerging into a field, follow the hedge on the left
Turn R at the corner of the field
At the gate in the hedge, cross the road (Coopers Green Lane) to Oak Farm drive.
Just before the farm gates, turn R onto a field track around the farm buildings.
Through the hedge onto a field track. Very bumpy while dry. Used by horses, so rough if wet!
Crops can overgrow the path here.
Leaving the field, turn R onto Naishes Lane
Look for the Footpath & Public Byway entrance opposite the farm.
Follow the path into the wood and keep leftwards along the edge of the wood.
Leave the wood witth a sharp left turn into an overhung lane leading to houses off Hammonds Lane.
Left, down the lane.
R into Hammonds Farm entrance. Follow the signs through trhe farm buildings. In wet weather it may be better to continue down Hammonds lane, then turn R & L into Ferrers Lane to meet the route at Nomansland.
Another bumpy field track starts here
Crops, especially rape can overgrow the path here.
A narrow nettley drop from the field onto Colemans Green Lane lane. Careful!
Cross the St Albans - Wheathamstead road into Ferrers Lane
Fork right to explore Mud Lane.
Turn left into Mud Lane.
The Three Horseshoes used to be a good pub. Now a restaurant but you might get a drink throught the window to enjoy in the garden.
Turn L through the golf course
and keep going round.
Welcome to Bikely, take a step by step tour of this path:
Press Start Tour - then use the navigation buttons below to move along the path.
Tagged with: Recreational, Onroad, MTB, Intermediate, Offroad, Low traffic, Rough, Safe, Rural
