Description
This route is based on Harsta Three. I found the lengthy walk between Sandridge and St Albans alongside the B651 tedious and unpleasant, and I figured an alternative pleasant off-road alternative might improve the overall Slow Ways experience. So here it is!
From Harpenden, leave town on the common, and then follow waymarked paths along the golf course. Fields alongside the railway line, and then a bridle path through Heartwood Forest to Sandridge (refreshments). Leave Sandridge through the churchyard and take a footpath to the end of Jersey Lane, a shared foot and cycle way which leads to Jersey Farm Fields, a large recreational area of grass and woodland. Finally, footpaths and residential streets to St Albans. This routing swerves the B651, but it does add c. 800 metres to the Harsta Three route. It's still about 2.5 km shorter than Harsta One though!
This route is based on Harsta Three. I found the lengthy walk between Sandridge and St Albans alongside the B651 tedious and unpleasant, and I figured an alternative pleasant off-road alternative might improve the overall Slow Ways experience. So here it is!
From Harpenden, leave town on the common, and then follow waymarked paths along the golf course. Fields alongside the railway line, and then a bridle path through Heartwood Forest to Sandridge (refreshments). Leave Sandridge through the churchyard and take a footpath to the end of Jersey Lane, a shared foot and cycle way which leads to Jersey Farm Fields, a large recreational area of grass and woodland. Finally, footpaths and residential streets to St Albans. This routing swerves the B651, but it does add c. 800 metres to the Harsta Three route. It's still about 2.5 km shorter than Harsta One though!
Status
This route has been reviewed by 4 people.
There are no issues flagged.
Photos for Harsta four
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Information
Route status - Live
Reviews - 4
Average rating -
Is this route good enough? - Yes (4)
There are currently no problems reported with this route.
Downloads - 14
Surveys
What is this route like?
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Grade 4X based on 1 surveys | Sign up or log in to survey this route. | ||
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Description | Note | ||
Grade 4: Route includes very rough surfaces including deep ruts, steep loose gravel, unmade paths and deep muddy sections. Wheelchairs may experience traction/wheel spin issues. Access grade X: At least one stile, flight of steps or other obstacle that is highly likely to block access for wheelchair and scooter users. |
Grading is based on average scores by surveyors. This slow way has 1 surveys. | ||
Full grading description |
Only people who have completed our training can become Slow Ways surveyors and submit a survey. We do not vet contributors, so we cannot guarantee the quality or completeness of the surveys they complete. If you are dependent on the information being correct we recommend reading and comparing surveys before setting off.
Survey Photos
Facilities
Facilities in the middle third of this route.
Challenges
Potential challenges reported on this route. Some challenges are seasonal.
Obstacles
Obstacles on this route.
Accessibility
Is this route step and stile free?
Measurements
Surveyors were asked to measure the narrowest and steepest parts of paths.
The narrowest part of the path is 55.0cm (1)
The steepest uphill gradient walking East 9.0% (1)
The steepest uphill gradient walking West 9.0% (1)
The steepest camber gradient across the path 2.0% (1)
How clear is the waymarking on the route: Unclear in places (1)
Successfully completed
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Recommended by an expert
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Terrain
We asked route surveyors to estimate how much of the route goes through different kinds of terrain.
15.0% of the route is on roads (1)
20.0% of the route is lit at night (1)
30.0% of the route is paved (1)
20.0% of the route is muddy (1)
10.0% of the route is over rough ground (1)
15.0% of the route is through long grass (1)
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1 surveys
Information from verified surveys.
Geography information system (GIS) data
Total length
Maximum elevation
Minimum elevation
Start and end points
Harpenden
Grid Ref
TL1369614210
Lat / Lon
51.81497° / -0.35201°
Easting / Northing
513,696E / 214,210N
What3Words
fast.mutual.lifts
St Albans
Grid Ref
TL1556907084
Lat / Lon
51.75054° / -0.32722°
Easting / Northing
515,569E / 207,084N
What3Words
drew.tender.soil
Harpenden | |
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Grid Ref | TL1369614210 |
Lat / Lon | 51.81497° / -0.35201° |
Easting / Northing | 513,696E / 214,210N |
What3Words | fast.mutual.lifts |
St Albans | |
---|---|
Grid Ref | TL1556907084 |
Lat / Lon | 51.75054° / -0.32722° |
Easting / Northing | 515,569E / 207,084N |
What3Words | drew.tender.soil |
Sorry Land Cover data is not currently available for this route. Please check back later.
reviews
Derick Rethans
26 Mar 2023I walked this from Harpenden to St. Albans on warmish but showery Saturday afternoon. I got hailed on once too.
From Harpenden there is a short section along streets, before walking on the common (photo #2), and an through St John's Wood (photo #2). This was fairly muddy and slidy, but only minutes after a hefty hail shower. The route then follows a bridle way along a golf course (photo #3) before crossing over the railway, where it makes a sharp turn to continue along some fields (photo #4) and through woods (photo #5) to end up at Sandridge (with pubs). The section through the woods (photos #5, 6, and 7) is really nice, with easy going paths and some good views too. You then go up a metalled path (photo #8) and up at Jersey Farm Woodland Park (photo #9), which was grassy and a little muddy (again, remember the rain showers). It was a little slidy at the bottom where to route then continued along residential streets (photo #9 and #10). The crossing of Marshalswick Lane was a little annoying as the traffic lights don't prioritise pedestrians. A similar problem crossing the roundabouts at Sandpit Lane. Just before finishing at the station, the last section goes through Clarence Park (photo #11), although I missed the entrance at the north on York Road, and ended up walking around it for a bit, before heading to the south west corner to cross Hatfield Road (again, unhappy traffic lights). Nice varied route, and well doable even in showery weather.
Strider
13 Jan 2023I walked from St Albans to Harpenden on a bright sunny winter day with a bitter wind.
There was far more green than I expected from this walk by looking at the map, the paths are off set from the road where it looks as it you walk beside them. A nice bonus.
Street walking along quiet suburban roads for about 1.5km then green practically all the way. A mix of open common land, farms, woods and golf courses. The Woodland Trust Heartland Forest is a highlight with views and traditional hedging. Sandridge offers a nice pub and a peaceful church, both offered warmth and quiet from the cold buffeting wind. A perfect lunch stop, benches to sit. Follow the white wooden bollards with a horseshoe near the Harpenden end which will take you through the golf course and common to the town.
Clarence Park near St Albans station is closed sun-set to sun-rise, but most of the walk is not lit so it's a daylight walk. It had been very wet recently so the ground was water logged and muddy, more slippery than sticky, but still passable with good footwear, shallow puddles. Narrow (55cm) entrance to Sandridge churchyard, but you can walk around. Not passable for wheels in winter due to soft waterlogged ground, Summer will be different. The bluebells in the spring are said to be fantastic.
I took a while with this walk, pausing here and there, and the odd branch to see views. Really nice even on a short winter day. You could take all day to do 12km.
A stunning walk. 4*+.
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Share your thoughts
Jane Taylor
31 May 2022Walked both directions.
This is a fabulous route which makes the most of Harpenden Common and Heartwood Forest, and then delivers a great refreshment stop.at Sandridge.
From Sandridge it finds a quiet green route into St Albans' outskirts, and then residential roads and a park before arriving at the railway station.
I'm marking my own work quite hard here - I took the star off for deviation, and also because St Albans' suburbs are pleasant but go on a bit; this route is 800 metres longer than Harsta Three - but it is so much nicer between Sandridge and St Albans! It's really a 4.5 star!.
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