Description
I think this route delivers the best combination of direct and pleasant/off-road between St Albans and Radlett.
It's 2 km shorter than Starad Three, and stays away from the busy A5183 Watling Street (Starad Two). After walking and reviewing Starad Three, I thought there was scope for a more direct, but still very pleasant, route to the west of the A5183, and this is it.
Between St Albans and Smug Oak Lane/Colney Street the route follows the River Ver across meadows and wetlands. It's the same as Starad Three.
Then from Smug Oak Lane it follows the edge of a large meadow/field (the OS footpath is shown going across the field, but on the ground it seems everyone follows the field boundary rather than going across the middle).
Then woodland, fields and tracks to outskirts Radlett, where there is a quiet private road leading to the town centre.
There are some steps, narrow paths, and a small bridge. The Ver meadows towards St Albans may flood in winter.
Refreshments at Park Street. As an added bonus the route passes a hotel just by the M25, which would make a useful stopping point for anyone on a long journey, and of course refreshments may also be found
I think this route delivers the best combination of direct and pleasant/off-road between St Albans and Radlett.
It's 2 km shorter than Starad Three, and stays away from the busy A5183 Watling Street (Starad Two). After walking and reviewing Starad Three, I thought there was scope for a more direct, but still very pleasant, route to the west of the A5183, and this is it.
Between St Albans and Smug Oak Lane/Colney Street the route follows the River Ver across meadows and wetlands. It's the same as Starad Three.
Then from Smug Oak Lane it follows the edge of a large meadow/field (the OS footpath is shown going across the field, but on the ground it seems everyone follows the field boundary rather than going across the middle).
Then woodland, fields and tracks to outskirts Radlett, where there is a quiet private road leading to the town centre.
There are some steps, narrow paths, and a small bridge. The Ver meadows towards St Albans may flood in winter.
Refreshments at Park Street. As an added bonus the route passes a hotel just by the M25, which would make a useful stopping point for anyone on a long journey, and of course refreshments may also be found
Status
This route has been reviewed by 3 people.
There are no issues flagged.
Photos for Starad four
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Information
Route status - Live
Reviews - 3
Average rating -
Is this route good enough? - Yes (3)
There are currently no problems reported with this route.
Downloads - 9
Surveys
What is this route like?
Surveys are submitted by fellow users of this website and show what you might expect from this Slow Ways route. Scroll down the page to read more detailed surveys.
| Grade 4X based on 1 surveys | Sign up or log in to survey this route. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 50.0cm (1)
The steepest uphill gradient walking East 18.0% (1)
The steepest uphill gradient walking West 17.0% (1)
The steepest camber gradient across the path 6.0% (1)
How clear is the waymarking on the route: Unsigned (1)
Successfully completed
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Recommended by an expert
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Terrain
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There is no data on how much of this route is on roads
There is no data on how much of this route is lit at night
Thereis no data on amount of route paved
There is no data on muddiness
There is no data on rough ground
There is no data on long grass
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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
St Albans
Grid Ref
TL1556907084
Lat / Lon
51.75054° / -0.32722°
Easting / Northing
515,569E / 207,084N
What3Words
drew.tender.soil
Radlett
Grid Ref
TQ1641499838
Lat / Lon
51.68525° / -0.31741°
Easting / Northing
516,414E / 199,838N
What3Words
navy.create.port
| St Albans | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | TL1556907084 |
| Lat / Lon | 51.75054° / -0.32722° |
| Easting / Northing | 515,569E / 207,084N |
| What3Words | drew.tender.soil |
| Radlett | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | TQ1641499838 |
| Lat / Lon | 51.68525° / -0.31741° |
| Easting / Northing | 516,414E / 199,838N |
| What3Words | navy.create.port |
Sorry Land Cover data is not currently available for this route. Please check back later.
reviews
Graham Farthing
02 Nov 2024Nice little route, no issues with mapping.
However, the Ver Valley Water Meadow (entered on leaving Park Street) lives up to its name, best undertaken wear gaiters.
Strider
31 Oct 2024I walked from Radlett to St Albans, a day that started misty which lifted to sunny blue skies. It was All Hallows Eve.
Up hill to a long expensive road, where they were replacing the dew laden spiders webs, which caught rainbows in the weak sun, with tatty artificial plastic spiders webs, sigh. But soon into a lovely mix of fields, woods, farms, and riverside paths. A nice variety. Some steps and some steep parts. Over the M25 on a footbridge, narrow barriers and a steep decent. A path takes you past a site of an old Roman villa. Back into woods past Frogmore, the fishing lakes are full and, on this day, were encroaching over the path, only 3-5cm deep. A road section takes you past a corner shop, good for snacks but don't drink the coffee. On to the Ver Valley Meadows beautiful but boggy. The path was easier to pick out travelling North but I still got a boot full of water, winter flooding is likely. Over a bridge past fields and then a mix of suburban roads and cycle paths along a disused railway. This takes you to the active railway City Station.
Having walked Starad 1 and 2, I think this one is the nicest, less roads and better scenery. It is slightly more rugged under foot and is probably more susceptible to flooding not just at the Ver Meadows (as all the Starad routes are) but also by the fishing lakes past Frogmore. But this is the route I'd do again.
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Jane Taylor
31 Oct 2024Thanks Tony!! The Ver meadows look pretty soggy there
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Jane Taylor
15 May 2022Walked in two stages, St Albans to Smug Oak Lane; and Radlett to Smug Oak Lane. There’s a bus stop on the A5183 which allows a neat division. 5 star route ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall it is extremely pleasant, much of it off-road. From St Albans the route follows the river Ver across meadows. These were still quite soggy when I went through in March, waterproof boots needed.
At Park Street (refreshments) the landscape changes to a managed wetlands with well maintained paths and benches. A short climb through some woodland leads to the M25 crossing by bridge.
At Smug Oak Lane I took the bridle path to the A5183 and caught the bus.
Two months later I came back to finish reccying this route. From Radlett I took roads (pavements) leading from the station to the start of a private road (Newlands Avenue). It doesn’t have a pavement, but there was only a small amount of calm traffic, and it felt safe and peaceful.
At the end of the road is a footpath leading to fields. This is a very pleasant stretch, with a quiet lane and bridle ways, lots of well-cared-for horses and ponies in the fields alongside.
After some woodland and a rather narrow bridge (or a ditch, I went ditch - photo), there is a large grassy field which I walked around. The OS map shows a public footpath through the middle, but I couldn’t see one!
Then at Smug Oak Lane I said ‘hello!’ to where I had left off in March, and caught the bus from the bus stop on the A5183 again.
I’m really pleased with this route as I think it combines the best of directness and off-road. Some parts by the river may flood in winter, is my only proviso. Thoroughly recommend.
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Jane Taylor
02 Nov 2024Thanks Graham! I think all the routes (so far) go through the meadows, maybe need a dry foot option as well?
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