Weloak three

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

A third alternative route between Welwyn Garden City - with less pollution, avoiding the less grotty areas around the Tesco HQ and barely longer than Weloak one (and shorter than Weloak two). It also takes you past the Cowper Arms which is no bad thing! It takes you through Sherrardspark Wood which is lovely and quiet apart from the birdsong - if you tread quietly you might even happen across one of the local Muntjac Deer. It also gives you a great view of the Digswell Viaduct and the nearby nature reserve.

Starting from Welwyn Garden City station, come out of the station on the town side (ie. don't go over any foot bridges). Go almost straight ahead along Howardsgate (your choice of the Costa path on the left or Caffe Nero on the right, never short of coffee here!), before turning right at the corner where Cote restaurant is. Walk along the shaft ("Parkway") towards the end, cross over at the end next to John Lewis window displayed (don't cross over onto the bell shaped green area). Walk along Bridge Road, crossing at the new crossing by the stylish new multi-story. Carry on until you see a Bridleway signposted taking you right. Follow that up, cross over the other footpath, and emege on Readings. Look straight ahead to see the high visibility gate that you are aiming for. You are now in the peaceful and car-free Sherrardspark Wood. Soon the path forks, take the right fork up past the bottom end of people's gardens to the right. A wiggle right and then left will get you to a three way fork - take the middle fork signposted to Monks Wood. Walk down the slope, straight over the crossroad at the bottom heading up. A quick right and then left will get you onto a big straight path that heads down, over Knightsfield, past the Cricket Club on your left and Digswell House on your right. You will exit on Monks Rise where you turn right around Digswell House and head down to turn left on Knightsfield. When you reach Bessemer Road you want to cross over to Digswell Park Road (a dead end for cars) past the nature reserve and sheep field. When the viaduct is in sight you will turn left, just after a horse stables, and head straight up crossing one road before you hit Station Road. The Cowper Arms is just around the road to the right and well worth a stop off for a pint. Once lubricated, turn left and then immediately right up Woodside Road and then turn into Warren Way where you will find a path in the right corner. A right and then left get you walking over the railway tunnel in Lockleys Wood. At the end you turn left to emerge from the woods (the trainline also emerges to your right briefly before going into a second tunnel). Follow the footpath through the farmland, turning right at the bottom towards Foxley Grove. From there you can follow the meandering path and you'd have to try hard not to make it to Oaklands! If you skipped the Cowper Arms then The North Star is an acceptable second choice. If you did visit the Cowper Arms then you'll probably want a second drink anyway, for which the North Star is there and waiting

A third alternative route between Welwyn Garden City - with less pollution, avoiding the less grotty areas around the Tesco HQ and barely longer than Weloak one (and shorter than Weloak two). It also takes you past the Cowper Arms which is no bad thing! It takes you through Sherrardspark Wood which is lovely and quiet apart from the birdsong - if you tread quietly you might even happen across one of the local Muntjac Deer. It also gives you a great view of the Digswell Viaduct and the nearby nature reserve.

Starting from Welwyn Garden City station, come out of the station on the town side (ie. don't go over any foot bridges). Go almost straight ahead along Howardsgate (your choice of the Costa path on the left or Caffe Nero on the right, never short of coffee here!), before turning right at the corner where Cote restaurant is. Walk along the shaft ("Parkway") towards the end, cross over at the end next to John Lewis window displayed (don't cross over onto the bell shaped green area). Walk along Bridge Road, crossing at the new crossing by the stylish new multi-story. Carry on until you see a Bridleway signposted taking you right. Follow that up, cross over the other footpath, and emege on Readings. Look straight ahead to see the high visibility gate that you are aiming for. You are now in the peaceful and car-free Sherrardspark Wood. Soon the path forks, take the right fork up past the bottom end of people's gardens to the right. A wiggle right and then left will get you to a three way fork - take the middle fork signposted to Monks Wood. Walk down the slope, straight over the crossroad at the bottom heading up. A quick right and then left will get you onto a big straight path that heads down, over Knightsfield, past the Cricket Club on your left and Digswell House on your right. You will exit on Monks Rise where you turn right around Digswell House and head down to turn left on Knightsfield. When you reach Bessemer Road you want to cross over to Digswell Park Road (a dead end for cars) past the nature reserve and sheep field. When the viaduct is in sight you will turn left, just after a horse stables, and head straight up crossing one road before you hit Station Road. The Cowper Arms is just around the road to the right and well worth a stop off for a pint. Once lubricated, turn left and then immediately right up Woodside Road and then turn into Warren Way where you will find a path in the right corner. A right and then left get you walking over the railway tunnel in Lockleys Wood. At the end you turn left to emerge from the woods (the trainline also emerges to your right briefly before going into a second tunnel). Follow the footpath through the farmland, turning right at the bottom towards Foxley Grove. From there you can follow the meandering path and you'd have to try hard not to make it to Oaklands! If you skipped the Cowper Arms then The North Star is an acceptable second choice. If you did visit the Cowper Arms then you'll probably want a second drink anyway, for which the North Star is there and waiting