In late January I walked the Slow Ways route Potche One, starting from the Memorial Garden, Potters Bar railway station, turning left onto Darkes Lane, then right along Billy Bowes Lane, past Parkfield open space to the junction with the Hatfield Road [my preference would have been to walk through Parkfield, but I am not aware of an entrance into it off either The Walk or Darkes Lane]. Keeping to the left going north, the path eventually led on through a kissing gate to a very muddy footpath (N12) that joined a very good footpath to the rear of Northaw Place (N4), exiting onto Well Road and then straight across Judges Hill (B158) onto the pavement and into Northaw. With the Church to the right, the route then went down Vineyards Road (pavement and grass verge) and through a kissing gate on the right, with a footpath (N1) signposting Cuffley. Suitably refreshed, the second half of the walk continued down Station Road to Cuffley Hill through a kissing gate off right opposite the entrance to Brook Farm....

Fred Allgood

Walked in November, requires sturdy waterproof footwear, some stretches of road without separate pavement...

Tom

For coming back to Enfield from Potters Bar- I used the reverse of the route I found by accident, which is a path on the south side of where the M25 bridge crosses Baker Street - which was much less muddy, albeit somewhat overgrown and a bit of a dumping ground and led to Bentley Heath lane....

Mark Sow

Mostly this is a good route, fairly direct and makes the most of wooded footpaths, and quieter streets in the urban sections at both ends....

Jane Taylor

I did one very long way from Hatfield to Newgate Street to Potters Bar, as Newgate Street is hard to get to....

Heather S.

This was my first Slow Ways walk on a snowy December afternoon....

Heather S.

The route starts at Potters Bar station, and after a short section through the local shopping street, and a little longer section along residential roads, you soon end up going up a (slightly muddy) hill in Morven Park. On the other side of the woods, there is a section of walking on a clear pavement along a busyish road, for about half a mile towards Northaw and its church. From there there is another section walking along a pavement and a little along a verge, to get back to proper footpaths lined with trees again, with lovely views....

Derick Rethans

After crossing it, there were a few footpaths along fields (one with horses) before the route continued along a one way lane with a cycle way counterflow. The route then continues a little through the residential streets, before you have to walk along a verge up a hill again. After a while you cross a stile and then the route processed along a fairly busy road into Enfield Town....

Derick Rethans

From the back of the station a path takes you alongside the railway before ducking left down steps, through woods and fields to Waters End before the residential streets of Welham Green....

Strider

This route tries to avoid the Ridgeway, but does join it near Enfield, and quickly leaves it to go through Old Enfield Village....

Strider

The road leading out of the village has sporadic verges but there is a path parallel to the road in the woods on the East side for part of the way. Leaving Northaw is down Judges Hill, a busy road with a narrow pavement but it is a short section before getting back into the woods along a narrow rooty path to open fields with cattle....

Strider

I walked in a roundabout way from Cheshunt and Waltham Cross to Potters bar. POTCHE starts at the roundabout (shops cafes) heads East then south along suburban streets to a cycle path which takes you to gates outside Cedars Park. Together the above makes a wheelchair friendly route from Cheshunt to Waltham Cross. POTWAL goes under the tunnel along a track to the road which takes you to another track further on past a festival field and small holdings along Chain Walk past open fields until you meet the Hertfordshire Way and the beginning of Hemps Hill. Hemps Hill takes you through wooded tracks up to Northaw, a picturesque village (there’s a tap just inside the church gate but also a pub)....

Strider

I walked in a roundabout way from Cheshunt and Waltham Cross to Potters bar. POTCHE starts at the roundabout (shops cafes) heads East then south along suburban streets to a cycle path which takes you to gates outside Cedars Park. Together the above makes a wheelchair friendly route from Cheshunt to Waltham Cross. POTWAL goes under the tunnel along a track to the road which takes you to another track further on past a festival field and small holdings along Chain Walk past open fields until you meet the Hertfordshire Way and the beginning of Hemps Hill. Hemps Hill takes you through wooded tracks up to Northaw, a picturesque village (there’s a tap just inside the church gate but also a pub)....

Strider

I gave up as there was no visible safe route across the main dual carriageway from the Potters Bar end. In my opinion this is a dangerous route....

Simon

Luckily at the other side of a stream there is an (at this side) unmarked foot path that goes through a field. The stream goes under the M25 before it continues following field boundaries....

Derick Rethans

It is mostly a delightful route, except for the half a mile along Carbone Hill to the finish at Newgate Street. After a steep descent the route briefly goes through the delightful "Home Wood" before an annoying section along the fairly busy Carbone Hill into Newgate Street....

Derick Rethans

A walk through the village of Welham Green takes you past a delightful pub (Sibthorpe Arms) and then through lots of alleyways until you reach a cycle path that takes you to the edge of Hatfield....

Simon

Advantages: Avoids walking alongside A1 - better views over the countryside - less road walking - more woodland walking....

Strider

Firstly out the back of the Station alongside the track takes you out of the town quickly. This is followed by a riverside walk, do not go into the park but go through a smaller gap onto the north bank which will take you into open farm land. Another quiet lane after the A414 crossing takes you through Tyttenhanger Village and across more farmland to the outskirts of St Albans and the Station....

Strider

I found it a very enjoyable route with a mix of fields, woodland, lanes and tracks, as well as urban residential estates in St Albans....

Jane Taylor

- The route does a fairly good job navigating some pretty significant large road barriers, with a good safe crossing under the A1. - The short bits of road walking are actually ok; I found them properly comfortable, and I generally dislike road walking more than most. - Some stretches of path were overgrown, but this was really quite rare. - Along Coursers Road, you can take the bridleway on the north side of the road through the New Plantation, so this isn't quite as drawn, but it's FAR safer than trying to walk along Coursers Road. These cons are really quite minor, all things considered...

mtormey

After passing Elstree Studios there are nice open spaces and residential streets. After going round the scrubby edge of a golf course and some fields there is a track (part of Cycle network 12) that used to be a road which leads to a tunnel under the motorway....

Strider

Leaving Radlett along a busy uphill winding road you reach a fenced-in path through a tree plantation. South out of Shenley there is a short (100m) section on the verge of a busy road, then left onto manicured industrial farmland with monogrammed JCB's and fields kilometers wide....

Strider

Enjoyable route crossing the boundary between London and Hertfordshire, mix of urban and green-belt walking....

Jane Taylor

There are roads to walk along but this route has managed maximize the amount of green walking. There is a bit of road walking past a civil war memorial, then woods and fields, a footbridge across the M25....

Strider

More than three miles of this route are along The Ridgeway, which carries heavy, fast moving traffic, with just a narrow (even non-existent in places) footpath. I would certainly not use it for walking or cycling....

JayA

The route also involves navigating the roundabout onto J24 of the M25 which does not have traffic lights to make the traffic stop for pedestrians. I would not feel safe walking this route....

falkie71

I would only use this route in a car, not suitable for bike or walking, you have to negotiate the M25 roundabout and the Ridgeway is horrible. Go via Cooper's Lane Road instead....

mod

The majority of the route passes through parks and green spaces, with only one stretch on road (where a narrow pavement is available). Some parts can potentially get muddy in winter....

Gilgul