The walk is not too strenuous; one notable hill near Abbot's Hill School and a couple of other ups and downs....

lwatson

Albans I walked along its shopping streets for a while, before going past its magnificent cathedral (photo #1) and into Verulamium Park (photo #2). On the other side of King Harry Lane sits a newish development which I had to cross through narrowish public footpaths to be able to go up a hill (photo #4) through farmland to the A414, which I crossed with a bridge. I did follow the new footpaths for a bit to avoid the lane, but after not much distance my only option was to actually follow the lane (photo #5). On the other side of Church Hill in Bedmond, the route continued along the edge of a field (photo #10), followed by a public footpath sign pointing straight across a newly ploughed field....

Derick Rethans

I haven't walked this route but we've been told that there is a dangerous dual carriageway crossing. Which seems to concur with the other reviews. Hemsta two is the better route from what we've heard so please head over and check out that version of the route....

Slow Ways Cristie

The route was accurate, accessible and easy to navigate. Very easy going on paved paths. Mainly along the disused railway - The Alban Way, which is shaded by trees and very peaceful....

Hannah

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). 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)....

Derick Rethans

On the other side of King Harry Lane sits a newish development which I had to cross through narrowish public footpaths to be able to go up a hill through. I did follow the new footpaths for a bit to avoid the lane, but after not much distance my only option was to actually follow the lane. From Potters Crouch to Bedmond my route went along more lanes, and to be honest, this was the least nice part of the walk. On the other side of Church Hill in Bedmond, the route continued along the edge of a field, followed by a public footpath sign pointing straight across a. After crossing a lane, a stile, a field and another stile, my route was suddenly blocked by a field of horses I will be proposing an alternative route, which also adds the shortcut through the aforementioned Park Wood, and avoids the field of horses....

Derick Rethans

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. 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. Narrow (55cm) entrance to Sandridge churchyard, but you can walk around....

Strider

Easy to navigate, green, flat, good quality paths, shady, suitable for all types of wheels, interesting features, benches to rest, no cars....

Strider

Photo 1 shows one signposted diversion past a weak bridge (LH cross)that was fenced off and past the overgrown map route (RH cross) to other signposts through a field. Photo 2 shows the mapped route on the East side of a fence to a blocked gate (red cross)....

Strider

Off the canal and through a new estate there are lovely fields and woodland paths to Bedmond and the corrugated Church. From here there is a long stretch of walking in a narrow country lanes, Bedmond and Ragg Hall lanes. More lovely wooded paths the a long alley towards the Cathedral past the Roman walls....

Strider

This route is good, but I followed the plotted line religiously and it led me astray at the Hatfield end! You can't get from Branch Close onto the railway path. It could also be slightly more precise throughout....

mtormey

It follows the Albans Way almost the entire route, which is paved, wide, flat, and separated from motor vehicle traffic....

mtormey

It was unpleasant enough for me to make an alternative option Harsta Four, which is similar between Harpenden and Sandridge, and then follows a quiet green off-road alternative to St Albans through Jersey Farm Woodland Park, so more or less avoiding the B651....

Jane Taylor

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!...

Jane Taylor

Added some photos...

Jane Taylor

Walked in two stages, St Albans to Smug Oak Lane; and Radlett to Smug Oak Lane. At Smug Oak Lane I took the bridle path to the A5183 and caught the bus. 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. 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....

Jane Taylor

Very enjoyable route based on Starad One, it incorporates a diversion around a blocked footpath, and some other changes brought in from Starad Two where I think they improve the overall route. There are a couple of drop out points - Park Street station, and a useful bus stop where the route crosses the A5183 Radlett Road by Ventura Park. I do wonder if there is another, more direct, route option going West of Watling Street between Radlett and Smug Oak Lane....

Jane Taylor

Albans itself, and then follows the Alban way for a bit, and then the Abbey Line Trail - both former railway lines....

Derick Rethans

Going through Rothamstead there were very clear navigation boards and interesting information boards about the experiments....

lwatson

I walked the route in March and parts were muddy and there were some large puddles the width of the path....

Kate Ingrams

This is the same path the previous reviewer, coming the other way, found blocked at the Harper Lane end, and like them I walked through the new housing estate to get to the rest of the route...

Jane Taylor

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

I really wanted to like this route (I walked from St Albans to Hemel Hempstead), and there was a lot about it I really enjoyed, but there were several issues that came up, too. - especially around Hemel Hempstead, it felt silly to divert from the canal when it looked like you could just stay on it all the way to the station...

mtormey

I found it a direct, easy-to-follow, overall accessible route following the Alban Way almost the entire distance (only diverting at the very beginning and end)....

lwatson

It is also flat, except for the occasional walk down to a road and back up again as the original railway bridge has gone....

Derick Rethans

Secondly, the footpath off Harper Lane was blocked by fencing (reported on pathwatch, Oct 21) which meant a diversion through a new housing estate (which massively increased the amount of road walking)....

lwatson

Much shorter than the other Harpenden to St Albans route (which was in Mike's 50 Least Direct Routes)....

Paul Catterfeld

Beware Gorehambury doesn't open until 8:00am, and a short section by the River Ver sometimes floods for a couple of metres....

pastim

There are many relics of the railway line including some raised platforms, bridges, a station house in St Albans and information boards....

Elizabeth E

An excellent route between Radlett station and Sopwell in St. Albans golf course to the Alban Way or turning off Cottonmill Lane just prior to Monks Close and getting to the Alban Way across the playing fields....

Steve Lambert