I continued on this route from Watrad 3 by following the Cycle Route 6 (passing Tesco and into Oxhey Park where there's the Tasty Bean Café with toilets). Ebury Way was quiet and tree-lined. There are steps after passing Hampermill Lake and you need to be alert while crossing the Golf Course....

JohnMyerson

Food shops and cafes in Radlett and large Tesco near the end in Watford....

JohnMyerson

From Watford, (photo #1) a section along residential streets and alongside Wiggenhall Road is annoying, but once you get along the river Colne and the Ebury Way (photo #2, #3), it's mostly excellent — both in terms of surface, and greenery....

Derick Rethans

After negotiating the crossings away from Radlett station, an urban footpath (photo #1) soon brings you along a residential road (photo #2) where at the top, a footpath then leads you around a playing ground — I think you could shortcut through "The Dell and "The Pathway" (photo #3) to save some time. A muddy path (photo #6) brings you onto Summerhouse Lane where the route goes through a field with horses....

Derick Rethans

It's a great route, but quite inaccurately drawn. I've created WatRad 3 to correct that....

Derick Rethans

Crossing the road by Bushey Arches is a little awkward. There are cafes in Bushey High Street and toilets in the Rose Garden (450 metres east of the church)....

JohnMyerson

The relatively short diversions into greenspace make this walk pleasant enough but you can't get away from the fact that the straight line route from which you deviate from but have to return to is a busy urban road. Overall it is reasonably accessible with few obstacles except for winter mud in the grass sections of Attenborough Fields....

John Marsh

Buses stop nearby (5-10 mins walk) at Claredon Street, and the overground station at the meeting place can whisk you away to other destinations (with connections). In Rickmansworth, the meeting place (as discussed in other reviews) could be better placed, although the train station and bus stops are nearby (5 minute walk)....

andy_mackay

We joined the route at Watford and after walking along busy road quickly found ourselves in countryside....

Sue

On leaving the lower part of Watford High Street the route runs close to the A411 road and close to a busy shopping mall. Arriving in Rickmansworth there are quite narrow pavements and it is safer to cross the road (not too busy) where the footpath is wider....

Kevin Wooldridge

From Watford High St Station the route quickly leaves urban Watford behind for a pleasant, safe, walk through largely unspoiled countryside to Rickmansworth on level terrain. The walk finishes at one end the pedestrianised section of the High Street. The bus stop shown here has now been moved to the adjacent Northway but is still only of very limited use...

Bob Sherren

I have travelled this route many times and whilst it is acceptable for those on bikes there are many times you will have to pull over to allow people going the other way to pass. Wheelchair users will find much of the towpath unsuitable. Overall, a pleasant route for walking (once you get to the towpath)....

Carl

A pleasant route Spring to Autumn but can be rather muddy along the Ebury way in the wetter months....

Carl

A short walk from the station to a quiet road and a footpath to a busy road. This busy road is quickly over and you pass by the skate park over a bridge and through a park....

Strider

But this changed significantly once I got to the Grand Union Canal, of which I'm a friend and walked for the whole distance (London to Birmingham). It deviated after a while following the Ebury Way, a former branch line....

Derick Rethans

If it was any longer, I probably would not have given it 4 stars, as there were lots of really annoying roads and crossings....

Derick Rethans

A route which succeeds in making maximum use of green spaces around two places linked by main roads. Oxhey Park in Watford was a highlight. Safe, easy to follow, maybe could have been more direct but I think that would have detracted from the pleasure of the walk....

David Sanderson

My only criticism of the walk would be that I didn't really feel like I visited Hemel Hempstead, which is an issue with the location of the meeting point, which is at the railway station, outside of the centre of town....

David Sanderson

From the station you cross a busy road and through a pedestrianized town center, shops and coffee. Exit the towpath through a kissing gate to Box Moor with several wide gates (to control livestock) on the approach to Hemel Hempstead Station which is 3Km from the High Street and Marlows Shopping Centre....

Strider

At this point, knowing that there is no footpath where the route currently suggests crossing the A41/M1, I diverted down Berrygrove Lane and then Otterspool Lane, then turning right up the bridleway to meet the route as shown at the footpath....

lwatson

There is a detour; you cannot cross the A41 and M1 where indicated, you need to walk to the roundabout to cross the A41 then under the M1 before doubling back to the marked route (see map photo)....

Strider

I made this route as an alternative to Hemwat One with less road and more park and canal towpath. The route passes the 'Hub' with a cafe and toilets, before it reaches the canal towpath....

Jane Taylor

First a long rail-side path (unlit at night), then a golf course and farm fields....

Strider

The route identifies a precise crossing point by Aldenham Road, it is a shame it is less precise about where to cross back, I suggest by the Mercedes garage just before the turn into Oxhey Park. On the whole I enjoyed this route, a good balance of green belt and urban walking; some of the roads are busy, and it isn't always clear about whether/where to cross roads, but apart from that it works....

Jane Taylor

I agree with the previous reviewers, this is a lovely walk with a good compromise between direct roads and winding countryside....

Strider

The start of the walk is through a part of Watford and then a very busy road but it’s not dangerous as there is no need to cross. Then the route takes you down onto the canal towpath, which is a bit of a wildlife haven in many ways. An easy and pleasant walk....

Ian Metcalfe

-Carrying on down Hempstead Road (the quiet one) until the end, and then crossing the busy road and continuing down the (wide and reasonably safe) footpath until reaching the canal - this is the route I ended up taking...

lwatson

Equally, there was a long stretch of pavement walking down what starts off as a fairly busy road in Watford which could have been avoided by going through Watford Fields and using the Ebury Way....

lwatson

The section along Rickmansworth Road in Watford could have been avoided by going a little further along the canal and then through Cassiobury Park, but there was no need to cross the road (there is an underpass by the Town Hall where the route turns) and so it didn't feel unsafe....

lwatson

I'm not sure that there are any better routes; this one is fairly direct (the only way it could be more direct is by going along busy roads the whole way), and the off-road sections through the park and fields were pleasant....

lwatson

The first 2-3 kilometers of the journey is next to a fairly busy road (no need to cross it however) but the rest of it is a beautiful route along the canal, we even saw some wildlife! Would definitely walk this route again....

ctheander