Connect Watford with Slow Ways

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Watford

Hertfordshire


Slow Ways linking Watford and Bushey, Hemel Hempstead, Northwood, Radlett, Rickmansworth

England / Hertfordshire / Watford

Watford’s five Slow Ways are 80% checked

Drawn: 5/5
reviewed: 5/5
verified: 3/5
and surveyed: 3/5

Help connect Watford

Many Slow Ways have several route options. Some will be better than others, or good for different reasons.

Our goal is for each Slow Way to have at least one route that is verified and surveyed. To be verified – and get its snail badge – a route needs at least three positive reviews.

Give a hike and help get a for every one of Watford’s Slow Ways.

Walk to Watford from further afield

Slow Way Route To do
Hemel Hempstead—Watford
Hemwat one

Double check Distance 14km/9mi Ascent 76m Descent 54m
Hemel Hempstead—Watford
Hemwat two Enjoy me Distance 15km/9mi Ascent 80m Descent 54m
Northwood—Watford
Norwat one

Double check Distance 6km/4mi Ascent 62m Descent 75m
Northwood—Watford
Norwat two Review me Distance 6km/4mi Ascent - Descent -
Rickmansworth—Watford
Ricwat one Survey me Distance 7km/4mi Ascent 19m Descent 35m
Rickmansworth—Watford
Ricwat two Enjoy me Distance 7km/4mi Ascent - Descent -
Watford—Bushey
Watbus one Enjoy me Distance 3km/2mi Ascent 46m Descent 14m
Watford—Radlett
Watrad one

Review me Distance 10km/6mi Ascent 72m Descent 59m

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Collective progress

78% of Watford’s five route options are drawn, reviewed, surveyed and/or verified

8/8

drawn

8/8

reviewed

5/8

surveyed

4/8

verified

13 people have contributed to Watford’s Slow Ways

0 people have pledged to walk and review a route

5 people have surveyed a route in Watford

68km out of 68km have been walked and reviewed

184km of reviews have been shared in Watford

Latest Updates

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

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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

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

Sue

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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

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Kevin Wooldridge took this photo on Ricwat two

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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

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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

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

Carl

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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

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Rickmansworth—Watford

Strider added Ricwat two, a new walk from Rickmansworth to Watford

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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

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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

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Derick Rethans took this photo on Watbus one

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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

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David Sanderson took this photo on Watbus one

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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

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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

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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

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Strider surveyed Watrad one

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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

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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

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Hemel Hempstead—Watford

Jane Taylor added Hemwat two, a new walk from Hemel Hempstead to Watford

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Strider surveyed Watbus one

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

Strider

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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

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Jane Taylor took this photo on Watbus one

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

Strider

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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

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-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

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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

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Northwood—Watford

lwatson added Norwat two, a new walk from Northwood to Watford

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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

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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

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Watford

Strider surveyed Watford

View facilities
Watford

lwatson surveyed Watford

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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

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Hemel Hempstead—Watford

Slow Ways added Hemwat one, a new walk from Hemel Hempstead to Watford

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Northwood—Watford

Slow Ways added Norwat one, a new walk from Northwood to Watford

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Rickmansworth—Watford

Slow Ways added Ricwat one, a new walk from Rickmansworth to Watford

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Watford—Bushey

Slow Ways added Watbus one, a new walk from Watford to Bushey

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Watford—Radlett

Slow Ways added Watrad one, a new walk from Watford to Radlett

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1

Watford, Fri 29 March

12°

Light rain

Watford’s Slow Ways starting point

Grid ref

TQ1137096101

Lat / Lon

51.65268° / -0.39153°

Easting / Northing

511,370E / 196,101N

Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?

If you’ve polished off all of the routes between Watford and its neighbours, how about walking its whole web?

This includes the great ring of routes that join its neighbours to each other!

Facilities

Users have reported that the following facilities can be found within 1km of Watford's meeting point

Public toilet

Wheelchair accessible toilet

Supermarket or convenience shop

Restaurant, cafe or pub

Accommodation

Accommodation for under £50 a night

Campsite

Bothy

Free wifi

Mobility scooter hire

Off-road wheelchair hire

Disabled Parking

Train station

Bus stop

Ferry

Official ‘Walkers are Welcome’ town

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