walk-talk Bluebell Walk

walks within reach of St Albans with photos that show you exactly which way to go

Bluebell Walk

From The Old Fox in Bricket Wood through Munden Spring to touch the Colne, through Munden House park, Bricket Wood Common, up to the confluence of the Ver and Colne, through Little Munden Farm and back by the Picture House.

To print, click: short description | map | full description with map and photos

Bluebells in quiet woodland are an icon of English countryside beauty, There are swathes of magnificent bluebells under the trees in the ancient woodland of Bricket Wood Common in April and May but there is no need to restrict this walk to bluebell time.

The walk takes us across wide water meadows to important waterways of Hertfordshire, through parkland, atmospheric hornbeam woodland and birch-dotted heathland, by a pond teaming with wildlife, alongside an extraordinary Edwardian house and through the parkland of a stately home framed by cedars of Lebanon.

When it is bluebell time, we can participate in the Natural History Museum survey of bluebells to find out whether the native English bluebell is being ousted by the garden Spanish bluebell.

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Bricket Wood is close to rivers and is inclined to be wet. Waterproof footwear is advisable especially after rain.

This walk is in the form of a figure of eight that crosses and re-crosses School Lane, twice giving us the opportunity to cut the walk short and return to the pub.

The whole walk is 3.5 miles but can be shortened to 1.75 miles.

The walk starts at The Old Fox, School Lane, Bricket Wood, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL2 3XU, TL 127002, Tel: 01923 673083.

One way to get to The Old Fox from St Albans is to leave town by going down Holywell Hill, up St Stephens Hill and straight on through Chiswell Green. At The Noke roundabout, go straight on towards the M1 and M25.

Go straight across the M25 roundabout, keep in the left hand lane, turn left as if going on to the M1 but turn left into Mount Pleasant Lane before you find yourself on the M1 slip road proper.

Continue on Mount Pleasant Lane, go under the railway bridge and turn immediately right into School Lane. The Old Fox is at the end of School Lane.

Map

The blue jug handle just visible two-thirds down on the left represents the Old Fox pub, the start of the walk.

The red arrows mark the route of the walk. It is possible to cut the walk short by walking back to the pub along School Lane at the points the walk crosses it.

The walk:

Take the footpath that is 20 yards left of the telephone kiosk opposite the pub.

Carry straight on between fields and out on to an asphalt drive. Go left.

After the cattle grid bear right up and over a mound to where there is a bridge.

Before the bridge, bear left and go back over the same mound but further along.

Continue on a grassy path.

Go straight over the asphalt drive, still on a grassy path and aim for the left of the wood store and stables ahead.

At the hard surface track, go left up the hill.

At School Lane, go a few yards to the right and then turn left on to a clear path between holly saplings.

Keep to the path as it curves left through an open area with birch trees.

Skirt a pond, leaving it to the right, and follow the path and the yellow or orange dots, spots or lines on the trees.

After a while, there are bluebells on both sides of the path.

Cross a streamlet and, as you come up from it, follow the two clear yellow arrows pointing left.

Follow the path and painted waymarks.

At a T-junction of paths at the top of a slope, go left to School Lane.

For a short cut back to the pub, turn right into School Lane.

To go on an extra 1¾ miles (2.5 km) with more bluebells, good views and the confluence of the Ver and Colne Rivers:

Go down the farm road almost opposite.

About 50 yards before a wide silver gate across the road, go left through a wooden gate.

Cross the meadow into woodland.

Continue straight after the woodland.

In front of the first (and only) house you come to, go right over a stile.

As the fence in front of the house bears off to the left, carry straight on aiming for a stile beyond a pair of oaks ahead.

Over the stile curve right and then left down the bank.

Go straight across a field to a line of poplars and the river. A bit to the left, the Ver joins the Colne.

Go right, cross the bridge, and follow the path at is curves right.

Continue on a hedge-lined broad track.

Turn right into Little Munden Farm.

Cross the bridge and go left at the green barn along a gravel track.

Go right at the asphalt drive to School Lane.

Go left at School Lane.

Pass the picture house - and back to The Old Fox.

Bluebell walk

To print, click: short description | map | full description with map and photos