Start: Redbourn Common cricket pavilion car park (AL3 7DB). Grid ref: TL 103 119
(S) From the cricket pavilion car park, cross the road (The Common) and go down the grassy slope, passing the children’s play area on your left. Continue to the road (Chequer Lane) and go over to a large green footpath sign pointing to the Nickey Line. Note that this walk follows 'Ver Valley Walk 4' - so look out for the Ver Valley Walk signs. Follow the footpath signs to the Nickey Line (an old railway line now a cycle path). Ascend and descend the steps to a road (B487).
(1) Cross the road, climb the steps and take the footpath straight ahead through arable fields. At the end of a left-hand hedge go half right up a steep ascent across the field to the far right corner where the path meets a lane (Beaumont Hall Lane). Stop to look back at the fine views towards Redbourn and the Ver Valley.
Turn right into Beaumont Hall Lane. At ‘The New Cottage’, take the track to the left of the cottage (Note the views of St Albans Cathedral on the left). Continue on the track until you arrive at Hill Farm Lane.
(2) Turn right along Hill Farm Lane and pass Bohemia Hill Farm on the left and ‘Bohemia’ on the right. About 30m beyond the end of the tarmac, take the footpath up the steep bank on the left to a stile. Follow the path to a kissing gate at the top right corner of the field.
Go through the kissing gate and follow left-most path straight across the field, aiming to the left of the farm house, to emerge into Punch Bowl Lane. Turn left down this quiet lane into the valley and to the main road, Watling Street (the A5183), which is the ancient Roman road between London and Chester.
(3) Taking great care, cross the road and take the footpath opposite. Follow it across an arable field, following the line of electricity poles, to a gate. Through the gate bear a little left across the water meadow towards a waymark on the fence ahead to some stepping stones. Cross the stepping stones (only in water when the river is high) and turn left to cross the River Ver (A) via the footbridge.
(4) At the hedge in front of you, turn left and follow the footpath. The path brings you to a ford, which is fed by fresh spring water from the adjacent disused watercress beds (B).
In summer you may see families having a dip – and the odd 4x4 making its way tentatively through the ford. There is a carved bench, so this is an attractive place for a brief rest. (Make a worthwhile detour to Redbournbury Mill if you have time. Cross the ford/river by the footbridge and soon the mill will appear on your right. Then retrace your steps to the ford.)
Continue on the same (East) side of the river on a dirt track signposted to Redbourn as far as the entrance to a fishing club. On the way, pass Redbournbury water Mill and Bakery (C)
(5) At the fishing club entrance, take the footpath to the right (North-East). Continue on the footpath. It will eventually bend left and will skirt Hammonds End Wood. By a well-sited seat, turn right towards Hammonds End Farm (D).
(6) You will come to a path T-junction and hedge in front of you where you can turn right to Hammonds End Farm or left to take a shortcut. After turning right for the farm, go through the farm complex and past the elegant Hammonds End House on the left.
Shortcut option: Turn left and follow the Permissive Path. Continue on this Permissive Path all the way along the edge of the fields until you come to a line of telegraph poles leading down into the valley. Here you will rejoin the original route at waypoint (8).
(7) Otherwise, where the lane turns right, there is a kissing gate in front of you. Go through it and follow the path which keeps to the left-edge of the golf course.
(8) The short cut rejoins just before a second copse. Continue through the second copse until you emerge at the edge of a field.
(9) Turn half-left on a footpath following the right-hand side of the hedge line. At the corner of the field pass through the hedge and descend into the valley following a line of electricity poles to the busy Redbourn bypass (A5183).Taking great care, cross the bypass. Go up some steps and take the footpath, signed to Redbourn High Street, to meet the river at Waterend Lane ford.
(10) Continue, cross Redbourn High Street (E) and take the alleyway almost opposite as it runs between walls, to emerge onto the Common. Follow the path down the avenue of lime trees, past Redbourn Museum (F), back to the cricket pavilion. (S/E)
We hope you have enjoyed your walk. Please remember to rate the walk and add comments. We are interested in how we could improve the instructions or the route and would like to hear about any issues with paths on the walk.
