Household WasteRecycling

CentreQueensway

Downside

Leig

hton

Buz

zard

Roa

d

Leig

hton B

uzzar

d Road

A4146

Queensway

Hillfield Road

Mar

low

es

Marlo

wes

St Albans Road

Hig

h St

reet

Chapel Street

Cattsdell

Catt

sdel

l

Ran

dalls

Ride

Neptune Drive

Woodhall Lane

Bohemia

Thumpers

Fletcher Way

Fletc

her Way

Fletcher Way

Tow

nsen

d

Thriftfield

Wheatfield

Cambrian Way

Solway

Jupiter Drive Jupite

r Driv

e

Queensway

Redbourn

Road

Pennine Way

Pennine Way

St Agnells

Lane

East

man

Way

May

lan

ds

Ave

Mar

k Ro

ad

A41

47

A4147

Wood Lane End

Tedder Road

Tenzing Road

Montgomery

Avenue

Sawyers Way

Road

Broadfield

Everest Way

Wood Lane End

Adeyfield Road

Adeyfield Road

Adeyfield

Windm

ill Road

Windmill

Lane

White Hart Drive

Long

land

s

A4147

Redbourn Road

Cherr

y Tre

e La

ne

Bo

un

dar

y W

ay

Hemel Hempstead Road

Punch Bowl Lane

Shen

ley

Road

Redbourn Road

B487

B487

B487

B487

High S

treet

Gre

en

Leve

rsto

ck G

reen

Roa

d

Ellingham Road

Highfield Lane

Brie

ry W

ayW

idm

ore

Dri

ve

Shenley

Ho

ltsm

ere

End

Lan

e

Shenley Road

Hemel Hempstead Road

Hemel Hempstead Road

Hemel Hempstead RoadChurch

Gaddesden Lane

Chequer Lane

Flam

stea

db

ury

Lan

e

Lybury Lane

Fish Street

Lam

b Lan

e

St A

lban

s Ro

ad

The

Ver V

alle

y W

alk

A51

83

A5183

M1

A5183

Hig

h St

reet

Hig

h St

reet

Crouch H

all Lane

Harpenden Lane

RedbournInfant &

Jnr School

RedbournVillage Museum

Dun

stab

le R

oad

Bet

tesp

ol M

ead

ow

s

Dunstable Road

Redbourn Lane

Lane

Redbourn

B487

Claygate Ave

Townsend Lane

Townsend Lane

Park Hill

Park Rise

Bloomfield Road

Hillside Road

HighfieldOvalLambourn Gdns

Park Mount

Luto

n R

oad

Luto

n R

oad

A10

81

Clarence Road

Byron Road

Townsend Road

Sun Lane

Broadfields

Salis

bur

y A

veMap

le R

oad

Rose

ber

ry A

venu

e

Kirkwick Ave

Roundwood

Lane

Leyt

on R

oad

West Com

mon

Amenbury Lane

Rothampsted Ave

St A

lban

s Road

Hig

h St

reet

Sout

hd

own

Roa

d

Lane

Station

B652

Stat

ion

Ro

ad

Stewart Road

Brea

dcr

oft L

ane

Carlt

on R

oad

Car

lton

Road

Sau

nce

y A

ve

Sauncey Ave

Manland Ave

West Way

Manland Way

Cro

ss Way W

aven

ey R

oad

Ox Lane

Col

dh

arb

our L

ane

Ox LaneLea Road

St James Road

SunLa

ne

Westfield Road

Douglas Road

Vaughan Road

Milt

on R

oad

Crabtree Lane

The

Park

Aycl

iffe

Driv

e

Aycliffe Drive

Aycliffe DrivePrimary School

Jupiter DriveJMI School

Bellgate PrimarySchool

Broadfield Infant& Junior School Hobletts Manor Infant

& Junior School

George StreetPrimary

Hemel HempsteadGeneral Hospital

LeisureWorld

Athletics Ground

Tudor PrimarySchool

Paradise

GadebridgePark

St Cuthbert MayneCatholic Junior School

Gade Valley JMI

SkateboardBMX park

The Cavendish School

Locker’s ParkSchool Randall

Park

Jarman Park

Adeyfield

Old Town

AdeyfieldSchool

Keens Field

Highfield

MaylandsWood

Widmore Wood

Yew TreeWood

Grove Hill Park

Grovehill

Cupid Green

Astley CooperSchool

Industrial Estate

Reservoir

Holtsmere End Infant& Junior School Brockswood Primary

School

WoodhallWood

HighWood

Little Revel EndFarm

Wood End Farm

PancakeWood

BuryWood

The Aubreys Fort(earthworks)

subway

Hotel

Flower’sFarm

Dane-End Farm

RedbournCommon

Scout Spring

caravan site

River Ver

River Ver

RedbournIndustrial Estate

Library

Knott Wood

Golf CourseHarpendenbury

Farm

Deacon’sSpring

Hammonds EndFarm

Golf Course

Rugby Club

Rothamsted ManorHouse

RothamstedResearch

RothamstedExperimental Farm

St Luke’s School

RothamstedPark

Hatching Green

Roundwood Park& Primary Schools

St Hilda’s School

AsquithNursery

St George’s School

HarpendenMemorial Hospital

St NicholasPrimarySchool

St Dominic’sR.C. Primary

School

HarpendenCommon

to HarpendenCycles

Crabtree Infants &Junior School

WestfieldWoodAmbrose

Wood

BUPA Hospital

HighfieldPre-School

The Lea PrimarySchool

Sir John LawesSchool

Manland PrimarySchool

The King’s School

Dio

ne R

d

take carecrossing roadblind corner

cyclistsuse ramp

to avoid steps

(Wat

ling

Stre

et -

Rom

an R

oad)

Midland Road

St Mary’sChurch

The OldTown Hall

Civic CentreDacorum Borough

Council

Library

West Herts CollegeDacorum Campus Playing Fields

PlayingFields

St PaulsChurch

Three

Ch

erryTrees

Lane

Hunters Oak

Arkley Road

Cupid Green Lane

The

DeeA

ve.

Washington Avenue

Eastbrook PrimarySchool

Hunting Gate

Piccotts End La.

Stevenage Rise

Saturn Way

Mendip Way

Wharfdale

Wes

terdale

Allandale

Paston Rd

Allandale

Alla

ndal

e

Smithfield

Chur

chSt

reet

Herbert StreetGeorge Street Grover Cl.

St Mary’s Road

Christchurch RoadAle

xan

dra

Ro

ad

Alexa

ndra R

oad

Cresc

ent R

oad

St Paul’s Road

May

flow

erAv

enueW

ater

house S

treet

Wat

er Gar

dens

Dacoru

m W

ay

Wolse

y Road

Park L

ane

Paradise

King H

arry Stre

et

Redwood DriveOld Crabtree Lane

Deaconsfield Road

Seaton Road

Woo

dC

resc

ent

Jarman Way

Turners Hill

Turners Hill

Tassell Hall

Tassell Hall

NorthRoad

Snatchup

The Park

Brooke End

Ver Road

Crown Street

WaterendLane

Linden RoadAysgarth Road

Cavan Road

Lord

s Mea

dow

Astley Road

Combe St

Bury

Roa

d

Cotterells Hill

Melsted Road

Warners End Road

Townsend Lane

HollybushLane

Wo

rdsw

orth

Road

Tennys

on Road

Long

crof

t Ave

nu

e

Am

bros

eLa

ne

Harpenden Rise

Barns Dene

Common

take carecrossing road

Moreton End Lane

Ambrose Lan

e

H

HSwallowdale Lane

Tham

es

Newfield

Road

Road

HarpendenMusicale

HarpendenStation

Crabtree

Library

St Nicholas’Church

LydekkerPark

The Ver Valley Walk

The

Ver V

alle

y W

alk

The

Ver V

alle

y W

alk

original track of railway line

St Mary’sChurch

Footpath toRedbournbury Mill

Cycle route toGaddesden Row

Rail to Luton& The Midlands

Rail to St AlbansLondon, Brighton

NCN 6 cycle routeto St Albans,

Watford, London

NCN 6Cycle route under

construction to Lutonand Milton Keynes,

and ultimately toThe Lake District

M1Luton

The North

M1Luton

The North

M1London

A1081

Road

Arden

Bull Rd

Gro

ve

Station Road

site ofHarpenden

Eastrailwaystation

Town Hall

PublicHalls

SkateboardBMX park

cutting

picnic areasite of Redbournrailway station

N

N

End

NCN 57Cycle route to Leasey Bridge, incomplete to Wheathampsteadand Welwyn Garden City

Road

site ofBeaumont’s Halt

site ofGodwin’s Halt

AdventurePlayground

The Nickey Line

The Nickey Line

The Nickey Line

The Nickey Line

The Nickey LineThe Nickey Line

The Nickey Line

The Nickey Line

The Nickey Line

Eastman Way

The Nickey Line

site ofHemel Hempstead

Station

site ofHemelite Works

Hemel Hempstead

Harpenden

Redbourn

Track

Residential area

Commercial area

Parks and Woodland

Main Road

Motorway

Railway

The Nickey Line (traffic free) Fields and Open Land

Cycle Shop

Tourist Information

Pub / Restaurant

Supermarket / Shop

Leisure Centre

Children’s Play Area

School / College

Museum

Toilet

Hospital A&E

Football Ground

The Nickey Line (on road)

River / Lake

Cycle Routes (signed on quiet road)

Cycle Routes (signed on quiet road)proposed

Steps on route,access steps off route

Cycle Routes (traffic free)

Railway Station

Car Park

National Cycle NetworkRoute Number

Building

Bus Station

Street / Minor Road

Bridge

Bridleway

Footpath

Keyscale 1:11,500 approx

1 kilometre

1 mile

Walking & CyclingThe Nickey Linethe green route from Hemel Hempstead via Redbourn to Harpenden

The 7 mile (12 km) branch line linked the Midland Railway at Harpenden to Boxmoor near Hemel Hempstead. Passenger services ended in 1947 but a section of the line carried freight until 1979. Much of the track bed still remained intact when it was bought by Dacorum and St Albans councils in the early 1980’s and opened for walking and cycling.

The route forms a pleasant green corridor with a rural aspect along much of its length –providing attractive countryside or woodland walks as well as generally traffic-free access to school and work. Although there are steep embankments or cuttings and several bridges have been removed there is level access for cyclists and wheelchairs along most of the route (steps are shown on the map).

The Nickey Line forms part of Route 57 of the Sustrans National Cycle Network which continues through Harpenden to Wheathampstead and Welwyn Garden City. From Harpenden, Route 6 goes south to St Albans & Watford, and north to Luton & Milton Keynes.

Enjoy the route for a leisurely walk or ride, or to appreciate wildlife. Additionally, a number of circular routes may be enjoyed incorporating public footpaths that cross the Line (contact Friends of the Nickey Line for more information).

© Crown copyright. All rights reserved 100019606 2006

Hemel Hempstead’s award winning town centre boasts a tremendous range of shops and services specifically designed for its many visitors within a family friendly pedestrianised area. Stroll through the town centre or adjacent Water Gardens and admire the display planting and works of art, a tradition begun in the early days of the New Town.

Hemel Old Town is steeped in history providing a glimpse of days gone by with its attractive Victorian, Georgian and Tudor architecture housing many excellent pubs, cafes, bistros and restaurants. You will also find a diverse selection of specialist shops including antiques, quality giftware, furniture and bicycles! The Old Town High Street is home to the Old Town Hall Theatre with art, music and theatre productions.

Relax in the beautiful surroundings of Gadebridge Park, Dacorum’s principal park. Unwind by the River Gade or admire the glorious flower display in the historic Walled Garden with views of St Mary’s Church, regarded as one of the most complete Norman churches in Hertfordshire. Activities include bowls and crazy golf are available during the summer, with a play area and skate park for young people, open all year. See www.dacorum.gov.uk for details of special events.

Hemel Hempstead

Gadebridge Park

Hemel Old Town

The Nickey Line is a green corridor for wildlife linking the woodlands and fields along the track. Foxes are regularly seen and if you are really lucky you may glimpse a badger on its dusk patrol or a sparrow hawk flying at speed. In spring the warblers arrive from their winter quarters and blackcaps, chiffchaffs and whitethroats can be heard singing as they establish territories and seek mates.

Look out for orange tip and brimstone butterflies in early spring. Peacocks, marbled whites, commas and small tortoiseshells are also fairly common in the summer sun. In this picture left, a speckled wood warms itself on a bramble bush in the midday sunshine – they need warm still days for flight and as they bask they merge well into the dappled light of a clearing on The Nickey Line.

Wildlife along the Line

1863 Act for Boxmoor to Hemel Hempstead Railway

1866 Act extending line to Midland Railway at Harpenden

1877 Line opened between Hemel Hempstead and Luton

1888 Harpenden Junction south curve opened, taking trains to Harpenden Station

1905 New halts built at Redbourn, Cupid Green and Heath Park

1929 Bus service replaced some trains

1947 Passenger service withdrawn, goods service continues

1950’s and 1960’s Line gradually cut back for New Town construction

1968 Hemelite Company bought the line to transport materials for the manufacture of building blocks

1979 Line closed

1985 Opened as a footpath and cycleway, becoming National Cycle Network Route 57

History of the Nickey Line

Yew Tree Wood has the characteristics of an ancient semi natural woodland and is particularly noteworthy for the group of yew trees taxus baccata that give the wood its name. Yew is Europe’s longest lived tree with some individuals estimated to be up to 4000 years old.

Yew Tree Wood

Household WasteRecycling

CentreQueensway

Downside

Leig

hton

Buz

zard

Roa

d

Leig

hton B

uzzar

d Road

A4146

Queensway

Hillfield Road

Mar

low

es

Marlo

wes

St Albans Road

Hig

h St

reet

Chapel Street

Cattsdell

Catt

sdel

l

Ran

dalls

Ride

Neptune Drive

Woodhall Lane

Bohemia

Thumpers

Fletcher Way

Fletc

her Way

Fletcher Way

Tow

nsen

d

Thriftfield

Wheatfield

Cambrian Way

Solway

Jupiter Drive Jupite

r Driv

e

Queensway

Redbourn

Road

Pennine Way

Pennine Way

St Agnells

Lane

East

man

Way

May

lan

ds

Ave

Mar

k Ro

ad

A41

47

A4147

Wood Lane End

Tedder Road

Tenzing Road

Montgomery

Avenue

Sawyers Way

Road

Broadfield

Everest Way

Wood Lane End

Adeyfield Road

Adeyfield Road

Adeyfield

Windm

ill Road

Windmill

Lane

White Hart Drive

Long

land

s

A4147

Redbourn Road

Cherr

y Tre

e La

ne

Bo

un

dar

y W

ay

Hemel Hempstead Road

Punch Bowl Lane

Shen

ley

Road

Redbourn Road

B487

B487

B487

B487

High S

treet

Gre

en

Leve

rsto

ck G

reen

Roa

d

Ellingham Road

Highfield Lane

Brie

ry W

ayW

idm

ore

Dri

ve

Shenley

Ho

ltsm

ere

End

Lan

e

Shenley Road

Hemel Hempstead Road

Hemel Hempstead Road

Hemel Hempstead RoadChurch

Gaddesden Lane

Chequer Lane

Flam

stea

db

ury

Lan

e

Lybury Lane

Fish Street

Lam

b Lan

e

St A

lban

s Ro

ad

The

Ver V

alle

y W

alk

A51

83

A5183

M1

A5183

Hig

h St

reet

Hig

h St

reet

Crouch H

all Lane

Harpenden Lane

RedbournInfant &

Jnr School

RedbournVillage Museum

Dun

stab

le R

oad

Bet

tesp

ol M

ead

ow

s

Dunstable Road

Redbourn Lane

Lane

Redbourn

B487

Claygate Ave

Townsend Lane

Townsend Lane

Park Hill

Park Rise

Bloomfield Road

Hillside Road

HighfieldOvalLambourn Gdns

Park Mount

Luto

n R

oad

Luto

n R

oad

A10

81

Clarence Road

Byron Road

Townsend Road

Sun Lane

Broadfields

Salis

bur

y A

veMap

le R

oad

Rose

ber

ry A

venu

e

Kirkwick Ave

Roundwood

Lane

Leyt

on R

oad

West Com

mon

Amenbury Lane

Rothampsted Ave

St A

lban

s Road

Hig

h St

reet

Sout

hd

own

Roa

d

Lane

Station

B652

Stat

ion

Ro

ad

Stewart Road

Brea

dcr

oft L

ane

Carlt

on R

oad

Car

lton

Road

Sau

nce

y A

ve

Sauncey Ave

Manland Ave

West Way

Manland Way

Cro

ss Way W

aven

ey R

oad

Ox Lane

Col

dh

arb

our L

ane

Ox LaneLea Road

St James Road

SunLa

ne

Westfield Road

Douglas Road

Vaughan Road

Milt

on R

oad

Crabtree Lane

The

Park

Aycl

iffe

Driv

e

Aycliffe Drive

Aycliffe DrivePrimary School

Jupiter DriveJMI School

Bellgate PrimarySchool

Broadfield Infant& Junior School Hobletts Manor Infant

& Junior School

George StreetPrimary

Hemel HempsteadGeneral Hospital

LeisureWorld

Athletics Ground

Tudor PrimarySchool

Paradise

GadebridgePark

St Cuthbert MayneCatholic Junior School

Gade Valley JMI

SkateboardBMX park

The Cavendish School

Locker’s ParkSchool Randall

Park

Jarman Park

Adeyfield

Old Town

AdeyfieldSchool

Keens Field

Highfield

MaylandsWood

Widmore Wood

Yew TreeWood

Grove Hill Park

Grovehill

Cupid Green

Astley CooperSchool

Industrial Estate

Reservoir

Holtsmere End Infant& Junior School Brockswood Primary

School

WoodhallWood

HighWood

Little Revel EndFarm

Wood End Farm

PancakeWood

BuryWood

The Aubreys Fort(earthworks)

subway

Hotel

Flower’sFarm

Dane-End Farm

RedbournCommon

Scout Spring

caravan site

River Ver

River Ver

RedbournIndustrial Estate

Library

Knott Wood

Golf CourseHarpendenbury

Farm

Deacon’sSpring

Hammonds EndFarm

Golf Course

Rugby Club

Rothamsted ManorHouse

RothamstedResearch

RothamstedExperimental Farm

St Luke’s School

RothamstedPark

Hatching Green

Roundwood Park& Primary Schools

St Hilda’s School

AsquithNursery

St George’s School

HarpendenMemorial Hospital

St NicholasPrimarySchool

St Dominic’sR.C. Primary

School

HarpendenCommon

to HarpendenCycles

Crabtree Infants &Junior School

WestfieldWoodAmbrose

Wood

BUPA Hospital

HighfieldPre-School

The Lea PrimarySchool

Sir John LawesSchool

Manland PrimarySchool

The King’s School

Dio

ne R

d

take carecrossing roadblind corner

cyclistsuse ramp

to avoid steps

(Wat

ling

Stre

et -

Rom

an R

oad)

Midland Road

St Mary’sChurch

The OldTown Hall

Civic CentreDacorum Borough

Council

Library

West Herts CollegeDacorum Campus Playing Fields

PlayingFields

St PaulsChurch

Three

Ch

erryTrees

Lane

Hunters Oak

Arkley Road

Cupid Green Lane

The

DeeA

ve.

Washington Avenue

Eastbrook PrimarySchool

Hunting Gate

Piccotts End La.

Stevenage Rise

Saturn Way

Mendip Way

Wharfdale

Wes

terdale

Allandale

Paston Rd

Allandale

Alla

ndal

e

Smithfield

Chur

chSt

reet

Herbert StreetGeorge Street Grover Cl.

St Mary’s Road

Christchurch RoadAle

xan

dra

Ro

ad

Alexa

ndra R

oad

Cresc

ent R

oad

St Paul’s Road

May

flow

erAv

enueW

ater

house S

treet

Wat

er Gar

dens

Dacoru

m W

ay

Wolse

y Road

Park L

ane

Paradise

King H

arry Stre

et

Redwood DriveOld Crabtree Lane

Deaconsfield Road

Seaton Road

Woo

dC

resc

ent

Jarman Way

Turners Hill

Turners Hill

Tassell Hall

Tassell Hall

NorthRoad

Snatchup

The Park

Brooke End

Ver Road

Crown Street

WaterendLane

Linden RoadAysgarth Road

Cavan Road

Lord

s Mea

dow

Astley Road

Combe St

Bury

Roa

d

Cotterells Hill

Melsted Road

Warners End Road

Townsend Lane

HollybushLane

Wo

rdsw

orth

Road

Tennys

on Road

Long

crof

t Ave

nu

e

Am

bros

eLa

ne

Harpenden Rise

Barns Dene

Common

take carecrossing road

Moreton End Lane

Ambrose Lan

e

H

HSwallowdale Lane

Tham

es

Newfield

Road

Road

HarpendenMusicale

HarpendenStation

Crabtree

Library

St Nicholas’Church

LydekkerPark

The Ver Valley Walk

The

Ver V

alle

y W

alk

The

Ver V

alle

y W

alk

original track of railway line

St Mary’sChurch

Footpath toRedbournbury Mill

Cycle route toGaddesden Row

Rail to Luton& The Midlands

Rail to St AlbansLondon, Brighton

NCN 6 cycle routeto St Albans,

Watford, London

NCN 6Cycle route under

construction to Lutonand Milton Keynes,

and ultimately toThe Lake District

M1Luton

The North

M1Luton

The North

M1London

A1081

Road

Arden

Bull Rd

Gro

ve

Station Road

site ofHarpenden

Eastrailwaystation

Town Hall

PublicHalls

SkateboardBMX park

cutting

picnic areasite of Redbournrailway station

N

N

End

NCN 57Cycle route to Leasey Bridge, incomplete to Wheathampsteadand Welwyn Garden City

Road

site ofBeaumont’s Halt

site ofGodwin’s Halt

AdventurePlayground

The Nickey Line

The Nickey Line

The Nickey Line

The Nickey Line

The Nickey LineThe Nickey Line

The Nickey Line

The Nickey Line

The Nickey Line

Eastman Way

The Nickey Line

site ofHemel Hempstead

Station

site ofHemelite Works

Hemel Hempstead

Harpenden

Redbourn

7 m i l e g r e e n r o u t e b e t w e e n Hemel Hempstead, Redbourn& Harpenden

The Nickey Linewalking & cycl ing

The Ordnance Survey mapping data included within this publication is provided by Hertfordshire County Council under licence from the Ordnance Survey in order to fulfil its public function to provide information relating to its activities, services and plans. Persons viewing this mapping should contact Ordnance Survey copyright for advice should they wish to licence Ordnance Survey mapping for their own use. Such mapping is based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office © Crown copyright 100019606 2006.

Cartography, photography, leaflet design and cycling by Stephen Wragg - Wragg Art House: www.wah.co.uk

© WAH 2006 Printed on environmentally friendly paper

InformationDacorum Borough Council: www.dacorum.gov.uk

Redbourn Parish Council: www.redbourn.org.uk

Harpenden Town Council: www.harpenden.gov.uk

St Albans City & District Council: www.stalbans.gov.uk

Countryside Management Services: www.hertsdirect.org/cms

Sustrans: www.sustrans.org.uk

Friends of the Nickey Line: www.nickeyline.org

St Albans Cycle Campaign: www.stacc.org.uk

Ver Valley Society: www.riverver.co.uk

Redbournbury Mill: www.redbournmill.co.uk

HistoryBooks available on The Nickey Line:

The Harpenden to Hemel Hempstead Railway - The Nickey Line by Sue & Geoff Woodward, 1996, The Oakwood Press

Branch Line to Hemel Hempstead - The Nickey Line by Sue & Geoff Woodward, 2006, Middleton Press

Walking & CyclingHertfordshire County Council: www.hertsdirect.org/libsleisure & click on ‘Enjoying the Countryside’

Further free maps & leaflets in this series: The Great North Way, The Ayot Greenway, The Alban Way, The Cole Green Way, The Ebury Way, available from Libraries, Tourist Information or Councils listed above.

Redbourn village sits astride Watling Street, the old Roman road to Chester, now thankfully by-passed. Its compact High Street features several hostelries and a variety of shops, while its spacious Common provides a free car park beside the local cricket pitch, close to the village Museum.

Powered by the River Ver - and latterly by a Crossley Diesel engine - the 18th century Mill worked well into the 20th century. It was restored after a disastrous fire in 1987 and now produces stoneground flour. The Mill is open, with teas served, typically on Sunday afternoons and special weekends. See back cover for contact details to check opening times).

The Jacobean Manor House at Rothamsted was the home of John Bennet Lawes who began agricultural experiments in 1843, ultimately leading to the establishment of Rothamsted Research.The house provides student accommodation and the Drawing Room is a popular venue for recitals. Public rights of way cross the estate, and a permissive path allows a view of the 17th Century south facade of the house.

Rothamsted

When the Nickey Line was built in the 1870s the Roundwood area was agricultural, but in the early 1900s the first houses were built, and as more followed there was an increasing demand for a halt.

Roundwood Halt was opened 8 August 1927. The signal and platform are two of the best surviving reminders of the former line.

The walk traces the river from its source near Redbourn to its conjunction with the Colne close to Watford. A free leaflet is available from local Information Centres.

The local council purchased the 230 acre Manorial Common from the Rothamsted Estate in 1929,

for the benefit of the townsfolk. An annual horse racing event ceased in 1914, and The Silver Cup pub recalls past ambition. Golf, cricket and football clubs

lease space for their pursuits, while the public has unimpeded access to it all. Ancient rights still permit

traditional showman fairs on the Common.

Lying on the Chiltern dip slope between the valleys of the rivers Ver and Lea, Harpenden was destined to become a commuter town with the coming of the Midland Main Line in 1868. It retains its village character though, thanks to its large Common, its tree lined High Street and period cottages.

Harpenden

Harpenden Common

Redbourn

Redbournbury Mill

The Ver Valley Walk

Hertfordshire Rural Transport Partnership

Roundwood Halt