FREE HIKE 18 km | From Rail Trails to Abbey Views | Harpenden to St Albans

📈 Grade: 🥾 Level 3/5
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📍 MEETING POINT:
10:50 Harpenden Railway Station, main entrance
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🚶 WALK STARTS:
11:00 Harpenden Railway Station, main entrance
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🏁 WALK FINISHES:
16:30 St Albans City Railway Station
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Join us for a leisurely and scenic walk from Harpenden to St Albans, taking in some of the finest countryside and historic landscapes Hertfordshire has to offer.

We begin along the Nickey Line, a peaceful path following a disused railway line that once connected Harpenden with Hemel Hempstead. Its flat, gently curving route makes for an easy and enjoyable start to the walk.

Leaving the Nickey Line, we continue through open fields and classic Hertfordshire countryside before arriving in the riverside village of Wheathampstead. Set on the River Lea, this historic village was once known for brewing and malting and is a perfect spot for a short pause.

From here, the route opens out across Nomansland Common, an expansive stretch of traditional common land with open skies, grazing animals, and a surprisingly remote feel. We then continue through Heartwood Forest, enjoying wide rides, woodland paths, and varied scenery, before passing through the quieter Langley Wood.

Our final stretch takes us through the elegant grounds of St Michael’s Manor Gardens, finishing at the magnificent St Albans Abbey.
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After the hike, there is an optional opportunity to relax and socialise at a local pub or café before the journey home.
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🍔 LUNCH:
Around 12:00 in Wheathampstead we will stop for approximately 45 minutes. There is a small selection of pubs, cafés, town seating, a Tesco Express for snacks, and a bakery.
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✅ WHO CAN JOIN:
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Adults aged 21 and over

👶 No children, for safety reasons
🐾 No pets, due to allergies and phobias within the group
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💰 COST:
The hike is free
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🚂 TRAINS - LONDON DEPARTURE:
Buy a return ticket from London St Pancras International to Harpenden for £9.10 with a Network Railcard or using GroupSave.

• 10:00 Optional meet at London St Pancras International main ticket office
• 10:15 Leave the meeting point and head to Platform B
• 10:23 Train departs London St Pancras International
• 10:49 Arrival at Harpenden

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🚂 TRAINS - BEDFORD DEPARTURE:

• 10:16 Train departs Bedford (BDM)
• 10:51 Arrival at Harpenden

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🚗 🅿️ BY CAR:
Optional: You can park at Harpenden station car park and take the 5-minute train journey back from St Albans to Harpenden at the end of the hike, or park in St Albans and catch the train to the meeting start point in Harpenden.
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↩️ RETURN TRAINS
There are regular trains from St Albans City towards London and Bedford via Harpenden.
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🚻 TOILETS:

• Lunchtime pub or café stop in Wheathampstead
• Natural facilities available during the walk

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⚠️ TERRAIN, CONDITIONS AND DIFFICULTY

• Distance: Approximately 18 km (11 miles)
• Difficulty: EASY/MODERATE
• Ascent and descent: 206 m up, 219 m down
• Elevation: High point 134 m, low point 81 m
• Average pace: About 4.5 km/h, up to 5 km/h where possible
• Walking time: Around 4 hours
• Total duration: Approximately 5 hours including breaks and stops

This route includes a mix of wide and narrow woodland paths, well-marked gravel tracks, and sections of uneven chalky or stony ground, with a few short muddy stretches. The terrain is mostly flat with a few gentle inclines. This walk is suitable for beginners who are comfortable walking around 11 miles at a steady, relaxed pace and is intended as a sociable and enjoyable day out rather than a physical challenge.
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🎒 WHAT TO BRING

• Packed lunch, snacks, and at least 2 litres of water
• Sturdy hiking boots
• Layers and waterproofs
• A warm layer such as a fleece or insulating jacket
• Sun protection
• Personal medication
• Basic first aid and blister plasters
• Optional walking poles (recommended for some descents)
• Fully charged phone
• Head torch
• Portable phone charger or power bank
• Dry bags or a waterproof cover for your backpack
• Whistle for emergencies
• Offline maps or GPS
• Some cash or a bank card

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📅 RSVP and Attendance
RSVP only if you plan to attend. Please cancel as early as possible if you can no longer make it so others can join. A no-show means you RSVPed but did not attend or cancelled just before or after the start time. Repeated no-shows or late cancellations without a valid reason may lead to removal. Reliable regulars who end up on a waitlist may message the host for priority consideration.
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👣 Staying Together
A dedicated back marker is not always present, so please keep others in sight and avoid moving too far ahead or falling too far behind. Faster walkers should wait at junctions. The hike leader will pause at key points to regroup and reduce the chance of anyone becoming separated from the group.
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📞 CONTACT:
Please message the event host AdrianB directly via Meetup with any questions.
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⚠️ DISCLAIMER:
By joining, you confirm that you have read and accepted the group policy on the About page. You are responsible for your own safety, and neither the host nor the group can be held liable for injury, loss, or damage.
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🍃 We look forward to welcoming you on the trail.