Sunday Hike, Radlett - Aldenham - Ver-Colne Valley Walk circular 8.6 mls

To see who else has signed up please see the comment below
Join like-minded outdoor enthusiasts and hikers to discover scenic trails, woodland and open countryside in a largely undeveloped area of Hertfordshire Green Belt countryside around Aldenham, between Watford and Radlett, including part of the Ver-Colne Valley Walk and the Abbott Trail.
Whether you're a seasoned hiker or a beginner, this 8.6 mile (13.8 km) hike is perfect for exploring historic trails. It starts and ends at Radlett Station, accessible by train from Luton, St Albans, Elstree or London St Pancras or by bus from Hatfield, St Albans or Watford.
Meet 10:30 for 10:45 start by the ticket machines outside Radlett Train Station, Station Approach, Watling Street, Radlett, Herts WD7 7AJ.
Nearest post code WD7 7AJ
Lat/Long (WGS84): 51.68519,-0.31724
OSGB Grid Reference: TQ164998
What3Words https://w3w.co/prefer.fired.proper
HIKE DESCRIPTION:
From Radlett along part of the Ver-Colne Valley walk and the Abbott Trail to Aldenham with a lunch stop at the Roundbush pub. Continue via Letchmore Heath back to Radlett. Total distance is 8.6 miles (13.8 km) with slight hills, total 58 metres (190 ft) ascent and descent. About 80% of the route is on public bridleways, restricted byways and public footpaths in the countryside with about 20% in a built-up area in Radlett. The public rights of way in this area have been much improved in recent years and they are generally well maintained. We plan to finish the hike by 16:45 or earlier.
HIKING MAP:
O.S. 'Explorer' 1:25,000 scale, Sheets 173 London North and 182 St Albans & Hatfield.
ONLINE MAP:
There is a map of the route in the photo album for this event. This is a well tried and tested route that was devised by South Herts Hikers and we have also uploaded it to Wikiloc with 27 photos. See:
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/radlett-aldenham-ver-colne-valley-walk-v3-119655761
You can select map or aerial view (OpenStreetmap recommended) and you can zoom in. Navigating the trail outdoors using the Wikiloc app needs the premium version but you can also set up a free Wikiloc login then download a .GPX or .kml file to a mobile device to use with a GPS app such as OSMand, Komoot, All Trails, Outdoor Active, Organic Maps or Google Maps.
PLACES OF INTEREST
Wall Hall Estate footpath map http://www.pgbt.org.uk/promotion/aldenham-2013-hcc-wall-hall-estate-leaflet.pdf
PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO MEETING LOCATION:
Train from London St Pancras International (STP) 09:35 or 10:08, calls at Kentish Town, West Hampstead Thameslink, Cricklewood, Brent Cross West, Hendon, Mill Hill Broadway, Elstree & Borehamwood to Radlett (RDT) at 10:05 or 10:35. We will wait for the 10:35 train.
Train from Luton (LUT) 09:45 or 10:06, calls at Luton Airport Parkway, Harpenden, St Albans City, to Radlett (RDT) at 10:08 or 10:35. We will wait for the 10:35 train.
Bus 602 to Radlett from Hatfield, St Albans, London Colney, Bushey, Watford. Hike starts and finishes at Radlett Station.
By bus - for Hertfordshire bus services see Intalink https://www.intalink.org.uk/

Bus 602 from Hatfield Railway Station Stop 2, 08:39 via St Albans, London Colney, Shenley to Radlett Watling Street Rec. Ground 09:59.

Bus 602 from Watford High Street, Stop F, 09:47 to Radlett Watling Street Rec. Ground 10:14.

CAR PARKING NEAR MEETING LOCATION:
Hertsmere Borough Council public car park, Newberries, 367 Watling Street, Radlett, WD7 7JH is very near the station and free on Sundays. The station car park is not recommended as it is for rail passengers only and it is not free on Sundays.
WHAT TO BRING
Much of the route is on public bridleways and footpaths in the countryside. Most have a hard stony surface but some muddy patches are possible after wet weather. We recommend:

• adequate footwear, preferably hiking boots, with thick soles and good grip
• waterproof jacket or umbrella for rain
• sun hat if sunny
• drink essential (1 - 2 litres)
• packed lunch recommended.

• Important to know
There will be a 10 minute mid-morning stop in woodland 4.5 km from the start. Lunch stop is at The Roundbush pub, 8.9 km from the start https://www.theroundbush.co.uk/ We recommend you to bring a packed lunch to eat outdoors (not in the pub garden) as there may not be time to order food at the pub.
Although this event is shown on Meetup as free, from 1st Jan 2025, this group has introduced a monthly membership subscription of £4 per month. You only pay for months when you actually attend an event. Anyone who attends an event needs to be a member of South Herts Hikers, including guests and your membership subscription lasts for one month from the date when you pay. During that time you can attend any other Group events with no extra charge. There will normally be at least one more event in the 31 days after you join, possibly more. This subscription contributes towards the costs of running this Meetup Group including the fees that organisers need to pay Meetup which increased by 80% from July 2024. You can use cash or Paypal https://paypal.me/SouthHertsHikers
Please note our membership criteria and guidelines for etiquette. From this Meetup Group's home page https://www.meetup.com/southhertshikers/ see What we're about > Read More
For our policy on dogs on our hikes, please see our FAQ page, http://southhertshikers.uk/faq/