Elstree - Aldenham Country Park - Stanmore Loop v3

This is an updated version of Elstree - Aldenham Country Park - Stanmore Loop v1 with route description.

The description below refers to footpath numbers. To see these on a map, see Hertfordshire County Council Rights of Way Viewer

From the start go along Theobold Street, Glebe Road, Red Avenue and cross the railway bridge on Footpath 11 signposted to Aldenham Country Park.

Continue to Allum Lane then cross Elstree Hill North and go through the gate into the field. At this point there are two options:

(1) In dry weather, the best and most direct route is on Elstree & Borehamwood Footpath 1 West straight across to Aldenham Road

(2) After very wet weather, a section of E&B FP 01 near the centre may be flooded . In that case it is better to take the route shown on the map for this walk via E&B footpaths 2 and 3 which avoids the low-lying ground. The route on FP 02 is rough and and it is easy to miss the turning onto FP 03 so you will need to use GPS to follow this route.

To see the footpath numbers on a map, see Hertfordshire County Council Rights of Way Viewer https://webmaps.hertfordshire.gov.uk/row/row.htm

Cross Aldenham Road and continue to Aldenham Country Park. There is no admission charge for visitors arriving on foot. There is a refreshment kiosk and toilets. Continue on footpaths around the Western side of lake. These only became public rights of way in 2023. The path starts as Aldenham 095 then it becomes Elstree & Borehamwood 064, then Aldenham 096 and Elstree & Borehamwood 065. When you get to Elstree Road at the Southwest corner of Aldenham Reservoir, it may not be possible to get out onto Elstree Road, so you need to continue East to the exit opposite the Modern Indian Restaurant (formerly The Fisheries pub) then cross the A411 Watford road and double back West past the reservoir to the roundabout at the junction of the A41/A411.

Go under the bridge under the M1 then after about 100 m turn left onto a footpath. Continue on the London Loop to Stanmore Common and a viewpoint at Wood Farm with views over London and as far as the North Downs on a clear day.

Take the path East from Wood Farm which crosses a small stream into Pear Wood. Keep to the edge of Pear Wood and come out onto Brockley hill. Double back along Brockley Hill, go past the junction with Wood Lane and past the hospital. Go straight on at the A41 roundabout and along Elstree Hill. then turn right through a gate onto the Edgewarebury Estate permissive path (Hertfordshire Rural Estates). There is a viewpoint with a bench. Continue to Barnet Lane and then take public footpath s from Barnet Lane to Allum Lane and back to the start.

Most of the route is on roads with pavement, public footpaths and permissive paths. Total distance is 9.7 mls (15.6 km).