Brocket Hall

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Walk directions

Leave St Leonard’s churchyard at the northeast corner and cross a lane to bear right on a path, the Hertfordshire Way. Cross a road via a pair of hand gates and enter open countryside near to the south part of the Woodland Trust’s Heartwood Forest. The path bears right into the woodland edge and out to continue ahead alongside a hedge to a lane.

Turn right along Hammonds lane, continue past the Tower Hill Lane turn and go left through a kissing gate at Park Croft House. Beyond its garden continue ahead within a woodland margin, then cross over a stile and alongside the wood to a waymarker post. Here go left through a cultivated field to a gap between tree belts. At another waymarker post go left and continue ahead alongside a hedge. Reaching a lane, go right to Coleman Green.

Pass the John Bunyan pub and bear right on to a public byway at Bunyan’s Chimney. Follow this delightful shaded sunken green lane to descend steadily to reach the B653, where you turn right and ascend a path. Beyond safety barriers cross the road and bear right to a lay-by and half way along it go left between the posts of a chain link fence to enter the wooded part of Brocket Park.

The path descends to cross the River Lea, then climbs to bear right at a footpath junction. Out of the woods cross a golf course, a series of waymarker posts guiding you. Pass a car park, then the former stable block and Brocket Hall. Go right to cross a drive and continue amid trees, then alongside them. Go right on a metalled lane and follow a waymarker to cut off the road loop before rejoining the drive to cross James Paine's Bridge.

Continue ahead and follow the edge of woods to leave the park at the main road. Cross it to Cromer Hyde Lane. Past houses go left at a field gate on to a metalled track, first looking back along the lime avenue to Brocket Hall. At a junction continue ahead along the track and at the field end continue alongside a hedge. Continue ahead between fields to pass to the right of a copse, then a paddock. Wind through Symondshyde Farm to a lane.

Bear right and then left on to a bridleway which continues ahead through Symondshyde Great Wood. Near the wood’s end the path bears left; continue to a marker post where you turn right. This path soon bears left, still within the wood margin, then alongside it. Leaving the woods behind continue alongside a hedge to a kissing gate at a lane.

Go right and follow the lane, ignoring Nashes Farm Lane, to pass the Home Office Centre for Applied Science and Technology. The lane descends Woodcockhill and, where it bears left cross Langley Grove and bear right along a tarmac path beside No 21. Follow this back to Sandridge church.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Tracks, field and woodland paths, some quiet lanes and a parkland golf course

Landscape - Gentle rolling hills, the River Lea valley and lake

Dog friendliness - Keep on lead near paddocks and stables, on golf course and when crossing B653

Parking - Sandbridge village

Toilets en route - None on route

Walks in Hertfordshire

About the walk

Brocket Hall’s parkland was made picturesque in 'Capability' Brown style by a Richard Wood from Essex. Working for Lord Melbourne, he designed the lake formed by damming the River Lea at Lemsford. It is divided in two by a weir located within the wider centre arch of James Paine’s elegant...

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Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

As Hertfordshire is so close to London, many of its towns have become commuter havens. St Albans, less than 19 miles (30km) from the capital, has retained its distinctive character, along with many historic remains.