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London Colney Walks

4.97 miles (8 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This pleasant Hertfordshire based village is located just to the south of St Albans. It's a great place for waterside walking with easy trails along the local lakes and rivers.
This circular walk from the village explores the Broad Colney Lakes Nature Reserve and the Willow Lakes before visiting the neighbouring village of Colney Heath. There's much to enjoy with pleasant footpaths along the River Colne and a series of picturesque lakes. On the way you can look out for a variety of water loving birds.
The walk starts at the Broad Colney Lakes Nature Reserve on the western side of the village. From here you can pick up riverside paths heading north to the Willow Lakes and Colney Heath where you could stop for some refreshments.
The route then follows footpaths across the heath which is also a local nature reserve. The river runs through the centre of the heath and there's also some pleasant woodland, grassland and interesting flora to see here.
The final section leads you south west past Tyttenhanger House and Garden Wood to return to the village.
To continue your riverside walking in the area head west to pick up the Ver-Colne Valley Walk. This waymarked footpath will take you north along the River Ver into St Albans.

Postcode

AL2 1QU - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

London Colney OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

London Colney Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Walks near London Colney

  • Shenley - The idyllic Hertfordshire village of Shenley sits in a pleasant rural position on the outskirts of North London.
  • Ver-Colne Valley Walk - Follow the rivers Ver and Colne on this waterside walk through Hertfordshire.
    The walk starts at Redbourn and follows the River Ver to the historic town of St Albans with its impressive cathedral and the delightful Verulamium Park
  • Bricket Wood Common - Enjoy a stroll around this area of ancient woodland and dry heath, located near Watford
  • Aldenham Country Park - Enjoy 100 acres of woodland and parkland adjacent to a 60 acre lake at this splendid park near Elstree/Borehamwood
  • Totteridge - Totteridge is a lovely little village to visit on the outskirts of London in the borough of Barnet
  • Dollis Valley Green Walk - This pleasant walk takes you from Mill Hill near Edgware in North London to the edge of Hampstead Heath along the Dollis Brook
  • St Albans - Enjoy a nice circular walk around the centre of St Albans, visiting Verulamium Park, the Watercress Wildlife Site and the River Ver.
    The walk starts from Abbey Rail Station and follows footpaths west through the park to the lake
  • Hatfield Park - This Hertfordshire based town is a fine place for walkers with river trails along the River Lea, the woodland and parkland of Hatfield House and miles of easily accessible countryside trails to try.
  • Ridge - This circular walk from Hertfordshire based Ride explores the countryside to the west, visiting the Catherine Bourne River, Littleridge Wood and the neighbouring village of South Mimms
  • Mill Hill - Mill Hill village is located in the London Borough of Barnet in Greater London.
  • Brookmans Park - This fine Hertfordshire based village is known for its BBC transmitters, excellent golf course and 18th century Folly Arch.
  • Abbots Langley - This large Hertfordshire village is located near Watford

Pubs/Cafes

The Bull is a nice place for rest and refreshment after your exercise. The historic pub dates back to the 17th century and includes a charming interior with an original fireplace. They have a lovely garden area and can be found at postcode AL2 1QU for your sat navs.

Dog Walking

The river and heathland trails make for a fine dog walk. The Bull pub mentioned above is also dog friendly.

Photos

London Colney, The Golden Lion public house - geograph.org.uk - 742209

The Golden Lion public house. One of London Colney's seven public houses along its High Street, the pub is Victorian and is shown on the Ordnance Survey maps from 1898 onwards. The smoked glass windows and the grey tablet on the side at first floor level bear witness to the pub's previous owners, Trumans. However the pub has existed on the site since 1881.

Lake at Broad Colney Lakes - geograph.org.uk - 39354

Lake at Broad Colney Lakes. This one is fed from the main lake which is also the course of the River Colne.

Minor Ford at London Colney - geograph.org.uk - 3458800

Minor Ford at London Colney

Wild Flowers, River Colne, London Colney - geograph.org.uk - 1847231

Wild Flowers, River Colne, London Colney

Willows Lakes (8134445080)

Willows Lakes

London Colney, Telford's Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 1029217

London Colney: Telford's Bridge. Photographed on the morning after the snowstorm of 28 October 2008, the bridge carries Barnet Road over the River Colne. According to the stone plaque set into the brickwork it was originally built around 1775 and restored in 1998. Thomas Telford was born in 1757 and apprenticed to a stonemason in 1771 so this would have been one of his earliest designs. The road is an old coaching route from London to St Albans, and later became one of the main arterial routes into and out of London as the A6. With the building of the London Colney Bypass the road was completely declassified.

London Colney, Salisbury Hall - geograph.org.uk - 1384956

London Colney: Salisbury Hall. This moated site has been a place of settlement for centuries, although the current hall dates from around 1685. It has had several famous residents including the mother of Winston Churchill and, later, Sir Nigel Gresley. During the Second World War the de Havilland Aircraft Company designed the Mosquito aircraft in the hall and built the prototype in the outbuildings. After the war the hall fell into a derelict state, but was restored in the late 1950s. It remains in private ownership and is not open to the public.

Colney Heath - geograph.org.uk - 184756

Colney Heath. Viewed looking from Colney Heath High Street the River Colne runs in the trees in the distance.

GPS Files

GPX File

London Colney.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)