Hatch End to Elstree & Borehamwood: 8.75 miles (14.1 km)
Trail Landmarks
Hatch End and Little Oxhey Lane - rejoining the route on this occasion involved several legs of TfL Main line and underground links with a bus replacement service to Hatch End whilst the Overground line was closed for engineering works. Eventually arriving at the trail, the path continued via a very crowded and nettled narrow path alongside residential properties becoming impassable, so a hop into the open grass meadow alongside was necessary. Reaching the railway line and onto Little Oxhey Lane, crossing via the suspended rail footbridge takes the effortless pavement route roadside towards Grim's Dyke and the Evergreen Cafe at the awaiting Garden Centre.
Grim's Dyke - before entering the Grim's Dyke estate, the path skirts the golf course which straddles both London and the county of Hertfordshire, literally teeing off in one and then holing the ball in the other. Reaching Grim's Dyke having followed the white signposts on the course, needs a little patience as the path disappears briefly in the woodland but can be rediscovered from the main road via a gated re-entry point. The path navigates the woodland, ponds and reed beds, twisting gently following the Iron Age earthworks and ditch to the right, and whilst potentially gloomy, on this day provided welcome shelter from the heat.
Old Redding road and Common road - emerging onto the Old Redding road, a fantastic view overlooking Wembley and Harrow on the Hill awaits. Having completed the Capital Ring the year before, this brought a nostalgic reminder of that stage and a practical visual perspective of the distance and radius of this trail from the centre of London. Passing 'The Case is Altered' pub, an unusual legal term, the path takes a sheltered but today, very clear path through woodland, with at times quite a bare canopy floor and utilising helpful ditch footbridges to eventually cross Common Road and into the Priory.
Bentley Priory Open Space - the tarmac path once entering the Open Space provides for a swift passage through the pleasing SSSI with some unexpected distant views of Central London on the horizon. Bentley Priory, once a 12th C Augustinian place of solace was rebuilt in the late 18th C to become the eventual home of the RAF in 1926 and houses a Museum to commemorate the Battle of Britain.
Stanmore Hill - joining Warren Lane and slipping past the elegant Stanmore Cricket Club, one of the oldest in the country, the path meanders around several brewers ponds for the Stanmore Brewery and Stanmore Little Common to eventually meet Grove Farm Lane and a reasonable trudge down a main track alongside farm and cattle fields, across a large open grass meadow to reach the A411 and access underneath the M1 to reach the Elstree Road.
Aldenham Reservoir - a very straightforward but dull roadside walk brings the trail to the. Aldenham Reservoir. Originally poorly dug at the end of the 18th C by French prisoners from the Napoleonic War, it is now home to a sailing club. Shrubs and trees largely obscure the reservoir from the well laid path, but a quick diversion to the north dammed section offers a southerly view along the reservoir.
North Elstree - the great Watling Street Roman road is discovered on the final leg of this section as the trail crosses more open corn fields towards the North of Elstree and briefly adjoins the Radlett Park Golf Course. A short woodland path leads onto Allum lane and progress towards Elstree and Borehamwood station and the high street beyond. Home to many famous film productions, Elstree Film Studios originally came into existence in 1914, and the station itself provides much dedication to its long celebrated past.
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