Best walks in Hertfordshire by train
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations in Hertfordshire and plan your next day of green.
Tring Station Circular via Ashridge Estate
15m direct from Watford Junction.
13km. Moderate ascents. 3h30–6h.
Beginner-friendly: It’s nearly all in a big National Trust estate that’s extremely well sign-posted. It’s completely fine to deviate from the route — explore and shorten as you like! The lunch options are simple cafés, so no messing around with booking a table in advance.
An essential walk! The Ashridge Estate is very beautiful if you appreciate woodland, and covers more then enough ground to cover a day of hiking in itself. There are paths everywhere and you can wander freely. Ancient trees, rolling chalk downlands, and lush meadows. Relatively busy. Take the minor paths to avoid the crowds. Can be muddy.
Highlights: Ashridge Estate and Ashridge House.
Lunch stops: the Ashridge Estate Café (1h–1h30 in), or Ashridge House café (2h–3h30 in).
End-of-walk reward: the Valiant Trooper.
Harpenden Station to St Albans City Station
2h from Watford Junction, with one change.
17km. Gentle ascents. 4h30–7h30.
Mostly fields and country lanes. Some beautiful new bluebell woods, stunning historic city streeets, commons, golf courses, and parkland. Best in April (bluebell season). Some sections are busy.
Highlights: Heartwood Forest, St Albans Cathedral, and St Albans itself.
Lunch stops in Sandridge (2h–3h in): the Green Man (excellent; reservations recommended), Heartwood Tea Rooms (busy!), the Rose & Crown, or the Queens Head (not great).
End-of-walk rewards: the Lower Red Lion, the Mad Squirrel Tap, the Peahen, the Snug, or the Boot.
Garston Station to St Albans City Station
5m direct from Watford Junction.
13km. Gentle ascents. 3h30–6h.
Common woodland, farmland tracks, river meadows, water meadows, quiet residential roads, and historic city streets. Can be very muddy.
Highlights: St Albans.
Lunch stops: Moor Mill Watermill & Inn (1h30–3h in), the Overdraught (2h30–4h in), or Rumbles Fish Bar (2h30–4h in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Horn, or the Robin Hood.
Berkhamsted Station Circular via Hockeridge Woods
15m direct from Watford Junction.
15km.
Canal towpath, wide bridleways, fields, woodland paths, school playing fields, and town centre. Can be muddy.
Documented by the Saturday Walkers Club.
Hitchin Station Circular
2h 15m from Watford Junction, with one change.
25km. 6h.
Chilterns chalk ridge, farm tracks, field boundaries, grassy lanes, woods, steep chalk downland, flat-bottomed valleys, alder and willow fen woodland, chalk river, and historic market town. Can be hilly.
Documented by the Saturday Walkers Club.
Baldock Station Circular
2h 30m from Watford Junction, with one change.
19km. 5h.
Vast flat Hertfordshire arable farmland, open field edges, big skies, gentle hills, small historic villages, and patches of woodland. Can be muddy.
Documented by the Saturday Walkers Club.
Garston Station to St Albans Abbey Station
15m direct from Watford Junction.
Common woodland, farmland tracks, river meadows, water meadows, quiet residential roads, and historic city streets. Can be very muddy.
An alternative variant of Garston to St Albans – documented by the Saturday Walkers Club.
Watford Junction Station to St Albans Abbey Station
14km.
Way-marked trail through the Ver and Colne Valleys and linking all seven Abbey Line stations — can be done end-to-end or as individual sections with a train hop back. Sections can become waterlogged after heavy rain, sometimes without obvious alternative routes.
Documented by the Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership.
Watford North Station to Watford Junction Station
2m direct from Watford Junction.
2km.
A segment of Abbey Trail – documented by the Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership.
Bricket Wood Station to Garston Station
8m direct from Watford Junction.
4km.
A segment of Abbey Trail – documented by the Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership.
Park Street Station to How Wood Station
15m direct from Watford Junction.
A segment of Abbey Trail – documented by the Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership.
Park Street Station to Bricket Wood Station
15m direct from Watford Junction.
4km.
A segment of Abbey Trail – documented by the Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership.