Best walks to or from St Albans

Harpenden Station to St Albans City Station

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.

Download GPX route

Garston Station to St Albans City Station

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.

Download GPX route

St Albans City Station Circular via Ruins of Gorhambury House

15km. Moderate ascents. 4h–7h.

Highlights: St Albans Cathedral, Verulamium Roman City Walls, Ruins of Gorhambury House, and St Albans itself.

Lunch stop: Ye Olde Fighting Cocks (30m–1h in).

End-of-walk rewards: the Six Bells, the Lower Red Lion, the Snug, the Boot, the Mad Squirrel Tap, or the Peahen.

Download GPX route

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.

St Albans Abbey Station to Park Street Station

4km.

A segment of Abbey Trail – documented by the Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership.