Walking & CyclingThe Cole Green Way& the Hertford to Ware Towpath

An old railway line, canal towpaths, open spaces and quiet roads create a green route from Welwyn Garden City to Ware via Hertford. It also forms part of Route 61 of the National Cycle Network.

The Cole Green Way proper runs from the outskirts of Welwyn Garden City at the Black Fan Road / Cole Green Lane junction to West Street in Hertford. This rural section follows a former railway and is suitable for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. This part of the route is also accessible for disabled visitors at various points. Motorised scooter wheelchairs are probably the best option due to the nature of the surfacing. There are links at both ends that take walkers and cyclists into Welwyn and Hertford town centres. The link through Hertford joins the towpath along the River Lea, taking you to Ware and beyond.It is signposted through the town centre.

Enjoy this route for a leisurely walk or ride alongside waterways and rural tracks. It links three Hertfordshire towns with some great countryside. You could even take a circular diversion to explore local villages near the path.

Why not use the path for a journey to work?With traffi c congestion particularly heavy between Hertford and Ware, make the journeyto work an enjoyable experience by cyclingalong side the river.

A great link exists for walkers who wish to access the exexCole Green Way from the residential area of Panshanger, Wconnecting the local footpath network together via a connecting thpleasant walk between the trees. Within the woodland there is a circular path and several ponds. Look out for dragonfl ies darting along the paths in the Summer.he S

half mile diversion down the v on down the th alongside Stanborough Roadtanbo h Roadd anborough Roadl bring you to StanborouStanb ughoukes. Here you can visit the twowo the twoe es, hire a boat, go fi shing, learnearnhing, leasail or enjoy roaming througugh joen6 acres of parkland.of parklan o

wyn was the second of Ebenezer Howard’s Garden Cities, after Letchties, after Letchworth. Welwyn was the second of Ebenezer Howard’s GardenHoward’s Garthe nezer Ho GarWeW seco zerof EbwyWelw e sewere designed to include the best of both town and country and country living. The town’sto include the best of bot d country living. The towThey were designed to include the best of both town ao include the best of bo y living The town’s’sh towe desy wh signeTheeyhey

med after the settlement’s creator.za The Howard Centre being nmain shopping plaza The Howard Centre being namea The Howard Centre being ooppsh pinain plazm hoshop

When you arrive at the old Cole Green station you canstou Cyou arrivetake a break for refreshments at the Cowper Arms pub. we ttake a breAlternatively you can bring your own food and use thecan b ove yApicnic area. There is also a short, easy woodland walk that e is als wa. T hincludes carved statues and a pond. Car parking is available d statu r ved if you wish to start your walk or ride from this point.mtar lk

The branch line opened in 1858 connecting raHertford with the main line junction attfordorWelwyn prior to the construction of thewyn pynGarden City. It was closed in 1966 as part of den Centhe Beeching cuts. Today, the Victorian brick the Bebridges and the platform at Cole Green remain as the only reminders of its past.

ordshire’s Snaking its way through Hertfhrough HouSn rtforaye Great Northtoowns and countryside is thes thsidnd coow he Goun

wn as Route 12WWay cycle route. It is showte. IWay ownutetwork and willon the National Cycle Neal Cyth Netwtionahe Nat

with Peterborough eventually link Londoneventuntual on wlly ut for Great Northouand beyond. Look oand b yond ook out yonound Welwyn Gardens in and aroWay signs in s in n ande track connects withCityy where this cycleCity whe e thwhe this

rd. Contact Pedal Pointthe rroute to Hertfore tote Her the Great North Way.for a ffree leafl et on ee et

Rolls & Blackthorn Woods

A stones throw fromom the town centre isis stones th town centceoonA w frods. TSherrardspark Woodss. This 200 acre wood has e wordsSh This 200 acre w00 as 20errS ark Wood

bridlemany footpaths and bridleways to be explored bema waym ths aornbeaamongst the oak and hornbeam trees. You canes. You cank an

througfollow the old railway line through the woodlandwoodlanailwa he wlwto Whas part of the Ayot Greenway to WWheathampsteadmps Ayot Green heaas

some 3some 1⁄12⁄⁄ ff Digs miles away. Access is off Digswell Road, miles away. Accesy. Acce

Road.the Campus West car park or Bridge Road.the Campus West car park or Br park oCampusmpumpu

Sherrardspark Woods & Ayot Greenway

Great North Way

Stanborough Park

Welwyn Garden City

The Old Railway

Cole Green

Hertford is the pleasant theis thord iscounty town of Hertfordshireco y tow hireand site of the fi rst generalf theof st generalsynod of the Englishd of thesyn ish

. It is aChurch in 673AD. It is at theC 73AChurch thesr riversconfl uence of four rivers:confl uence of ff foco

Mimthe Rib, Beane, Mimram and he Rib, Beane M nd mram aeaown dLea. The town developed as ea. The to evevelodow

et towa market town and is nowmark is nown and n anconnwell connected by publicw puby publicted bd b

transport to London. tra ndoo Lond

Hertford

wn, the museum Set at the heart of the tow he museaSe wneart of thrt he ket area of Bullis located in the old mar area of Bts l rkocated in tthnturyPlain in an early 17th Ce y town alai enain ara charming house. It is enhanced by arming eou y anht garden of recreated ‘Jacobean’ KnoJacre ot cob

ed hedges of box and lavender. f bointertwined hedges of boxd aer x aplays depict Hertford’s historic past asHertford’sDisplays depict Hertford’s de toric paspaisp hioyal borough, market for a large ruralorough, maa royal borough, market forbo raluraroya ro or apulation and county town. Free entry.n and cpopulation and county towntioulap n. p

e town was thriving was In Roman times t as thriving e t RoIn Rom n timtim ng themportant site during sitend remained an i e durinmpo rean emainned n imp

nfl icts. In later years, n latthe Saxon – Dane c atenfl icaxo e coth D confletween London and onddue to its position be weets p tion due etwe

ng counties of Suffolk and tththe barley growing olk aniesy ggrow ountieire, it became a prosperousCambrimbridgeshire roue a dges me a

he malting industry.centre for thefor the ryo ustry

Claims to be the oldestClaims to be oCl to be tding in Hertford and is building in Hert angbu n Hertfo

fi ne example of Normana fi ne example o ormana fi xample of chitecture with an unusualarchitecture with an usuawith an unawooden spire. The simple wooden spire. The si en s re. The simw

aninterior includes a Normnclu s a Normarfont, a 13th Century walfo 3th C tury wall all ont

te‘s painting and an Anchoritinting an an orihorite‘sgtin an Aouscell where a religioul whehe religce

d.recluse once livedlu once

These 18th centuentury summerhousesry su rhommewere built in thehe gardens of formermere ga of fos ofHigh Street Cooaching Inns. achin ns.

is natural island is This naturaturatural island isas an otter managed ma

providing thehabitat, pndisturbeddense, un

nk vegetation that riverband for breeding.they need fo

ans The site has been occupied since the Normae NorTh occupied sinc mThe sLea.built their fi rst fortifi cation of the River Lifi cation of thbuilt thei er a

The 15th century gatehouse is all that remains of e 15th centuryThe 15th century gatehouse is all that remaine 15th century1 gateho ainremais all that rth oHertford Castle which is surrounded by an 11th Hertford Castle which is surrounded by an 1e which i n rrounded by anrroundeHertfor th

century stone and fl int curtain. There is plenty of y stone and fl int curtain. There is plentnd fl entain. There is plenry stone andcentury sto oseating in the pleasant castle groundng in the pleasant castle groun santng in the ple nds.seating in the pleasant castle gr sounroun

T s meetinghouse isT mehis mThiThisthe oldest purpose builtdesthe olhtheFriends Meeting HouseM g Hoends in the world. It was builtrld. It was builte worin 1670 and remainsand re

odwell used t ywell used ttodtoday.

Ware Museum houses permanent displaysouses p splam h nt dperuseincluding a timeline of Ware’s social,f War ,iminc ial,Wane industrial and archaeological history from gical ory nd from trial chapre-re-historic times through to the Second o thee Sec t-his times tstoricWoorld War. Free entry.r. d War. Free entry.

In addition to the leisure centre therdd eisure centren to sur centre thherreare football pitches, tennis courts, foo tennis cll pit hes, nnis courtts, a

play area and trim trail to keep you fi t!ea aarea rim trm tra you fi tt! Ware

largest remaining area of grazed The l aining arThe largest TheT est remainiremameadow in Hertfordshire. meariverside fl oodri erside fl oood meditches which criss-cross The rivers and dThe riv ditcnally fl ooded the fl at land; the site traditiot nally falling water levels this but because of e e of lling

ess often. This combination now happens leappenss le oftenwater and regular grazingof ditches, fl oodwaditchehes, odw er an

wetland habitat that is has created a rich weas c ted a ch d htland n Britain. There are becoming very rare in bec areve r in. TBritain

nts found here andover 20 uncommon plantver on om ts und hs founbirditit is an important site for bs aan important siteort te for birdrds.

Ware Museum

River Lea GazebosThe Meads (Kings Meads)

Jacob’s Island

St Leonard’s Church, Bengeo

Hartham Common

Hertford Castle

Hertford Museum

Quaker House

AttractionsStanborough Lakes, www.fi nesseleisure.comTel. 01707 327655

Hertford Castle, www.hertford.gov.ukTel. 01992 552885 (Events)

Hertford Museum, www.hertfordmuseum.orgTel. 01992 582686

Ware Museum, www.waremuseum.org.ukTel. 01920 487848

Scotts Grotto (limited opening), www.scotts-grotto.org

Walking & CyclingHertfordshire County Council,www.hertsdirect.org/libsleisure & click on‘Enjoying the Countryside’Tel. 01992 555262

Welwyn Hatfi eld Council, www.welhat.gov.uk/pedalpoint, (includes info on both walking & cycling)Tel. 01707 357551. Free leafl ets available onGreat North Way, Ayot Greenway and Alban Way

East Herts Council, www.eastherts.gov.ukTel. 01279 655261

10 m i l e q u i e t r o u t e b e t w e e nWelwyn Garden City, Hertford & Ware

The Cole Green Way& Hertford to Ware Towpath

walking & cycl ing

pedalPOINT01707 357551t

The Ordnance Survey mapping data included within this publication is provided by Hertfordshire County Council under licence from the Ordnance Survey in order to fulfi l its public function to provide information relating to its activities, services and plans. Persons viewing this mapping should contact Ordnance Survey copyright for advice should they wish to licence Ordnance Survey mapping for their own use. Such mapping is based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Her Majesty’s Stationery Offi ce © Crown copyright 100019606 2005.

Cartography, photography, leafl et design and cycling by Stephen Wragg - Wragg Art House: www.wah.co.uk

© WAH 2005 Printed on environmentally friendly paper