berkhamsted town council audio trail dacorum borough
TRANSCRIPT
BERKHAMSTED AUDIO TRAIL
The trail explores
footpaths mainly to the
south of Berkhamsted.
After following the canal
towpath both routes
take you up a steady
slope to a a wooded
ridge with views towards
open country. After
following the line of the
ridge, much under
trees, your return route
takes in playing fields
and Castle Street, one of the town’s
most historic neighbourhoods.
A sketch map
complements the walk
description, marking
points of interest
featured in the audio
commentary.
To download the
commentary go to
www.berkhamsted.gov.uk
and follow the links.
Cover photos by Norman Cutting
Berkhamsted Audio Trail
Distance: 6 miles (optional 4 miles) circular
Route: Railway Station - Grand Union
Canal towpath - Sugar Lane or
Garden Field Lane - Long Green -
Sandpit Green - Kingshill Way -
Butts Meadow - Castle Street -
Railway Station
Maps: OS Explorer 181, Chiltern
Society Footpath Map No17,
Berkhamsted Citizens Association
Footpath Map
Parking: You can park in the station car
park or there is public parking
nearby at public car parks off
Lower Kings Road
Public
transport: Berkhamsted is on the London
Midland Euston to Birmingham
line. For information ring National
Rail Enquiries: 08457 48 49 50
Berkhamsted is regularly served
by buses. Contact Hertfordshire
Intalink on 0300 123 4050 for
bus times and routes
Conditions: Mainly follows well drained
footpaths and bridleways but
Long Green may be muddy
Boots or stout walking shoes
recommended
Refreshments: Berkhamsted is well served with
cafes, restaurants and public
houses but once you leave the
canal-side pubs behind there are
no facilities until you reach the
town centre on the return leg.
Take drinks along
Acknowledgments
Berkhamsted Town Council
Dacorum Borough Council
Hertfordshire County Council
and, in particular,
Herts Biological Record Centre (HBRC)
Countryside Management Service
Dacorum Environmental Forum Water Group
Parish Paths Partnership
Berkhamsted Citizens Association
Berkhamsted Local History & Museum Society
St Peter’s Church Parochial Church Council
Ashlyns School
Sheil Land Associates Ltd
for extract from
Richard Mabey “Flora Britannica”,
Chatto & Windus
The Guardian of Saturday 29 July 2006
for extract from a memoir about Richard Mabey
David Higham Associates
for extracts from Graham Greene “A Sort of Life”,
Random House
Nick Potts
for extracts from Percy Birtchnell “A Short History of
Berkhamsted”, The Bookstack
This audio trail was produced by Berkhamsted
Town Council and the local community as part of
the Parish Paths Partnership, a programme
delivered by the Countryside Management Service
and funded by Hertfordshire County Council
© Berkhamsted Town Council 2011
www.berkhamsted.gov.uk
Berkhamsted Audio Trail Audio points along the way
� � � � Leave the railway station by way of the
pedestrian subway at the platform 4 exit. The
entrance to Berkhamsted Castle is across the
road, directly facing you.
Audio point 1: Castle
� � � � After the castle, keeping the castle to your
left and the railway to your right go under the
next railway bridge and cross the road to join the
canal towpath at the Crystal Palace public house.
Audio point 2: Canal - Crystal Palace
pub to Ravens Lane Bridge No 142
� � � � Turn left towards the east (Hemel
Hempstead) direction. As you follow the
towpath various aspects are described
in a series of audio points:
Audio point 3: Canal - Ravens Lane Bridge No
142 to Lock No 55
Audio point 4: Canal - Lock no 55 to
Bullbeggars Lane Bridge No 144
Audio point 6: Canal - Bullbeggars Lane Bridge
No 144 to Sharpes Lane Bridge No 146
� � � � Leave the canal at Bridge No 146 and follow Sharpes Lane
south to the A4251, taking care as there is no footpath.
About half way along the lane you cross the River Bulbourne.
Audio point 5: River Bulbourne.
� � � � At the A4251 turn right and follow the footpath along the
A4251 for 200 yards, where you cross the road to Sugar Lane.
Take special care when crossing and use the traffic island.
Your view of approaching traffic is restricted by bends in the
road in both directions.
Audio point 7: Sugar Lane
� � � � Now there are no longer bridges and locks to divide the
walk into sections, natural breaks have been chosen as audio
points to describe the key features that lie immediately
ahead of you.
Audio point 9: Long Green � � � � Walkers who have chosen the
shorter 4-mile circuit rejoin the trail here.
Audio point 10: Swing Gate Lane
to Chesham Road via Sandpit Green
Audio point 11: Bourne Gutter
Audio point 12: Brickhill Green
Audio point 13: Chesham Road to
Berkhamsted Town Centre via Playing Fields
& Butts Meadow
Audio point 14: Ashlyns School
� � � � At the bottom (north side) of Butts Meadow take the
path to the left of Victoria School and continue in the
same direction along Prince Edward Street to its junction
with the High Street. Cross the High Street and turn right
to St Peter’s Church.
Audio point 15: St Peter’s Church
Audio point 16: Castle Street
� � � � At the end of Castle Street cross the bridge over the
canal and the railway station is in view to your left.
Anyone wishing to shorten the walk
further at this point, turn right and follow
Swing Gate Lane, downhill all the way, to
its junction with London Road (A4251).
Turn left and follow London Road to St
Peter’s Church, where you rejoin the
route at
Audio point 15: St Peter’s Church
If you have chosen the shorter 4 mile circuit,
just before bridge no.144, take the narrow
path to bring you out into Bullbeggars Lane.
Turn right and keep the small parking area on
your right as you go over the River Bulbourne
at Bank Mill Lane Bridge.
Audio point 5: River Bulbourne.
Continue up the slight slope and cross the
A4251 to Garden Field Lane
Audio point 8: Garden Field Lane.
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