Berkhamsted and Tring circular walk

The Circular Route no. 1 on the Grand Union passes a number of historical points of interest including Stocks Manor, Albury with its 14th century church, the Bridgewater Monument (dedicated to the Duke of Bridgewater's pioneering work for Britain's canals), Ashridge Estate with its 4000 acres of woods and open common now managed by the National Trust, and finally Berkhamsted's Norman Castle. Stroll at your leisure and enjoy.

Starting at the railway station, follow Station Road to Bridge 141 and descend here onto the towpath. Follow the towpath all the way to Bridge 135 right by Tring railway station.

Come up off the towpath here onto Station Road, veering left towards the Ridgeway National Trail and Stocks Manor. Turn right onto Stocks Road and into Trooper Road before cutting across to Malting Lane and going cross country past Tom's Hill House, Norcott Hall Farm and Hill until you reach Hill Farm.

Cross over Northchurch Common and across fields passing the back of Bridgewater Middle School until you reach Castle Hill Farm. Once on Castle Hill, cut across onto Hill Avenue, Whitehill and then back onto Station Road which leads you back to the railway station and starting point.

Getting there

Parking: Parking at Berkhamsted railway station is available and free to rail ticket holders on Saturdays and Sundays.

Public transport: Silverlink Trains provides a fast and frequent service of modern electric trains linking Tring, Kings Langley, Apsley and Hemel Hempstead with London (Euston), Watford Junction, Milton Keynes and Northampton. These stations are located close to the canal and trains run every half hour making it easy and convenient to walk one way and return by train, or vice versa. Pick up a free timetable at your local North London Railways station. Cheap Day Returns are valid for one return rail journey on the date shown on the tickets. They are valid for travel after 9.30am Monday to Friday, and all day Saturday and Sunday. A Network Card gives you one third off normal train fares at off-peak times, and you can take three other adults for the same discounted fare and up to four children for just £1.00 each.