The Hertfordshire Way
Stage 4: Codicote to St Albans
Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.
The Hertfordshire Way is a 166 mile long distance trail around the county divided into 14 legs, and beginning and ending at Royston. Bluetiger walked the fourth leg from Codicote to St Albans, 12 miles, in September 2002.
The guidebook says that "we see parklands and ruined churches on the way, prehistoric sites and finally our first urban walk as we make our way to the centre of the fine town of St Albans - a feast indeed!"
The ruined church in Ayot St Lawrence. It is said that this was pulled down to improve the view from the windows of the nearby manor house.
The ruined church was replaced by a new classical styled one in its own park.
Just outside Wheathampstead the walk goes through a prehistoric earthwork known as Devils Dyke. It is part of an Iron Age settlement of the Belgae tribe (known to the Romans as the Catuvellauni. They ruled large parts of what is today Hertfordshire, and were conquered by Julius Caesar when he stormed their capital, Oppidum, in 54BC. This capital has been associated with Devils Dyke.
Inside Devils Dyke.
At Coleman Green there stands a house chimney stack, known as Bunyan's Chimney. John Bunyan is said to have preached and occasionally lived there. The house was demolished in 1877.
The end of the stage - the prosaic surroundings of St Albans Railway Station.
We have now completed 46 and a half miles of the Way - just over a quarter of the total distance.
Return to Hertfordshire Way index
Return to Bluetiger's Home Page