Household WasteRecycling

CentreQueensway

Downside

Leig

hton

Buz

zard

Roa

d

Leig

hton B

uzzar

d Road

A4146

Queensway

Hillfield Road

Mar

low

es

Marlo

wes

St Albans Road

Hig

h St

reet

Chapel Street

Cattsdell

Catt

sdel

l

Ran

dalls

Ride

Neptune Drive

Woodhall Lane

Bohemia

Thumpers

Fletcher Way

Fletc

her Way

Fletcher Way

Tow

nsen

d

Thriftfield

Wheatfield

Cambrian Way

Solway

Jupiter Drive Jupite

r Driv

e

Queensway

Redbourn

Road

Pennine Way

Pennine Way

St Agnells

Lane

East

man

Way

May

lan

ds

Ave

nu

e

Mar

k Ro

ad

A41

47

A4147

Wood Lane End

Tedder Road

Tenzing Road

Montgomery

Avenue

Sawyers Way

Road

Broadfield

Everest Way

Wood Lane End

Adeyfield Road

Adeyfield Road

Adeyfield

Windm

ill Road

Windmill

Lane

White Hart Drive

Long

land

s

A4147

Redbourn Road

Cherr

y Tre

e La

ne

Bo

un

dar

y W

ay

Hemel Hempstead Road

Punch Bowl Lane

Shen

ley

Road

Redbourn Road

B487

B487 B487

High S

treet

Gre

en

Leve

rsto

ck G

reen

Roa

d

Ellingham Road

Highfield Lane

Brie

ry W

ay

Shenley

Ho

ltsm

ere

End

Lan

e

Shenley Road

Hemel Hempstead Road

Hemel Hempstead Road

Gaddesden

M1

Aycl

iffe

Driv

e

Aycliffe Drive

Aycliffe DrivePrimary School

Jupiter DriveJMI School

Bellgate PrimarySchool

Broadfield Infant& Junior School Hobletts Manor Infant

& Junior School

George StreetPrimary

Hemel HempsteadGeneral Hospital

LeisureWorld

Athletics Ground

Tudor PrimarySchool

Paradise

GadebridgePark

Gade Valley JMI

SkateboardBMX park

The Cavendish School

Locker’s ParkSchool Randall

Park

Jarman Park

Adeyfield

Old Town

AdeyfieldSchool

Keens Field

Highfield

MaylandsWood

Widmore Wood

Yew TreeWood

Grove Hill Park

Grovehill

Cupid Green

Astley CooperSchool

Industrial Estate

Reservoir

Holtsmere End Infant& Junior School Brockswood Primary

School

WoodhallWood

HighWood

Little Revel EndFarm

Wood End Farm

BuryWood

The Aubreys Fort(earthworks)

subway

Hotel

Flower’sFarm

Dane-End Farm

Dio

ne R

d

Midland Road

St Mary’sChurch

The OldTown Hall

Civic CentreDacorum Borough

Council

Library

West Herts CollegeDacorum Campus

Playing Fields

PlayingFields

St PaulsChurch

Three

Ch

erryTrees

Lane

Hunters Oak

Arkley Road

Cupid Green Lane

The

Dee

Aven

ue

Washington Avenue

Eastbrook PrimarySchool

Hunting Gate

Piccotts End La.

Stevenage Rise

Saturn Way

Mendip Way

Wharfdale

Wes

terd

ale

Allandale

Paston Rd

Allandale

Alla

ndal

e

Smithfield

Chur

chSt

reet

Herbert StreetGeorge Street Grover Cl.

St Mary’s Road

Christchurch RoadAle

xan

dra

Ro

ad

Alexa

ndra R

oad

Cresc

ent R

oad

St Paul’s Road

May

flow

erAv

enueW

ater

house S

treet

Wat

er Gar

dens

Dacoru

m W

ay

Wolse

y RoadPar

k Lan

e

Paradise

WoodLane

King H

arry Stre

et

Redwood DriveOld Crabtree Lane

Deaconsfield Road

Seaton Road

Woo

dC

resc

ent

Jarman Way

Turners Hill

Low

er Yo

tt

Turners Hill

Astley Road

Combe St

Bury

Roa

d

Cotterells Hill

Melsted Road

Warners End Road

Swallowdale Lane

Thames

Newfield

Road

Road

St Mary’sChurch

Cycle route toGaddesden Row

M1Luton

The North

M1London

N

Road

site ofBeaumont’s Halt

site ofGodwin’s Halt

AdventurePlayground

Widmore Drive

first level access avoidingsteps & barriers

Lane

The Nickey Line

The Nickey Line

The Nickey Line

The Nickey Line

Eastman Way

The Nickey Line

site ofHemel Hempstead

Station

site ofHemelite Works

Hemel Hempstead

Track

Residential area

Commercial area

ParksWoodland

Main Road

Motorway

Railway

The Nickey Line (traffic free) FieldsOpen Land

Cycle Shop

Tourist Information

Pub / Restaurant

Supermarket / Shop

Leisure Centre

Children’s Play Area

School / College

Museum

Toilet

Hospital A&E

Football Ground

The Nickey Line (on road)

River / Lake

Cycle Routes (signed on quiet road)

Cycle Routes (signed on quiet road)proposed

Steps on route,access steps off route

Cycle Routes (traffic free)

Railway Station

Car Park

National Cycle NetworkRoute Number

Building

Bus Station

Street / Minor Road

Bridge

Bridleway

Footpath

Keyscale 1:11,500 approx

1 kilometre

1 mile

Walking & CyclingThe Nickey Linethe green route fromHemel Hempstead via Redbournto Harpenden

The Nickey Line was a 7mile (12km) branch line that once linked the Midland Railway at Harpenden to Boxmoor, near Hemel Hempstead. Passenger services ended in 1947 but a section of the line carried freight until 1979. Much of the track bed still remained intact when it was bought by Dacorum and St Albans councils in the early 1980’s and opened for walking and cycling.

The route now forms a pleasant green corridor with a rural aspect along much of its length - providing attractive countryside or woodland walks as well as generally traffi c-free access to school and work. Although there are steep embankments or cuttings and several bridges have been removed there is level access for cyclists and wheelchairs along most of the route (steps are shown on the map).

The Nickey Line forms part of Route 57 of the Sustrans National Cycle Network which continues through Harpenden to Wheathampstead and Welwyn Garden City. From Harpenden, Route 6 goes south to St Albans & Watford, and north to Luton & Milton Keynes.

Enjoy the route as a relaxing journey to work or school away from the road network. Alternatively, take a leisurely walk or ride looking out for the abundant local wildlife. In addition, a number of circular paths can be enjoyed incorporating rights of way which cross the Line.

© Crown copyright. All rights reserved 100019606 2006

Hemel Hempstead’s award winning town centre boasts aHem n centd’s rd winning town winnniHeH anedtremendous range of shops and services specifi cally desigdo pecifi cale of s and servicereme ign

ed for its mmany visitors within a family friendly pedestrianis m estrians wit mily f isedsed dlyithnsarea. Stroll through the town centre or adjacent Water Gardenarea. StroSt theea. er Gardensadjadjaceent

and admire e the display planting and works of art, a traditiond wmire the plad d adm traof art, afbegun in the earrly days of the New Town.w Tearly dy degun in the en in e Nee Nee NNeNN

HuHu

Hemel Old Town is steeped in historyhistoryiHoviding a glimpse of days gone by withp one hp nprovid

active Victorian, Georgian and Tudor its attr n and Tudoror s att n attractive housing many excearchitectur ellent plent pubs, ectur le bs, cture ho

d restaurants. Ycafes, bistros a nts. You willos a willouos and reelectioalso fi nd a diverse s ction of specialistrse n of sppecrse selec

shops including antiqshop tique , quality giftware,que qu gififtware,ques, qus! ure and bicycles!furnitur cles! The O d Town High he O n H! Thfu h he Old To

ds home to the OldStreet is h Town H ll Theatrewn H Theatld ToTowStree re n Hall Thusic and theatwith art, musi e productionsctiotree produch art, ctions.

MI

ndings of Gadebridge Park, Dacorum’s principal pain park.e beautiful surroRelax in theh ng parpm’s pdidings of G Parkouound rkor admire the glorious fl ower display in the historic adUnwind by the River GadeUnwind b dm thr a e the gloriou fl owdede orof St Mary’s Church, regarded as one of the most StWalled Garden with viewed t ne ofof h, reregawws o

hes in Hertfordshire. Activities including bowls and crazn H azycomplete Norman churc H dines Activrcrcheg the summer, with a play area and skate park for youne su unggolf are available duri d skate park fosugg turi a pla teand skate park for yoforiring

e www.dacorum.gov.uk for details of special eventswwpeople, open all yea See w ails of special eventswwee ww ilsear gov f spor details of special events.ev s.arar. S

Hemel Hempstead

Gadebridge Park

Hemel Old Town

green corridor for wildlifedorNickey Line is aThe a g Ns and fi elds along the track. ds g the woodlandlinki dsing

oxes are regularly seen and if you are really lucky if es are regularly seFox eenoxes yger on its dusk patrol or aonou may glimpse a badyo dgebadyou

eed. In spring the warblerseedsparrowhawk fl ying at spspeng a blerarters and blackcaps,arrive from their winter qquair w ps,s can be heard singing aschiffchaffs and whitethroatatsnd w rd singid seek mates.they establish territories anndblish mates.

brimstone butterfl ies neLook out for orange tip and buttd bd ut fo brimsmstonrbled whites, commas min early spring. Peacocks, mam comars, maarly s whiteso fairly commonmonand small tortoiseshells are are alsells and sm y comure in the summer sun. In this picctu. In tin t left, a speckled spspecktte bush in the middaywood warms itself on a brambblelf ow warm midddays for fl ight andsunshine – they need warm stil andll dy nesu e – th– t ando the dappled light as they bask they merge well in ed light ntoheyas t ky bas

of a clearing on The Nickey Line. ona clclea

Wildlife along the Line

1863 Act of Parliament passed for Boxmoor to Hemel Hempstead Railwayailwapas

1866 Act of Parliament passed extending line to Midland Railway at HarpendenHarpendy aent ent ssed

1877 Line opened between Hemel Hempstead and Lutoned ed Heme

1888 Harpenden Junction south curve opened, taking trains to Harpenden StationStationrainHarpeHarpe curv

1905905905 New Halts built at Redbourn, Cupid Green and Heath Parkd HCup

1927192192 New Halt built at Roundwood, Harpendennarp

192992929 Bus service replaced some trains

1947 Passenger service withdrawn, goods service continuesserv

1950’s and 60’s Line gradually cut back for New Town constructionnstru

1968 Hemelite Company bought the Line to transport materials for the manufacture of port building blocks

1979 Line closed

1985 Line opened as a footpath and cycleway, becoming National Cycle Network tiona Route 57oute 5

History of the Nickey Line

an W

aEa

stm

an W

a

Wood has the characteristics of anWood has the Yew Tree W n ancient semi acteristie WYewew s oas thral woodland and is particularly noteworthy for woodlan andnatural w orthy for thearand is pral wnnaatur noand a yyayay

f yewew t egroup of y eesyewg oup w tree accataTaxus bacca that give the wood itsa n W

n Wa

The yew is Europe’s longest lived tree with sow ame Th ome is Europe’s longest liiname. The yew yee yew tma

m

s estimated to be up to 4000 years old.estindividual ymated to be up to 40in als 0vidual stimated ts els es Eas

Eas

Yew Tree Wood

B487

Hemel Hempstead Road

Church

Chequer Lane

Flam

stea

db

ury

Lan

e

Lybury Lane

Fish Street

Lam

b Lan

e

St A

lban

s Ro

ad

The

Ver V

alle

y W

alk

A51

83

A5183

A5183

Hig

h St

reet

Hig

h St

reet

Crouch H

all Lane

Harpenden Lane

RedbournInfant &

Jnr School

RedbournVillage Museum

Dun

stab

le R

oad

Bet

tesp

ol M

ead

ow

s

Dunstable Road

Redbourn Lane

Lane

Redb

ourn

B487

Claygate Avenue

Townsend Lane

Townsend Lane

Park Hill

Park Rise

Bloomfield Road

Hillside Road

HighfieldOvalLambourn Gdns

Park Mount

Luto

n R

oad

Luto

n R

oad

A10

81

Clarence Road

Byron Road

Townsend Road

Sun Lane

Broadfields

Salis

bur

y A

venu

e

Map

le R

oad

Rose

ber

ry A

venu

e

Kirkwick Ave

Roundwood

Lane

Leyt

on R

oad

West Com

mon

Amenbury Lane

Rothamsted Avenue

St A

lban

s Road

Hig

h St

reet

Sout

hd

own

Roa

d

Lane

Station

B652

Stat

ion

Ro

ad

Stewart Road

Brea

dcr

oft L

ane

Carlt

on R

oad

Car

lton

Road

Sau

nce

y A

ven

ue

Sauncey Avenue

Manland Avenue

West Way

Manland Way

Cro

ss Way W

aven

ey R

oad

Ox Lane

Col

dh

arb

our L

ane

Ox LaneLea Road

St James Road

SunLa

ne

Westfield Road

Douglas Road

Vaughan Road

Milt

on R

oad

Crabtree Lane

The

Park

RedbournCommon

Scout Spring

caravan site

River Ver

River Ver

RedbournIndustrial Estate

Library

Knott Wood

Golf CourseHarpendenbury

Farm

Deacon’sSpring

Hammonds EndFarm

Golf Course

Rugby Club

Rothamsted ManorHouse

RothamstedResearch

RothamstedExperimental Farm

St Luke’s School

RothamstedPark

Hatching Green

Roundwood Park& Primary Schools

St Hilda’s School

AsquithNursery

St George’s School

HarpendenMemorial Hospital

St NicholasPrimarySchool

St Dominic’sR.C. Primary

School

HarpendenCommon

to HarpendenCycles

Crabtree Infants &Junior School

WestfieldWoodAmbrose

Wood

BUPA Hospital

HighfieldPre-School

The Lea PrimarySchool

Sir John LawesSchool

Manland PrimarySchool

The King’s School

take carecrossing roadblind corner

cyclistsuse ramp

to avoid steps

(Wat

ling

Stre

et -

Rom

an R

oad)

Tassell Hall

Tassell Hall

NorthRoad

Snatchup

The Park

Brooke End

Ver Road

Crown Street

WaterendLane

Linden RoadAysgarth Road

Cavan Road

Lord

s Mea

dow

Townsend Lane

HollybushLane

Wo

rdsw

orth

Road

Tennys

on Road

Long

crof

t Ave

nu

e

Am

bros

eLa

ne

Harpenden Rise

Barns Dene

Common

take carecrossing road

Moreton End Lane

Ambrose Lan

e

H

H

HarpendenMusicale

HarpendenStation

Crabtree

Library

St Nicholas’Church

LydekkerPark

The Ver Valley Walk

The

Ver V

alle

y W

alk

The

Ver V

alle

y W

alk

original track of railway line

Footpath toRedbournbury Mill

Rail to Luton& The Midlands

Rail to St AlbansLondon, Brighton

NCN 6 cycle routeto St Albans,

Watford, London

NCN 6Cycle route under

construction to Lutonand Milton Keynes,

and ultimately toThe Lake District

M1Luton

The North

A1081

Road

Arden

Bull Rd

Gro

ve

Station Road

site ofHarpenden

Eastrailwaystation

Town Hall

PublicHalls

SkateboardBMX park

cutting

picnic areasite of Redbournrailway station

N

End

NCN 57Cycle route to Leasey Bridge, incomplete to Wheathampsteadand Welwyn Garden City

first level accessavoiding steps

The Nickey Line

The Nickey Line

The Nickey Line

The Nickey LineThe Nickey Line

Harpenden

Redbourn

7 m i l e g r e e n r o u t e b e t w e e nHemel Hempstead, Redbourn& Harpenden

The Nickey Linewalking & cycl ing

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 2006.

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

© WAH 2006 Printed on environmentally friendly paper

InformationDacorum Borough Council: www.dacorum.gov.ukRedbourn Parish Council: www.redbourn.org.ukHarpenden Town Council: www.harpenden.gov.ukSt Albans City & District Council: www.stalbans.gov.ukCountryside Management Service: www.hertsdirect.org/cmsSustrans: www.sustrans.org.ukFriends of the Nickey Line: www.nickeyline.orgSt Albans Cycle Campaign: www.stacc.org.ukVer Valley Society: www.riverver.co.ukRedbournbury Mill: www.redbournmill.co.uk

HistoryBooks available on The Nickey Line:

The Harpenden to Hemel Hempstead Railway - The Nickey Line by Sue and Geoff Woodward, 1996, The Oakwood Press

Branch Line to Hemel Hempstead - The Nickey Lineby Sue and Geoff Woodward, 2006, Middleton Press

Walking & CyclingHertfordshire County Council: www.hertsdirect.org/libsleisure and click on ‘Enjoying the Countryside’

Further free maps & leafl ets in this series:The Great North Way, The Ayot Greenway, The Alban Way, The Cole Green Way, The Ebury Way, available from Libraries, Tourist Information or Councils listed above.

Redbourn village sits astride Watling Street, the old Romants astride Watl ng Street, the old Romts ng S mae ohide tlinroad to Chester, now thankfully by-passed. Its w thankfully bby-passed. Its compactw sse ctcoy-pbyHigh Street features several hostelries and es several hostelries and a variety ofes nd of s an a vaseveral hoostshops, while its spacious Commopacious Com id r park on provides a free capa car videses aovidious Commonmmbeside the local cricket pitch, close to the villacricket pitch, e to the v eum.e to the village Mucr usevillage Musthpitch, closese to tric , cl

Powered by the River Ver - and latterly by a Crossley diesel engine - the 18th century Mill worked well into the 20th centuryy. y.y.eIt was restored after a disastrous fi re in 1987 and now producest wstoneground fl our and bread. The Mill is open, with teas served,ontypically on Sunday afternoons and special weekends.ca(See back cover for contact details to check opening times).ba

The Jacobean Manor House at Rothamsted was tthe thome of John Bennet Lawes who began agriculturauraluraexperiments in 1843, ultimately leading to theestablishment of Rothamsted Research.The Houseprovides student accommodation and the Drawing Room tioovides is a popular venue for recitals. Public rights of way cross ls. ithe estate, and a permissive path allows a view of theve 17th Century south facade of the house.de

Rothamsted

When the Nickey Line was built in then the 1870’s the187Roundwood area was agricultural land, d, but in the, bu heearly 1900’s the fi rst houses were built,lt, and as moreand as mmfollowed there was an increasing dememand for a Halt.a Hn

Roundwood Halt was opened 8 Auugust 1927. Theood Halt was o Thst 19stsignal and platform are two of thehe best survivingal and platform are two of th vivsurvivbestreminders of the former Line.rem

The Walk traces theriver from its sourcenear Redbourn to itsconjunction with the Colneclose to Watford. A free leafl et is available fromlocal Information Centres.

The local council purchased the 238 acrTh 232 cre Manorial T 238T 238Common from the Rothamsted Esd Estate in 1929, sted EsEs

for the benefi t of the townsfolk. An annfol nnual horse sfo nnnng event ceased in 1914, and The Silver CndT Cup pub 14, CupCups past triumphs. Golf, cricket and footballall clubsclublubse space for their pursuits, while the public ic has as as mpeded access to the whole Common. Ancim cientsmmghts also still permit traditional showman fairght fairs.pepeghgh

Lying on the Chiltern dip sl pe between the valleys of theop en thn ton C ter of therivers Ver and Lea, Harpenden was destined to become a de ned to btinVe d Ver a a, commuter town with the c ming of the Midland Main Line in com and Main Linee Mmu ow wcomm1868. It retains its village c aracter though, thanks to its largecha gegh, tr thougIt ns s v68. It retainCommon, its tree lined High Street and period cottages.gh riodt a od cottamo s t e

Harpenden

Harpenden Common

Redbourn

Redbournbury Mill

The Ver Valley Walk

Hertfordshire Rural TransportPartnership

Roundwood Halt