We’re a Ramblers group aimed mainly at people in their 20s, 30s and a bit beyond, offering guided hikes and social events across Herts, Beds and south Cambs.
This walk is for up to 30 people, including the leader.
We'll be following the Watford Green Loop which covers a mixture of wetlands, parks, rivers and landmark buildings. The walk will be mostly flat with a mixture of asphalt and gravel paths.
Starting at Watford Miniature Railway Station, we'll head east following the Central Avenue path towards the Watford Colosseum, a theatre established in 1938 and extended in 2011. Next, we'll enter the town centre and pass the Watford Pond and onto the Colne Valley Cycle Route, which follows the chalk river known as the River Colne. Along this path, we'll see the Oxhey Activity Park where our planned lunch stop will be. This park is a state of the art skate and bike trail park with wildflower patches aimed at improving the areas biodiversity.
A short diversion off the Green Loop will take us to Vicarage Road, home to Watford football club. We'll have our pub stop at the No.8 at the Red Lion before we then head onto the Ebury Way, a disused railway line, which continues to follow the River Colne, passing parks including the Millennium Milepost Riverside Park and patches of woodland. The path continues for at least a mile as we also pass the Lairage Land nature reserve and King George V Playing Fields.
Holywell Estate will be next on the route before we head past Whippendell Woods, famous for being part of the set for the opening scene on Naboo in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. This will lead us nicely back to Cassiobury Park and our starting place.
Please note this walk is not suitable for dogs.
For information about walking with the group, including our dog policy, please visit the Stag Walkers website.
Booking your place: Please book your place using the free Meetup website/app. Join the Stag Walkers Meetup group and click the 'Attend' button on the event page.
Please do not turn up for a walk without booking, as places are limited.
If the walk is fully booked, please click 'join waitlist' then please check back regularly as you will likely get a place. The waitlist gives priority to single bookings so if you wish to bring a guest, we recommend booking separately.
Unless you opt in to further communications, we will only use contact information you provide to get in touch about the walk.
This is a circular walk.
The start time is when we aim to start walking and the finish time is an estimate.
Walks are graded Easy, Leisurely, Moderate or Strenuous in increasing order of difficulty. Please read the walk description to check it is within your abilities and contact the group if you are unsure.
Please:
We are a Ramblers group, non-members are welcome to try us out for three free walks before joining Ramblers as a full member.
As a charity we ask that non-members consider making a voluntary donation to Ramblers until they purchase membership. We suggest £3-4 per walk. You can donate in person or online.
The Ramblers’ Association is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Company registration number: 4458492. Registered Charity in England and Wales number: 1093577. Registered office: First Floor, 10 Queen Street Place, London EC4R 1BE.
Watford Miniature Railway Station, Cassiobury Park, Watford, Herts. Parking is available at Cassiobury Park car park (£6 for up to six hours), Watford Station car park (£6.20 all day on weekends) or free street parking may be available on nearby Parkside Drive. If using public transport, Watford Metropolitan Underground train station (not to be confused with Watford Junction in town) is a short walk away.
