A Circular Ride from Welwyn
A Circular Ride from Welwyn visiting Ayot St Lawrence and Ayot St Peter
| Distance: | 12km (7.5 miles) or 16km (10 miles) |
|---|---|
| Time: | around 2 hours |
| Rating: | Moderate with a steep climb and optional 4km off-road section |
| Starting point: | High Street, Welwyn Village show me on a map |
Route description
This ride starts in Welwyn where car parking may be found the village.
Leaving Welwyn, the ride will take you into the open countryside as you cycle
along the valley of the River Mimram. Take care along these roads as
they are narrow with steep sides and car drivers may not see you coming.
As you ride along Tanyard Lane towards Ayot St Lawrence you will encounter a
fairly steep hill. If you need to dismount, why not take the opportunity to
enjoy the view. On arriving in. Ayot St Lawrence you have a choice of
fofollowing either the road route or cycling down to the Ayot Greenway in
order to enjoy this stretch of off-road cycling. If you decide to continue on
the road route
then remain vigilant of other road users, in particular be careful on the down
hill stretch, along School Lane, that runs from Ayot St Peter into Welwyn.
Remember always test your brakes at the
top of any hill.
Alternatively, if you have chosen to cycle along the Ayot Greenway, then take care when turning right from Bride Hall Lane to Codicote Road. The Ayot Greenway is an attractive off road route that is free from cars, however you may encounter horseriders and walkers. Always slow down when approaching horserider or walkers and allow them room to pass.
Points of interest
Welwyn
Situated along the route of an ancient Belgic track, that later became the Roman Road running from St Albans to Colchester, Welwyn was once an important stopping point for coaches running to and from London. Of particular Interest are the remains of a Roman Bath House that is thought to date from 250AD. Although the site now lies beneath the route of the A1(M), the baths may still be visited at certain times of the year. As you leave the village along the Kimpton Road take care of oncoming traffic as the lanes are narrow in places.
River Mimram
As you cycle along the Kimpton Road, you are following the course of the River Mimram. On the edge of Welwyn is a wetland habitat called 'Singlers Marsh'. This is an area of traditional marshland that provides a habitat for a number of wetland species.
Ayot St Lawrence
The approach to the picturesque village of Ayot St Lawrence is via Tanyard Lane. Although the lane is on a steep hill, the effort of reaching the top is well rewarded by the picturesque views across the valley of the River Mimram. Visitors to Ayot St Lawrence may still still see the remains of the old church, partly demolished by Sir Lionel Lyde in 1775 because it disturbed the view from his newly built home. Following protestations from the Bishop of Lincoln, Sir Lionel quickly built a neo-classical 'new' church, designed by Nicholas Revett, close to the site of the 'old' church. One of Ayot St Lawrence's most famous inhabitants was the playwright George Bernard Shaw. who lived in the village from 1906 until his death in 1950. His cottage, Shaw's Corner, is now cared for by the National Trust and has been preserved as it was when the playwright lived and worked there. The cottage is open to the general public.
Ayot St Peter
Ayot St Peter has had the distinction of having four different churches over the past 200 years. The village was once an important stop along the railway that ran from Hatfield to Luton. However, in July 1948 Ayot Station was destroyed by fire and never rebuilt. The name 'Ayot' is thought to be derived from an Anglo Saxon settlement called 'Aiegete' that existed somewhere in the surrounding area prior to the Norman invasion. The 'gete' is thought to refer to a 'gap' in the hills that the Ayots stand on, whilst the 'Aie' is probably derived from the Old English name of 'Aega'
Ayot Greenway
Once the route of the railway that ran from Hatfield to Luton and Dunstable, this link was vital to the local economy of the area. Although the railway was finally closed in 1965, the Ayot Greenway remains an attractive two and half mile bridleway. Please note: parts of Ayot Greenway may be difficult to cycle at certain times of the year.
Refreshments
There are a selection of pubs to be found in Old Welwyn and found along the route. Alternatively why not take a picnic and enjoy a meal in the open air. For further information about the local area visit either the Campus West Information Centre or the library in Welwyn Garden City.
Waymarking
Signs like this are positioned to guide you round the route in anti-clockwise direction. This will make the majority of the turns left turns, thus your journey will be a little safer.
Safety
- This is not an off road route, you will meet cars and other vehicles on the roads during your trip.
- Wear a safety helmet.
- Ensure your bike is safe to ride.
- After dark you are required by law to display working lights.
- Wear brightly coloured clothes with reflective material.
- Treat pedestrians and horses with the respect you expect to get from car drivers.
- Get a bell and use it to warn others of your approach.
- Always ride in single file when roads are narrow or busy, and never more than two abreast
- Always follow the advice for cyclists given in the Highway Code.
Rights of Way symbols you might see
|
Yellow arrows indicate footpaths for pedestrian use only |
| Blue arrows indicate bridleways for horse riders, cyclists and pedestrian use only |
| Red arrows indicate Byways Open to All Traffic (BOAT) for horse riders, cyclists and pedestrians and may be legally used by other wheeled vehicles |
| Black arrows indicate Roads Used as Public Paths (RUPP) for horse riders, cyclists and pedestrians and may be legally used by other wheeled vehicles |
Maps
This map is based on Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Hertfordshire County Council 100019606 2004.
The Ordnance Survey mapping included within this web-site is provided by Hertfordshire County Council under licence from the Ordnance Survey in order to fulfill its public function to provide information relating to its activities, services and plans. Persons viewing this mapping should contact Ordnance Survey copyright for advice where they wish to license Ordnance survey mapping for their own use.
See the Ordnance Survey site for more information.
This cycle ride and leaflet has been produced with the support of Hertfordshire County Council's Environment Department and the Countryside Management Service.
This is one of a series of waymarked cycle rides throughout Herfordshire. Look out for others on this website, or for the leaflets in local libraries and cycle shops.
