The Abbey Flyer walks
How Wood: The Moors
| Distance: | 2 miles (3.5 km) |
|---|---|
| Time: | 1 ½ hours |
| Rating: | Moderate, some steps, uneven ground Seasonal: Very wet in winter, wellington boots a must. |
| Starting point: | How Wood Station, Park Street Lane show me on a map |
The Abbey Flyer runs between Watford Junction and St Albans Abbey stations. For train times call the Intalink Traveline on 0870 608 2 608
Route description
Start by taking the Abbey Flyer to How Wood Station
The Abbey Flyer waymarks (shown below) will guide you around this circular walk. Follow the route in a clockwise direction.
- Cross the railway line through the kissing gates (K) and follow the footpath to the left down a flight of steps.
- Cross the footbridge over the River Ver - continue straight across the car park and up the steps.
- Go through the metal gate and follow the track in front of the builders' centre. Turn right onto a bridleway - follow this under the M25.
- At the end of the road, leading from the Mill and Hotel, turn right and cross the Ver. Turn right again through a kissing gate.
- Cross the M25 on the footbridge. Turn left along the track for 30 m then right through a metal kissing gate and through a small woodland plantation.
- Follow the waymark posts, avoiding wet pools.
Points of interest
This area, known as Frogmore Pits, once provided good quality gravel for road building. The lakes and surrounding area, including the 'moors', are landscaped former gravel workings and can now be used for fishing, and walking. Frogmore Pits is the site of an ancient settlement, dating back thousands of years.
The River Ver runs through Frogmore Pits. Chalk streams such as this are among Europe's most important wildlife habitats. They support some of our most threatened plants and animals and contribute to the beauty of the landscape.
Bats use the river and lakes for drinking and feeding and roost in nearby features such as old barns, mills and trees. In the summer they can be seen swooping over the lakes at dusk. Many water birds nest on the islands, safe from predators such as foxes and cats.
The Moors, the area of wet grassland by the railway line, is a haven for water loving plants and animals. Many small ephemeral ponds appear in the wetter months: these are important for amphibians and insects. In the summer the area teems with damselflies and dragonflies. Wetland birds are seen each year and skylarks nest in the drier areas. Wet grassland is a rare habitat in St Albans and is valued and enjoyed by local people.
This walk explores part of Watling Chase Community Forest. Watling Chase has a thirty year programme to improve the countryside around towns. This will make the area a more attractive place in which to live, work and enjoy leisure time, and benefit wildlife too.
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.
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