Whippendell Walks
A series of five self guided circular walks exploring the countryside in and around Whippendell Woods, near Watford
| Distance: | Walk 1 - Whippendell Woods Walk 2 - Woodland Trust Woods Walk 3 - Quiet Lanes Walk 4 - The Grand Union to Croxley Green Walk 5 - Cassiobury Park Heritage Walk |
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Route descriptions
Walk 1 - Whippendell Woods
These ancient woods once formed part of the Cassiobury Estate. Historically managed for timber, firewood and game, they are now open to the public for recreational enjoyment.
The woodland has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its richness of wildlife, especially fungi and insects. The area is home to more than 270 species of plant, including 60 species of moss, and 10 species of liverwort.
During the hurricane of ’87 and gales of ’90 more than 2500 trees were blown down or damaged throughout the wood. The open glades and woodland edge created by this are now home to many butterflies such as speckled wood, ringlet and holly blue.
The woodland is also rich in bird life, including the tawny owl and sparrow hawk. Standing dead wood provides feeding and nesting sites for woodpeckers, with all three British species known to breed here.
As well as making the woods better for wildlife, continuing active management also makes them more attractive to people. Wide, open rides are more welcoming to walk along, and are less likely to become muddy during winter months.
The route followed by this walk is surfaced and free from stiles and gates, allowing easy access throughout the year.
Walk 2 - Woodland Trust Woods
This walk takes you on a tour of some of the small woodlands typical of southern Hertfordshire. Much of the area was previously designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), however felling of many large and destruction of the ground flora through cattle grazing resulted in the loss of this status.
Harrocks Wood is notable for the presence of coral root bittercress (Cardamine bulbifera). In spring this nationally rare flowering plant can be found growing mainly in the dappled light along path sides and woodland edges.
As the name suggests Dell Wood contains many dells or hollows, relics of previous use when the area was excavated to supply flints and gravel. Many examples of their use in construction can still be seen throughout the local area.
In 1986 the woods were bought by the Woodland Trust, and have since been brought back into active management. Traditionally hazel is cut near to the ground (coppiced) every seven to ten years, the ‘stools’ regrow giving a constant supply of wood used for hedgelaying, charcoal making and country crafts. The open areas created by coppicing receive more sunlight, allowing the ground flora to flourish. This in turn provides a valuable habitat attracting many birds and butterflies.
All stiles on this route have been replaced with kissing gates to allow easier access.
Walk 3 - Quiet Lanes
A walk based along quiet lanes still little used by car traffic, this route takes you from the cool woodland of Whippendell, along the urban fringe of Croxley Green, and into the wide arable landscape beyond.
Follow Rousebarn Lane, a shady sunken lane bordered by steep hedge banks, these ancient woodland boundaries are lined with mature oak and ash trees. Now designated Heritage Roadside Verges they are unadulterated by modern mowing and flailing techniques, giving rise to a varied covering of mosses lichens and flowering plants. Shade and damo are ever-present giving rise to a fine array of fungi throughout the year, look closely and you may see russulas and ceps growing throughout the hot summer months.
The pond at Little Green now holds little water during the summer, despite this it is home to a variety of attractive plants like water forget-me-not. Such seasonal ponds are of great importance in the English landscape, during the twentieth century their numbers dwindled through neglect or in-filling, reducing breeding sites for frogs, newts and toads.
From this point the walk enters typical Hertfordshire arable farmland, wide-open fields are peppered with small copses and remnant hedgerows. The character of this landscape changes constantly with the seasons, as crops such as wheat and forage maize mature and are harvested.
This walk contains both gates and stiles.
Walk 4 - The Grand Union to Croxley Green
This walk links the historic Cassiobury Estate, Whippendell Woods and Croxley Green on a longer walk along the Grand Union Canal.
The Grand Junction Canal as it was originally known, was developed to serve the fast growing paper industry in the valleys of the Rivers Gade Chess and Colne. Built to link the Thames at Brentford with the Midlands at Braunston, this section was opened as far as Hemel in 1797.To avoid the delay and expense of tunnelling through high ground, it was necessary to divert the planned course of the canal through Cassiobury Estate. The Earl of Essex, who occupied the estate at that time, demanded that the towpath be switched to the western side of the canal to allay his fears of poaching. He was further compensated £15,000, leading to an increased toll of 1p per ton being enforced on all goods passing through this section of canal.
A fleet of nearly 400 craft traded along the canal until the end of the Second World War when the canals system was nationalised in 1948.
Whilst walking along Croxley Green keep a look out for the cattle trough, erected by the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association, it included a push button drinking fountain and separate dog trough. Only five examples of this design now remain within Hertfordshire.
This walk contains some gates and stiles.
Walk 5 - Cassiobury Park Heritage Walk
Cassiobury Park has been awarded Grade II status within the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. The park boats 190 acres of undulating, picturesque landscape, influenced by figures such as Le Notre and Humphrey Repton. The River Gade meanders through the western part of the park known as Cassiobury Wood, along with the Grand Union Canal. Other features include veteran trees, wetland, former watercress beds and old pasture.
More recent attractions within the park include a children’s play area, large paddling pools with refreshments kiosk, along with bowls, tennis and croquet pavilions.
Cassiobury Park Heritage Project
This Project has been developed to bring the parks rich cultural and ecological heritage to life, with local schools helping to develop an interpretation strategy. This walk will form the basis of a ‘Musueum without Walls’, to include text and art based pieces. When completed, the refurbishment of the Tea Pavilion, and creation of a visitor centre will provide a focal point to the park.
Access
The main entrance from Gade Avenue provides vehicular access and parking facilities. Pedestrians can also enter the park from Shepherds Road, Rickmansworth Road, Stratford Way, Langley Way and The Gardens.
This walk is largely surfaced and contains no stiles or gates.
Rights of Way symbols you might see
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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 is is one of a series of walks through the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) supported by the Chilterns Conference.
Please be considerate in the countryside - keep to footpaths, especially through crops, and leave farm gates as you find them.
