Located north of London, outside the M25 in Hertfordshire, and with its own green belt, St Albans is a city perfectly situated for a range of beautiful walking routes.
With parks and green spaces within the city, a disused railway line connecting it to the nearby Hatfield, and plenty of rolling hills and woodland in the surrounding countryside, there are plenty of St Albans walks to choose from.
Whether you’re after a gentle stroll or hearty hike, we’ve put together this list of our favourite walks in and around St Albans.
1. The Alban Way
Using a disused stretch of the Great Northern Railway, the Alban Way is a popular route for pedestrians and cyclists alike due to it being mostly flat and traffic-free.
One end of the Alban Way is near Verulamium Park and a short walk from St Albans Cathedral. You can then follow it as it bisects the city and then heads east all the way to Hatfield, ending close to the train station there and the nearby Hatfield House.
Being traffic-free, this is one of the best walks in St Albans. End-to-end, it’s 6.3 miles (10.1 kilometres) long, so it provides a decent hiking route, although you can also pick and choose stretches to walk.
2. Verulamium Park
Close to the centre of St Albans, Verulamium Park offers 100 acres of scenic parkland for walkers to enjoy.
There are multiple paths around the park, so you can meander quite freely and enjoy the views across to the cathedral and over the lake.
Better yet, Verulamium Park is close to some of the best things to do in St Albans, such as Verulamium Museum, and it’s home to historical Roman walls, so there’s plenty to see and do while exploring it on foot.
You can also stop by one of the best pubs in St Albans, Ye Olde Fighting Cocks.
3. Jersey Farm Woodland Park
Another green space that provides some of the best walks in St Albans is Jersey Farm Woodland Park.
Located at the northern edge of the city, close to the nearby village of Sandridge, the woods and open fields create a variety of great walking routes.
You can also follow Jersey Lane, a pedestrianised trail similar to the Alban Way, all the way up to the park, and from there extend the walk into Sandridge.
Not only is it one of our favourite parks in St Albans, it’s also a great location for taking a dog.
4. South along the River Ver
The small River Ver snakes south away from St Albans, and you can follow it on foot from Sopwell House all the way down to Frogmore.
Once there, you can loop around the lakes at Moor Mill Fishery, a popular location for walkers in the area, before heading back to St Albans.
This is one of the lesser-known St Albans walks and one of our favourites because of how quiet it is.
5. Heartwood Forest
With more than half a million trees, including sections of ancient woodland nestled within large areas of newly-planted forest, Heartwood Forest provides some of the most popular walking routes near St Albans.
At 858 acres, it’s the largest continuous new native forest in England and includes many different areas and trails for a variety of hiking routes.
Following one of the routes, the Magical Meander, up to the Magical Wood to have a picnic is one of the best things to do with kids in St Albans.
Not only is Heartwood Forest a great way to escape into the countryside with only a short drive north from St Albans, it’s also one of the best places in the UK to see bluebells when they appear in spring.
Within the newly-planted areas of Heartwood Forest you can find the much old Langley Wood where the bluebells appear in full force. The dazzling display is a beautiful sight to see, and generally the best time to catch them in bloom is late April and early May.
You don’t even need to pay for parking, making a visit to Heartwood one of the best free things to do in St Albans.
6. Stanborough Park
A quick drive out from St Albans towards the nearby Welwyn Garden City will take you to Stanborough Park, and popular destination for walkers in this part of Hertfordshire.
The two lakes in this park are used for a variety of watersports, including sailing and rowing, but also provide a backdrop for a relaxing stroll to unwind.
A loop around both lakes is roughly 1.5 miles long, so it’s not a lengthy hike but it’s a great location to stretch your legs or take a dog for a walk!
7. Kimpton
If you drive 30 minutes north from St Albans, through Wheathampstead, you can get to Kimpton. This picturesque little village is a great starting point for some of the best walks in Hertfordshire.
A circular route from Kimpton is a great hike that gets you into the beautiful and peaceful countryside, so it’s one of our top walks near St Albans for anyone looking for a more rural setting.
You can also take a detour to Shaw’s Corner, a country house that was home to famed playwright George Bernard Shaw and that is now a National Trust site.
You can read our blog to find out more about the Kimpton and Ayot St Lawrence circular walk.
