20 Oct 2019: Hatfield to Great Hormead

Six of us set off from ASDA car-park on a very bright but cold morning. Taking a familiar route past the QE2 hospital and the cycle path to the Old Coach Road (formerly A414) we turned north at Cole Green to brave the hazard of crossing the new A414 and headed towards Bramfield. At a road junction we encountered a group of about 12 stationary cyclists, one of them sitting on the verge with his head in his hands. We learned that he had hit his head but asserted he was “all right”. Hmm; he didn’t look very happy. The group were from Whetstone where they meet outside Boots every Sunday at 8:30. Continuing through Bramfield we did a mile along the main A119 at Stapleford to enter Watton (unusually for us) from the south. We then took the track to Whempstead and the usual route through Dane End, noticing a cyclist from the distant past wearing the yellow-&-green Herts CTC jersey, and making the ascent to White Hill Golf club. Here we were joined by Steve & Jackie and later by Gary who had made his own route from Hatfield having been late arriving there. By now it had clouded over, and 3 of the riders decided to turn back, as did two more later at Westmill. Narrowly avoiding two Roe deer which leaped across the road, we rode through Buntingford & Anstey before turning south along a very minor road signed only as “Flint Hill” arriving at Great Hormead at about 1 pm.

We saw two like this

The pub was surprisingly quiet and had a log fire so the remaining 4 riders gravitated to the coolest spot, a circular table conveniently located by the toilets. Thick-cut sandwiches came quickly and we were soon on our way again admiring the autumn foliage.

near Great Hormead

We headed east to Cottered and then turned south through Walkern to Bragbury End then used the road past the crematorium near Knebworth, noting that the entrance now appeared to have a modern sculpture but which on closer inspection were numerous  dumped grey cushions. Saying goodbye to 2 riders at Old Knebworth the remaining two continued south through Codicote, pausing briefly here for a coffee & banana before reaching St Albans at about 4.30pm.

58 miles from Hatfield back to St Albans.

Steve