23 Jan 2022: Hatfield to Hertford

Four of us set off from Harpsfield Hall on a cold dark and damp morning. 

Harpsfield Hall start

On the road to Lemsford, Philip commented on the proliferation of the aluminium cans in the verge, surmising that a mining company would soon aquire rights. Passing through WGC and its John Lewis (formerly the Welwyn Department Store) and M&S (to be closed in April) we traversed the White Bridge turning off on a dead-end road which degenerated into a cycle path over the railway line before reaching Bessemer Road. Here we climbed through the prestigious houses of Digswell, famous for its viaduct, to reach Burnham Green and Bulls Green. 

near Datchworth

Here we turned south towards Bramfield but avoided the village by turning towards Stapleford. Here we ignored the Road-Closed signs and mounted the pavement riding patiently behind an elderly lady before we could return to the highway and followed the road into Bengeo and finally Hertford. We arrived at the Rose café noting that there was one table left unoccupied, but by the time we had parked our bikes, that too was gone. Retracing our steps, we noticed that the Bebo Café looked inviting, so we settled on that and found a table upstairs. While three of us made do with coffees, Mark indulged in a calorie-packed megafeast of Eggs Benedict. 

cosy cafe Bebo

With no ladies present, the conversation degenerated into football and some rather risqué jokes. After leaving and leading the riders through the Castle grounds, I failed to notice some broken glass on the path which had consequences once I had crossed the A414 on the Toucan crossing, as my rear tyre deflated. After fixing this, we turned off by the football ground to pick up the Cole Green Way, which is now newly tarmacked to Hertingfordbury, but no further. Leaving the path here, we travelled along the Old Coach Road, the old A414, to go through Letty Green and climbed to Essendon and to Welham  Green. At the entrance to Colney Heath, Philip and Gary turned off to go under the A1(M) and back to Hatfield  and Mark and I returned to St Albans via the longabout, returning home at a rather late 2.30.

Steve