Walks and Runs in Hemel Hempstead

Hemel Hempstead nestles at the edge of the Chiltern Hills and as such is perfectly positioned for those who enjoy spending time in the open air, whether that's at a leisurely walking pace or at a more serious running pace. The surrounding area is replete with walking and running routes and I want to sketch out a few of the best for you just in case you are ever visiting this scenic area.

As a runner myself, one of the prime assets of the Hemel Hempstead area is the Grand Union Canal which runs from London to Birmingham and cuts right through the town of Hemel Hempstead and its neighbouring towns, Kings Langley to the south and Berkhamsted to the north. The canal provides hundreds of miles of mainly flat running routes and it is a very unusual day that doesn't see you meeting other runners and exchanging knowing nods as you pass each other. Underfoot it can get very muddy in the winter but for most of the year the ground is dry and, in terms of protecting your joints, it beats running on a road any day. Some parts of the towpath are a bit rocky and you do need to take some care where you put your feet or you could end up spraining an ankle. However, in almost a decade of running on the towpath I have never twisted an ankle or damaged my knees.

Another lovely bonus of canal running is that you get to meet and greet the canal boat people who are, invariably, chilled out, sociable individuals who are happy to stop and chat with you and tell you where they've been or where they are going. They do manage to make it a very seductive sounding lifestyle. Not far from Hemel Hempstead to the north is the quaint, whitewashed Three Horseshoes pub at Winkwell. Even the name is charming, isn't it? This old pub has a canal side location where you can sit outside when the weather permits or huddle by the roaring log fire in the winter months. Either way, it's a real boon for the weary walker.

If running along the flat expanses of the canal towpath is not challenging enough for you then almost any direction you take from Hemel Hempstead will involve fairly serious hill running. Even just running around the perimeter of Hemel is a challenging and tiring run of approximately 10 miles. One of my favourite running routes takes me past Potten End to Berkhamsted Golf Course and then on into Ashridge Park and forest. It's what runners euphemistically call ‘an undulating route' and normal people just call it ‘very hilly'. Whether you run it or walk it, if you follow the road from Berkhamsted Golf Course along the Ashridge Road you will be rewarded with a magnificent view of Ashridge House.

A former residence of Henry the 8^th, Ashridge House is now one of the top management colleges in the world and their grounds and the surrounding paths are a runner's, and walker's, delight.

The gardens of Ashridge House are delightful and opened to the public for a few weeks every summer. If you enjoy well maintained gardens then give them a call to check when they are open for visitors. The surrounding Ashridge Forest is home to a multitude of deer and it's a rare day that doesn't give you a sighting of these noble beasts - this is especially rewarding in the rutting season and in the birthing season when the young deer can often be seen with their mothers. For the walkers, there are numerous marked paths through Ashridge Forest and if you choose the right time of year to go you will be rewarded with one of the best displays of bluebells in England. Be careful if you are driving, though, many cars have been damaged, even written off by hitting a deer which suddenly appeared on the road in front of them.

Wherever you choose to walk in the area you will find wonderfu and numerous pubs and cafes to rest your weary legs.