Introductory Walk: St. Albans Country Estates (4 miles/6.5 km - Easy, Booking Required)

This walk is for up to 30 people, including the leader.

A short circular walk through two country estates on the outskirts of St. Albans, with parkland, woodland and views across the Ver valley.

This walk is billed as an introductory walk. This means that it may be a great choice for you if you are new to Stag Walkers and wish to try us out with a shorter walk. Existing members are also encouraged to attend to welcome first time walkers.

We begin at Batchwood Hall, formerly a grand house set in parkland, bought by the local council nearly a century ago and used for a variety of leisure purposes over the years (including a famous nightclub). We walk through the estate, now used as a golf course, past rolling farmland with views of Gorhambury House and onto our second estate, Childwickbury.

Childwick Hall is famously the former residence of acclaimed film director Stanley Kubrick. His widow, a prominent patron of the arts, still lives there. We'll catch a glimpse of the grand house and will also pass through the charming village on the estate, before heading back towards St. Albans through a berry farm.

The majority of the route is on well made dirt tracks or paved paths and over relatively flat terrain.

Note that this is a morning walk. There will be a snack stop but no packed lunch stop.

Dogs are welcome on a lead.

For information about walking with the group, including our dog policy, please visit the Stag Walkers website.

Booking your place: If you would like to join, you must book in advance using the Stag Walkers Meetup group - see Notes for how to book & what to bring. If you are unable to attend, please cancel your booking so that someone else can take your place.

Please do not turn up for a walk without booking, as places are limited.

Unless you opt in to further communications, we will only use contact information you provide to get in touch about the walk.

Please car-share or use public transport if possible. To offer a lift or ask for one from a fellow walker, please use the Meetup event page.