Did anyone else survive this walk. I'm on 16.37 train . The valley flooding was quite a problem. 6 started, how many finished?

6 today.

The walk was fine to lunch and beyond. Mud mostly minimal. Firm surfaces, except for occasional patches, All was fine The walk wasn’t living up to its “Ghastly to St Awful”reputation at all. Until……..

Lunch was at a Beefeater in a wetlands, again quite fine, maybe a little slow with the service. An uninspiring range of drinks but hey ho! A kindly benefactor proffered crisps. Everyone happy. All fine until….

Off we plodded through a more muddy bit to Park Street, then back onto the Ver Trail. And that’s where the trouble began…..

The trail got progressively wetter and wetter until it wasn’t trail it was marsh. Like deep over-the- ankles water as far as the eye could see. (Well, as far as the distant gate anyway).

Somehow 3 wellywearers got across. Then a fourth managed to tuft-jump a way through. This left 2 who just couldn’t make it. And not for want of trying. That section is near impassable. Do not attempt without wellies. (I’m tempted to say without waders). I’ll never complain about wet socks again. Not now I know what wet socks are. :( The back two abandoned the walk there and retired to the Overdraught for more beer. Then to Park Street station for an earlier than planned return to London.

Still, at least it was sunny and, on the way back to the Overdraught we spotted an egret and a huge fox.

Well, overall it was enjoyable. However wouldnt ask to walk through marshland as an option. It was pretty filthy at times.

I needed six fairycakes on the train journey from the shop at St Albans City station to help me.

And no pints all day.

The pub couldn't provide any draught beer or hot water for tea, but the food came, I thought, surprisingly quickly, though cutlery with which to consume it appeared rather later. Prices were low by London standards.

The Roman name for St Albans was Verulanium. The river through it is still called the Ver. We saw several signs describing work to improve its ecology. Locals told us that water had been released from upstream, to ease these developments by lowering the water level. That, combined with recent rains, is what has waterlogged the area. It's not a permanent situation, but while it persists, wellingtons are certainly recommended.

And to cap it all, while we were trying to get across, 3 bears pedalled past in a giant swan. We thought they might lend a paw, but did they stop? No.

I spoke with a local dog walker after I had finished by careful walking and 'hopping' in the marshes.

He said that this is walkable by going to, and then staying nearer to the river, which was higher than the official route. So after leaving Park Street village and entering the country go to this higher area, not the marshy area as it is now.

Good walk, I thought, which can be repeated earlier rather than later. Some people have mis-nomered it Ghastly to St Albans, when this is not really accurate.

If the local authorities have deliberately contributed to the flooded meadow it does seem odd that they haven't publicised a diversion or laid a boardwalk over the worst bits. The OS map doesn't show any useful alternative right of way going in that direction and the waymarkers confirm that it's on the route of the River Ver Trail, Abbey River Walks and the Abbey Line Trail, and no doubt a few other published walks. You'd think that locals would be agitating for a proper solution.

Moontiger and I looked at our wet feet and bloodied fingers from the barbed wire and decided that the SWC would appreciate a diligent inspection of the Overdraught Inn before scuttling off to Park Street station.

Did anyone make it beyond Euston today? The posted train and most others were cancelled and the departure boards were blank. Two of us opted for a stroll/teeter across the snow and ice from Finsbury Park to Muswell Hill. It was beautifully sunny , there were some nice views and impressive snowmen.

I am really sorry the planned walk didn’t work out, Sandy, but glad you managed to salvage the day and get a snowy walk in the sun. For the record, if you had got the tube to Totteridge you could have enjoyed a winter wonderland, but you can do that on Saturday if the snow lasts (he said, plugging his walk…). But the Parkland Walk is nice too (if that is where you went).

I had intended to come, but I am getting over a cold and decided to add an extra day to my “social isolation” period. I set out to go to Eynsford instead. I too had transport issues. My train from London Bridge to Swanley was first 7 minutes late, then eventually 17, and I was just congratulating myself that I would at least be in time for the train to Eynsford half an hour after the one I would have got, when that was cancelled. But my story had a happy ending. I got a fast train to Otford with minutes to spare, and walked thence to Eynsford and Lullingstone via Romney Street. Snow all the way and gorgeous sunshine, but nothing like as much snow as we have had in Totteridge…. Totteridge really does seem to be tops for snow at present….

The tearoom at the cathedral serves great teas and cakes (closes 4pm). Usually at 5pm there is a 30 minute Evensong (check their website), which cannot be heard in a better setting or with better acoustics. Worth hanging around for while visiting the cathedral, a true historic monument with the oldest parts dating from the 11th C.

Thank you P Rainey for you mentioning Evensong in the Cathedral. Yes - it should take place today at 5 pm - and a treat for churchgoers and non-churchgoers who appreciate fine music.

4 off different trains met at Watford Junction, 1 was an hour ahead, and 1 an hour behind who joined us at lunch, so that made 6 for today's walk to St Albans. Where were the rest of you ? You missed a lovely, Christmas walk.

It was unseasonably mild, and whilst it would have been nice to swap a few degrees for just a glimpse of the sun, we had no reason to complain as it was dry. So that is cloudy and mild .

Last weekend Mr M Tiger had a pop at the mud on his Sunday walk. Just as well he was not with us today, as mud levels all day were high; surprisingly so, given we had not had that much rain recently. Having squelched and slid through Bricket Wood Common we continued on our way to Moor Mill, where 3 of us had a good value two-course lunch at the Beefeater, with our fourth companion joining us for a beer.

After lunch I stayed behind the others, to take time over my coffee, but mainly because I was book checking, which is easier when alone. I was meant to re-join my companions in the St Albans Cathedral caff, but when crossing the soggy Ver Valley Meadows I slipped and tweaked a groin muscle. By the time I reached the outskirts of St Albans I was hobbling and down to a snails pace, and decided to head straight for the Abbey Station: I would not have made it up the hill to the Cathedral. Whilst I was disappointed not to meet up with my walking companions, and enjoy a visit to the Cathedral, I consoled myself over the fact I had visited the Cathedral recently - on 06 November, at the end of our Harpenden to St Albans walk. But I hope my colleagues enjoyed their visit today. Do post a comment if you retired post Cathedral caff to Ye Olde Fighting Cocks for a tincture, or maybe you stayed on for Evensong ?

7 alighted from the Euston train at Watford Junction to just miss the connection to Garston. 5 waited 40 minutes for the next train to meet up with the 2 who had walked on to Garston and we later on caught up at lunch with 3 who had travelled via a different route to Watford. Thus 10 on an overcast and mild day.

There was actually four of us at Garston at the appointed time - one newbie who saw the walk posted on the meet-up website. We made good progress to the Mill, and the newbie, being a local gave us much interesting commentary on the various sites / pubs along the way. The beefeater was very good for lunch and served us quickly. The mud was present but not too bad actually and we all stayed dry on a fairly sunny afternoon. Four of us went on to look around the Abbey and one only (!) went on to tea at Abigails and had a beautiful walnut and banana cake! lovely day out!

11

ok, just giving you the heads up: I cannot see a 10.24 from Euston to St Albans Abbey.

Alternatives:

option 1: 10.21 St Pancrass to St Albans City arr 10.41; walk c. 35 min to St Albans Abbey, start of walk.

option 2: 10.49 Euston-11.03 Watford (dir Rugely...); dep Watford 11.09-arr St Alb Abbey 11.25

Marcus, if you see this in time, please post the option here

Thanks Anonymous, but according to my journey planner, the train times in my posting are correct.

We start today's walk in Garston - not St Albans.

I still fail to see it and that’s probably just me.

I ll take the 10.49 Euston-Watford arr 11.03, dep 11.09 (as posted) arrive Garston 11.14

well at least we met up allright, me after a quick transfer in Watford, you after a very generous transfer. great day

Despite some confusion over train times, 7 of us met up on the platform at Watford Junction station for the short journey to Garston.

We were blessed with a glorious sunny winter 's-day for today's walk, in relatively mild temperatures. It was muddy underfoot all morning but having the sun out more than compensated for the inconvenience of the mud. 5 of us dined at the Moor Mill, where we enjoyed good value from our £ 5 a head meals. Our 2 sandwichers joined us for a drink before we all set off together on the afternoon leg of the walk, after the obligatory feeding of the ducks from the twenty pence dispenser. The sun briefly disappeared and it became chilly for a while before the sun reappeared. By the lakes outside the mobile home park, just before Park Street, we encountered two magnificent swans, preening themselves on the lakeside bank, with their two grown up cygnets in tow, still cream and grey in colour in their multiple layers of feathers - a lovely sight.

Onwards then over muddy fields and beside muddy field edges, then the River Ver again, as we headed into St Albans, enjoying the last of the day's sun - and daylight. Two headed straight for the Abbey station, leaving five of us to visit the Abbey. Tea in its cafeteria was taken by four of us, with my fellow male colleague being tempted by Ye Olde Fighting Cocks. A brisk walk through Verulamium Park, and we were at the Abbey Railway station for our journey home.

I believe we all enjoyed this lovely winter's day walk - a most welcomed respite from the General Election.

Your big dollop of mud is just as likely to be through the Ver watermeadows. Some tricky navigation may be required.

Thanks Peteb

But the Ver watermeadows are likely to be soggy and squelchy - not muddy. Important to get this right, Peteb !

And shock horror - I am hoping to attend....my first SWC walk since early June.

My dear Marcus, your comment elevates pedantry to new heights😂. Glad to hear you are getting back to fitness

Cheers

Pete

Good News dear Marcus

Jane

Cracking comment PeteB and welcome back Marcus

Hoping to walk

Jane

Sunshine after the overnight rain was enough on its own to ensure that this would be a cheerful outing for the 8 of us who turned up, but “Ghastly to St Albans” is also a perfectly pleasant little walk, much nicer than a glance at the map would suggest. True, you cross a motorway and a trunk road but there is also a nice wood at the beginning and some pleasant river meadow stretches. We even saw a heron on the outskirts of St Albans who showed no great rush to get out of our way.

There was a further encounter with wildfowl outside the lunch pub where a flock of Aylesbury Ducks (which I would have previously described as “geese”) paddled up to us in the hope we would put 20ps into the duck food dispenser. We did, three times, and the food was gobbled up. Top marks to the two ducks who worked out the best place to stand was right by the dispenser to catch the pellets we dropped. They have probably done this before.

Earlier, entering the lunch pub, we got told off by a man in a car for not taking our boots off. This man turned out to be totally unconnected to the pub, whose staff were happy for us to wear boots on their stone floor. It was a chain pub and service was a bit slow and the food a bit ordinary, but it filled us up and we left a 10% tip. Apparently this was the first tip they had had all day, which is a bit sad in this festive season.

One of the group left mid afternoon to get a train from Park Street. Another went straight to the station on arrival in St Albans and another went to the pub. Four of us went to the very atmospheric abbey and after a look round found its (temporary) refectory already closed at 4.20pm. Emerging into the High Street we found ourselves in possibly the last settlement of any size in Britain that does not have a coffee shop on every corner. I was more assiduous in seeking tea than my fellows, however, and finally found a well-hidden Costa Coffee, where I am penning these lines in splendid solitude over a nice cuppa. I hope to get the 5.45 train.

Oh, and by the way: a bit of slippy mud and some large puddles, especially after lunch, but no squelchy or boggy ground.

Look forward to it.

Many thanks to Marcus for a lovely walk.

7 of us on a very mild day which started overcast and dull but no rain until late in the day, and with a brief, pleasant spell of sunshine in early afternoon. Mud levels were better than expected all day and Bricket Wood Common for once was not waterlogged and mega-muddy.

Our cheerful party made it to Moor Mill where four enjoyed a good lunch, despite the venue being pre-booked for Christmas lunch parties. Those of us who continued independently of the lunchers (in my case book checking) all met up in St Albans Abbey, for tea, before some visited the Cathedral and then the Christmas market. Alas, no carol service today - but the group just about forgave me for not arranging this. One then set off for the City station, leaving the rest of us to head down through Verulamium Park to the Abbey station for an on-time train to Watford Junction where a quick connection had us back in Euston in next to no time.

An enjoyable day's walking in very nice company - and not one complaint all day at the traffic noise !

This wee-diddy of a walk deserves more postings.

6 on this walk. Murky start after earlier rain brightening gradually to light cloud with some blue bits by afternoon .

I've heard SWC regulars say rude things about this walk. Ghastly to St Albans, some call it. I've never understood why. It has forests, parkland, some impressive houses, many horses, friendly ducks, several mills, lakes, quite a bit of river, a monastery and a cathedral, all packed into just 8.7 miles. It also takes only 34 minutes to get to and less than that to get back. To cap it all St Albans was having the first day of its Advent fair, with a brass band doing a stirring rendition of the Dambusters March, stalls offering different kinds of food and drink, many people plainly enjoying themselves, and the whole thing very much less cheesy than these things usually are. About the only drawback is road noise, because with that short travel time one is never far from civilisation.

Our group fragmented fairly quickly. I took lunch at Moor Mill, which met expectations of the Beefeater chain exactly. Another consumed sandwiches nearby. It was probably too early for most, who likely pressed on to a later stop, but that wasn't the Falcon in Park Street, as I looked in there and no walkers had been seen all day.

Satisfactory tea in a nearly empty Cathedral Cafe by 1515 and on a 1620 train.

The walk directions and post recommend buying a return ticket to St Albans City but neither the machine nor the human at Euston were willing to sell one from that station. They would offer Garston or St Albans Abbey.

thanks for posting this walk Sean

Someone who went on this told me there was just 3 doing the walk. The stretch through the valley which can be very muddy was "not too bad"