DISCOVER the delights of a walk along part of the River Colne, the Munden Estate and Wall Hall before relaxing in the Round Bush pub.

The quiet churchyard of St John the Baptist Church, Aldenham, is as peaceful and serene as any. But it wasn't so on Wednesday, October 16, 1940, when the Germans bombed the village, knocking off the church spire and spattering the gravestones with shrapnel. They replaced the spire, and the damaged gravestones are there to be seen today on the west side of the church.

Wars come and go, but the church seems to be forever'. As the inscription at the lychgate says, Aldenham Church 785-2002AD'. The chancel that first stood here was Saxon, built by King Offa. After the dissolution of the monasteries (1539) when Henry VIII made all the lands available to the highest bidder', the Lordship of the Manor was sold for £980 to Ralph Stepneth. He's buried in the church.

Aldenham appears in the Domesday Book as Eldeham', and was once described as a sweet, retired spot abounding with game'. Ivy Cottages were built about 1880 as estate cottages for Aldenham Abbey (Wall Hall), an enlarged manor house given a mock-castellated exterior in the 18th century to lend an air of realism'.

A quiet byway leads off through woodland and crosses the Colne. Quiet, that is, save for the constant drone of traffic on the M1, just quarter of a mile away. The right of way follows the slow waters of the river, tall nettles and bracken forbidding access to the riverside, with signs saying Private Property' and Private Fishing' to remind one of where not to go and what not to do.

The right of way leads to Old Bricketwood, a straggle of cottages on a dead-end road, and an isolated pub, the Old Fox. The road once led to Garston, but the M1, just yards away, blocks access. A fellow toiling in his garden seemed pleased about this. This is the true Bricketwood,' he declared, pointing out that although you can hear the traffic on the motorway you can't see it.

Also near is a site of Special Scientific Interest' Bricketwood Common. Some of the woodland here is part of the original wildwood, which once covered all of South-East England. It is also the home of White Admiral and Brown Hairstreak butterflies. One might spend time here, exploring a place which survives in defiance of the incursion of houses and roads. There are rides and pathways and heathland, worth anyone's time.

Turning from the lane, the right of way leads across open country to Little Munden farm on the banks of the Colne. From the farm road, a path climbs through glorious woodland, unexpected but a just reward for those who would travel on foot. And all barely 15 miles from Marble Arch!

The Colne is rejoined and stepping stones across the river are tempting. Cross if you will, but the path beyond is excessively muddy and leads to even deeper mud and impassable water except, that is, for horses, whose feet have churned up the ground mercilessly. Use a footbridge further along instead, where to the left the entire corner of the vast field is the site of a Roman villa. Here, two thousand years ago when the river was deeper, a Roman family lived. Such a shame we can't see the villa today, or at least the excavated remains.

For a mile and a half the path runs straight, until it reaches the environs of Hertfordshire University, where a bridge crosses the dried-up bed of a small lake, while beyond lies the Colne. Until 12,000 years ago, we are told this was the course of the River Thames until encroaching ice, reaching its southernmost point in Britain, forced that river to its present course. How strange, that the Thames flowed east but the Colne today flows west.

The right of way leads through the university grounds then crosses open country for Round Bush. The name is said to derive from a holly bush, round in shape, which once stood in the village. One's interest may be more inclined to the pub, conveniently situated at the end of the walk, where refreshment will be required especially if time was spent searching out White Admirals and Brown Hairstreaks.

Approximate distance: 8 miles

Start and finish:

Route:

l. = left. r. = right.

n. s. e. w. = north, south, east, west.

br. = bridge r.o.w. = right of way.

PH = public house.

m. = miles. post = signpost.

f/post fingerpost.

b/way = bridleway.

ch. = church f/p = footpath

Routefinder:

Go to main road (B462), cross and take path to Church of St John the Baptist, Aldenham. Beyond, proceed alongside Ivy Cottages towards Wall Hall Nursery. In woods, turn l. to R. Colne, which cross at Otterspool. Take r.o.w., following river, heading for woods and Old Bricketwood. At School Lane, turn l to the Old Fox.

Head n.e. along School Lane for quarter mile, turn r. towards Munden Estate, turn l. immediately on r.o.w. over fields to Little Munden Farm. Follow farm rd, turn r. into woods and cont. to lane ahead, then r. to R. Colne. Do not cross, but follow to f/br which cross and follow path to Wall Hall College (Herts Univ). Visit old bridge over dried-up lake on r. then follow r.o.w. through grounds, taking r.o.w. beyond to Round Bush.

Recommended:

Exploration of Bricketwood Common.

Pubs and Place of Refreshment:

Round Bush: The Round Bush PH

Old Bricketwood: The Old Fox