Hertfordshire
Disabled Access, Wheelchair walks, Easy Access, Access for All, Mobility, Walks on Wheels, Miles without Stiles - whatever the term the following is all about accessibility to the countryside and green spaces of Hertfordshire.
Walks Greenspaces and Countryside
Alban Way, green route St Albans Abbey to Hatfield House - The Alban Way has a smooth surface, suitable for all users, with lighting at the Hatfield end. It has many access points, most of which are ramped or level. It provides a route for leisure, commuting and safe routes to school.
A Walk around Aldbury (stile free) - 3 miles. Level walk with only gentle slopes.
Ashridge Estate (Berkhamsted) - There are two routes with a firm surface and no
Berkhamsted Waterways - 3 walks leaflet including a short easy access route
Bancroft Park (Hitchin) - Disabled access - The park also supports a bowling club with two quality bowling greens as well as four public tennis courts and a private tennis club.
Barclay Park (Hoddesdon) - The total area of the park is 18.3 acres and facilities include car parking, picnic tables, a duck pond, toilets, easy access pathway and play equipment.
Bishop’s Stortford - Sawbridgeworth Station to Station Riverside Trail - You can join the walk from either Bishop’s Stortford or Sawbridgeworth railway station. The tracks and paths described in this leaflet are mostly accessible to all users. At certain times of the year, particularly in the winter months the conditions mean that wheelchairs and prams/buggies may have difficulty in negotiating the described route.
Bishop’s Stortford Riverside Trail - The tracks and paths described in this leaflet are accessible to all users. At certain times of the year however, particularly in the winter months, the conditions mean that wheelchairs may have difficulty in negotiating the described routes.
Broad Colney Lakes (London Colney) - Some pathways and viewing areas over the lakes suitable for wheelchairs.
Broadway Gardens (Letchworth) - Disabled access - Broadway Gardens and Walk was developed following receipt of a £1 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund
Cedars Park (Cheshunt) - Green Flag Award - The park covers over 19 acres and facilities include car parking, duck pond, pets' corner, picnic tables, toilets, easy Zebra finches at cedars park access path, and an art space.
Cheshunt Park - Green Flag Award - The park covers 235 acres and facilities include car parking, picnic tables, a play area, easy access path, toilets and café in the clubhouse, and community events
Clarence Park, St Albans - Green Flag Award - Disabled access detail on DisabledGo website
Ebury Way (Rickmansworth) - 3.5 miles - The path is suitable for pushchairs and wheelchair users; disabled people can open the gates using RADAR keys.
Hertford & Ware Walks Riverside Trail - Rating Moderate (flat, some unsurfaced paths) Route Figure of Eight Time Approx 21⁄2 hours Distance Approx 53⁄4 miles
Howard Park (Letchworth) - Disabled access, Varied seating around the park and gardens - a vital green space in the heart of the town surrounded by mature trees and with formal gardens around the bowls area.
King's Meads (Ware) - The towpath, next to the River Lea and some paths are suitable for people with mobility problems.
North Herts District Council - Parks - details of local parks with 'Disabled Access'
Priory Memorial Gardens (Royston) - Pedestrian and Disabled Access, Bench Seating, Sensory Garden.
Rickmansworth Waterways (stile free) - 3 miles. Level throughout. The walk around Batchworth and Bury Lake is suitable for all terrain push chairs.
South Oxhey Circular Walk - Map shows walk most suitable for wheelchairs & buggies see also details on Stile Free Walks site
The Cole Green Way & the Hertford to Ware Towpath - This part of the route is also accessible for disabled visitors at various points. Motorised scooter wheelchairs are probably the best option due to the nature of the surfacing
The Grand Union Canal and the Wendover Arm - All these canals have accessible towpaths, including the dry section between Tringford and Wendover.
The Grand Union Canal Towpath from Rickmansworth to Watford - Improvements to the towpath between Watford and Rickmansworth provide a good, flat surface for walkers, cyclists and wheelchair users
The Nickey Line - the site shows a map with Level Access Points marked
Tring and Wigginton (stile free) - 4¼ miles. There is a moderate climb from the footbridge over the A41 to Wigginton, otherwise the route is relatively level.
Tring Reservoir & Canal Walks - Walks likely to be suitable for people with impaired mobility and users of wheelchairs, mobility scooters and pushchairs
Verulamium, St Albans - 2 miles. Grade: Easy - suitable for pushchairs - no info on wheelchair access also see park details
Country Parks
Leavesden Country Park - All the main pathways and walkways within the park are tarmac and provide easy access by wheelchair to almost all areas of both the north and south sides of the park - There is disabled access into the park from the Linnet Road entrance with 6 marked disabled bays at the North of the park.
Nature Reserves
Amwell Nature Reserve - Tracks around the Reserve are accessible to all. The paths are firm and level in most places, but after wet weather may be muddy and there may be some standing water.
Aquadrome Local Nature Reserve - 1.3 km Easy Access Trail - Surfaced paths take you around a nature trail to a picnic area on the lake, and a viewing platform on the River Colne.
Hertford Heath - Easy walking; paths throughout the reserve.
Ivel Springs (Baldock) - Disabled Access,Nature reserve, Way marked walks, Dog Walking. also see map
Norton Common LNR (Letchworth) - Disabled access - Its facilities cater for young and old alike whether to enjoy family activities centred around the play areas, picnic area or walking along the open areas or through the woodlands.
Oughtonhead Common LNR (Hitchin) - The path can be accessed from the Bedford Rd entrance or any of the three surfaced side-paths running off Burford Way. All have kissing gate access suitable for wheelchairs (Westmill Lane has access for large mobility vehicles (RADAR gate)). see also Leaflet
Rye Meads (Hoddesdon) - Access to the nature reserve is through the visitor centre via a hard path. Paths linking the hides are flat with some grass areas, and mostly conform to Zone A, although, the path surface has not yet been laid and therefore are classified as Zone B. Some parts of the paths are narrow, but passing places are provided. Paths are level and low gradient ramps are provided for bridges. A robust wheelchair is available for visitors: there is no charge for this.
Rye Meads Reserve (RSPB) - The car park is tarmac. There are three disabled bays 30 m from the visitor centre. Access to the nature reserve is through the visitor centre via a hard path. Paths linking the hides are flat with some grass areas
Other Useful Links
Disability Hertfordshire - Our disability information advice line (helpline) is manned by disabled volunteers and operates from Monday to Friday each week. Our helpline volunteers use online databases, together with an information library, to help them to provide advice/assistance.
Hertfordshire Action on Disability - HAD has been delivering innovative, affordable, practical services to older and disabled people since 1958.
Stile Free Walks - Hertfordshire - stilefree.co.uk is trying to bring together a list of walks that are known to be stile free. Many of the people who are interested in stile free walks are specifically looking for walks that are pushchair, buggy or wheelchair friendly, so some walks that are more suitable are tagged as such.
We don't normally include commercial organisations - they can afford to advertise - but we feel that this facility is an exception
Enable Sports - Rye House Kart Raceway, Hoddesdon - Our mission is to carefully select a host of sporting activities which can lend themselves beautifully to the enjoyment of both the able and the not so able.